BY E. C. ANDREWS. 531 



all their parts, whereas on the rich soil the genera, not peculiar to 

 Australia, formed dense jungle-growths. This suggested that the 

 vegetation peculiar to the continent had developed either in a 

 rigorous climate or in one essentially sunny ; whereas the other was 

 of more recent origin, and depended on moist and sheltered con- 

 ditions. But whereas the rich basalt-soils, of the sheltered por- 

 tions of the Coast, supported dense jungle-growths, soils very 

 similar on the plateaus and plains, when exposed to the desolating 

 winds of the Central continent, whether hot in summer or cold in 

 winter, were avoided alike, in great measure, by those types, 

 whether peculiar or not peculiar to Australia. This suggested 

 that : — 



1. The basaltic soil plains were of later origin than the evolution 

 of most of the genera peculiar to Australia, and such plants had 

 not yet accommodated themselves to this soil. 



2. The genera not peculiar to Australia were unaccustomed to 

 desiccating and desolating influences, and had not yet accommo- 

 date themselves to such influences. 



3. Or again, it suggested that, possibly, the basaltic soil, under 

 dry and exposed climatic conditions, was peculiarly unfitted to 

 support vegetation in abundance. 



Several other interesting points also were suggested at this stage. 

 The leaves of the sandstone-types were characteristically heath- 

 like, or rigid or pungent; nevertheless, others again, such as the 

 majority of the Leptospermums, Melaleucas, and Callistemons 

 were observed to possess much larger leaves, and to frequent the 

 moister situations on the sandstone-areas. The first suggested a 

 general accommodation either to poor sandy soil, to xerophytic, or 

 to cold and harsh conditions; while the second suggested evolution 

 under more genial conditions than had genera, such as Styphelia, 

 Calythrix and Epacris. The wealth of beautiful flowers, on the 

 coarse acid sandstone-areas, also suggested evolution under strong 

 sunlight. 



Another point of interest noted was that in proportion to the 

 mildness, the moisture, and the shelter attained in any locality, so, 



