194 BOTANY OF THE INTERIOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



whether this is really C. paludosa at all, or a distinct species. I 

 have collected it on the Harvey Range near Peak Hill, near 

 Manildra, and on the hills around Cow Flat in the Bathurst dis- 

 trict. It grows rather more as a little tree than a shrub, and 

 ranges from about 6 to 12 and sometimes 15 feet high. The 

 medullary rays in the wood, though fine, are quite distinct, while 

 the bark is generally smooth. A feature of this species is that in 

 all the localities mentioned it usually grows on dry ridges, and not 

 in damp places, as its botanical name would suggest. Its affinities 

 appear to be with C. suherofia on the one hand, and C. distyla 

 on the other; but I have never met with either of these sjDecies 

 between the Macquarie and Murrumbidgee Rivers. C. distyla is 

 mentioned, however (B.Fl., vi., 198), as having been collected on 

 the Lachlan by Allan Cunningham, though imperfect specimens of 

 C. pahidosa C?) might possibly be confused w^ith those of C. distyla. 



Cassinia Theodori is very plentiful in the Temora district, 

 where it is known by the name of Sifting Bush. This name is 

 suggested by the similarity of the numerous fallen florets to 

 the " sif tings " which are blown away from grain by a winnowing 

 machine. Although only a few feet high, it forms a dense under- 

 growth in places where the soil is slightly inferior, often covering 

 many acres; and in addition to affording a shelter for vermin, it 

 sometimes encroaches on wheattields which are adjacent to these 

 areas. 



At intervals along the whole of the route followed from 

 Bourke, patches of a species of Cucumis, usually known as melons, 

 were seen. They are found on good soil, and the vines from each 

 plant radiate several feet, being covered with small, round melons 

 nearly an inch in diameter, and exceedingly bitter. In the 

 autumn when the vines are dead, and especially in times of 

 drought when the grass has disappeared as well, these green 

 marbles are very conspicuous, and sometimes are scattered over 

 several acres where the vines have been numerous. So far as I could 

 judge they seem to be untouched by stock of any kind, though 

 recently a report came from Lake Cowal to a Sydney daily jDaper 



