BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 603 



spreading habit. This species also grows into fairly large trees 

 50 feet high, and is then known as Big or Giant Mallee. Its 

 fruits are rather large, being slightly barrel-shaped, with the 

 greatest diameter in the middle. For utility, its wood, which is 

 hard, stands before any of the other three. 



E. dumosa, A. Cunn., is known as White Mallee from its 

 having white smooth bark to the ground. It is generally found 

 growing with E. oleosa, and these two form Mallee scrubs, some- 

 times associated with E. viridis, but the latter will often form a 

 scrub by itself, as also will E. Morrisii to a less extent. 



E. dumosa and E. oleosa might be confused in the field through 

 growing together and the great similarity in their leaves. Their 

 fruits at once separate them, those of E. dumosa being generally 

 the larger and not constricted at the rim. A characteristic 

 difference in general appearance is that the stems of E. dumosa 

 are erect and white, while those of E. oleosa are more spreading, 

 slightly crooked, and have the lower parts covered with brown 

 flaky bark (PI. xxxix., figs. 1-2). Both have hard wood. It may 

 here be mentioned that no other Mallees except these four were 

 met with north of the Lachlan on this road. 



One feature noticed all through was that all these species 

 prefer sedimentary formation, generally Silurian slate, and rarely 

 grow on igneous rocks. 



The only Casuarina noticed between Bourke and Cobar was 

 G. Cambagei, Baker. 



The Acacias were A. stenophylla, A. Oswaldi, A. aneura, A. 

 excelsa, A. sp., (Gidgea), A. Burkittii, A. homalophylla, A. 

 doratoxijloa, A. decora, A. colletioides and A. hakeoides. 



Generally speaking the country traversed is level, but along 

 the southern half towards Cobar a few hills of sedimentary origin 

 rise a few hundred feet above the surrounding plain. 



The view from one of these tops is very different from anything 

 to be seen near the coast, and less beautiful. Still it is well 

 worth seeing, and there is a weird charm in the great expanse of 

 wilderness which appears on every side. 



