26 



was abundance of water and weed in the latter we only obtained 

 an Ancylus, perhaps a narrow variety of A. australica, Tate, and 

 Physa ciliata, Ten. Woods. On the flat below Mayfield here and 

 there we found Helix ( Charopra ) funerea, Cox, plentiful under 

 logs and split wood. On the Sassafras Tableland three species 

 were met with, either under old logs or bark, or in old stumps 

 between the bark and the wood. They are Helix (Fomatia) 

 yulosa, Gld., //. (Dorcasia) brevipila, Pf., and H. (Rliytida) 

 capillacea, Fer. 



Botany. — Time did not permit of much attention being paid to 

 matters botanical. Scattered over the open low scrubby portions 

 of the Sassafi-as Taljleland we found a most beautiful re*iculate 

 lichen, which Mr. T. Whitelegge provisionally referred to 

 Clndonia retipora, Sprengel, a reference subsequently obligingly 

 confirmed by the Rev. Dr. W. Woolls, F.L.S. 



The latter, in his "Contribution to the Flora of Australia," 

 refers to it as follows : — " The most interesting lichen that I 

 have seen in Australia is C. retipiora, .... from the vicinity 

 of Berrima, .... but as the species was described by 

 Sprengel many years since, I think that it must occur somewhere 

 nearer the coast. It grows to the height of several inches. 

 As it becomes old, it assumes somewhat a coralline appearance, 

 beconaing nearly white. My learned friend. Dr. F. Mueller, 

 informs me that C. retipora is common in the glacial regions of 

 Tasmania and New Zealand." It forms one of the most attractive 

 plants growing on the more open and usually dry flat spaces on 

 the tableland, usually sheltered by a few low bushes. It is 

 locally called 'Coral,' l)ut botanically is evidently little known, 

 and it is, therefore, witli much pleasure that we are able to flx a 

 well marked habitat. It grows at heights between 2,000ft. and 

 3,000ft., and in masses from nine inches to one foot in length, 



On the heights near Mayfield Trignometrical Station, we found 

 a very peculiar fungus protruding from the ground only within 

 the shade of the She-oaks (Casuarina). It is to be regretted 

 that it was met with only in the dead state, and in consequence 

 Baron von Mueller, who was kind enough to examine specimens, 

 would not venture to nan:ie it. It was, howen-er, pointed out to 

 the writer by the Rev. Dr. Woolls, F.L.S. , that the fungus in 

 question has many points in conunon with the genus rhallns. 

 The stipe is elongated, simple or bifurcate, each portion Ijearing 

 at its apex a capsule. 



The Sassafras (Boryphora sassafras) is remarkable for the 

 pleasant aromatic odour emanating from the leaves when bruised, 

 and a bitter principle, which can be extracted from the bark by 

 infusion and used as a tonic. The tree grows to a lieight of 

 one hundred and twenty feet, with a diameter at the butt of about 

 three feet. 



