136 Daley, 'Notes of a Visit to Mallacooia tnht. [v^"^? 



Nat. 

 XXXIV. 



peculiarly fitted by aspect, rainfall, and other climatic con- 

 ditions, as well as by properties of soil, for the extension of 

 vegetation, especially from the prolific north towards the 

 genial south, and thus increasing the range of certain species 

 beyond the limits which, under other less favourable con- 

 ditions, they would occupy. Thus the species of Blood-wood 

 showing the greatest power for accommodation to climate, 

 and also the most adaptive species of Angophora, have reached 

 the southernmost limit of the continent, and ha\-e also made 

 some progress in migration westwards along the southern slope. 

 To the same agency is probably due the presence of the 

 Cabbage Palm, Livistona australis, the Victorian Waratah, 

 Tclopea oreades, an occasional Kurrajong, Brachychiton 

 popiilneus, the Gippsland Orange, Acronychia levis, and other 

 northern plants unknown elsewhere in Victoria. To this 

 facility for extension and distribution afforded by the direction 

 and position of the mountain barrier is also due the presence 

 of bird and reptilian life approximating generally more to that 

 of New South Wales than of Victoria. 



Mr. Grififiths Taylor, Commonwealth Physiographer, has, in 

 connection with his work on " The Physiography of Eastern 

 Australia," pointed out liow, through the eastern (ieocols or 

 gaps in the Main Divide, the entry of tlie vegetation of one 

 area into another may be made. One of these Geocols-^the 

 Cooma or Monaro — stretches from Omeo through Bombala 

 to Cooma. It is probable that an offshoot of this ma}- have 

 been also additionally instrumental in the distribution of 

 some northern species of plants into Gippsland, the tendency 

 being for plant migration towards the coastal regions. 



In connection with this distribution of plants, the important 

 influence which geological formations exercise over the 

 character of the vegetation cannot l^e overlooked. Mr. R. H. 

 Cambage, F.L.S., who has done excellent work in studying the 

 relationship of the flora of New South Wales to the geological 

 formations on which it occurs, refers to tlie Blood-wood, E. 

 coryvibosa, as always selecting the sandstone, and avoiding 

 the Wianamatta shale, in the Hawkesbury district. At Malla- 

 coota the Ironbark, /:. sideroxylon, so inseparable a feature 

 and almost an indicator of V'ictorian auriferous areas, is 

 naturallv found growing over the Ordovician measures. Mr. 

 Lees informs me that the Snowy River Mahogany, extending 

 eastwards to the Thurra River, then the Apple and Blood-wood, 

 at first scarce and intermittent, but gradually increasing until 

 well into New South Wales they come in contact with the 

 Tallow-wood, /:. microcorys, do not mingle, but form distinct 

 botanical zones, confined to lower altitudes, and not extending 

 beyond the slopes of the coast range. Then northwards, at 



