18* 



PREFACE. 



I should here have ndded an introductoiy sketch of the geography of 

 Australian vegetation and of the liiatory of its botany ; but the need 

 for it is for the present obviated by the elaborate review contained in 

 Dr. Hoolver's above-mentioned E?!?ay. It is true that recent discoveries 

 as Tivell as a more careful examination of the Australian species pre- 

 viously deposited in our herbaria^ may require some corrections in the 

 statistical details given, or sliglit modifications, as to the proportions in 

 which the Australian Plora is connected with thopc of other countries ; 

 but the general features of its geograpliical distribution, so ably shotchcd 

 out bv Dr. Hooker, arc onlv confirmed as further re.^carch renders them 

 more definite, and t]ie minor corrections may be tnuch nu)re satisfac- 

 torily given with the close of the work, when the whole Flora shall have 

 been gone through. 



