223 



The North and South Heads of the entrance into Swan River 

 are formed of low rocks of fossil limestone, in an advanced 

 state of decomposition ; presenting, in many instances, aper- 

 tures of the most fantastic form, in which are exposed to 

 view masses of roots and trunks of trees of great size. 



The soil on the South Head is a barren sand, producing 

 a considerable variety of interesting plants, amongst which I 

 observed Anigozauthus rufus, Anthocercis littorea, two species 

 of Metrosideros, a charming species o( Prostanthera, producino" 

 large quantities of rich blue flowers, a species of Gnaphalmmy 

 with procumbent stems, the white flowers of which give a 

 snowy appearance to many parts of the cliffs, and a beautiful 

 species of Dryandra. The appearance of the Giiaphalliim, 

 above-mentioned, is in some measure confirmatory of the 

 sandy character which the French give of these hills. 



On tracing the river a quarter of a mile from its entrance, 

 on the south bank, I observed quantities of a species otBnm- 

 onia growing in great luxuriance on the margin of a salt 

 marsh; its flow^ers of a brilliant sky-blue. Here I like- 

 wise gathered a magnificent species of Melaleuca with scarlet 

 flowers, and two species of Metrosideros, with various other 

 plants, which, from their being neither in flower nor in fruit, 

 I could not attempt to describe. 



Half a mile from the entrance, I found the soil, although 

 apparently sterile, to consist of a fine light brown loam, con- 

 taining a small proportion of sand, and capable of producing 

 any description of light garden crop. This character not 

 only applies to the immediate bank as far as the reach 

 below Pelican Point, but likewise to the hills as far as my 

 observation led. Those hills present the appearance of a 

 petrified forest, from the immense quantity of trunks which 

 protrude for several feet above the surface; and their decom- 

 posed state renders them of benefit rather than otherwise to 

 the soil. Here I observed a brown snake, similar to that of 

 Port Jackson, and it is remarkable that this was the only 

 snake seen during the survey. 



At the distance of one mile from the mouth of the river, 

 the genus Eucalyptus appears, altliough in a stunted state. 



Q 2 



