1+4 Proceed iv(/s of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



plains, and even on the hills, north of the Dividing Range, 

 they are much fewer than on the southern slopes of tlie 

 Range, and on the hills and in the forests towards the coast. 

 Suh-A]i)ine species are found on the lofty mountains of 

 the Victorian Alps, and sub-tro])ical species in east Gip])s- 

 land. This latter district, indeed, from its position near the 

 warm currents of the Pacific Ocean, and sheltered from the 

 .Southern Ocean by Tasmania, is physically, rather a part of 

 New South Wales, thari a province of Victoria. 



The annual firing of the forests has destroyed, and is 

 destroying, many spots which used to be good collecting 

 grounds. As lichens live only by the influence of air 

 and moisture, their growtli is intermittent ; and man 3^ of 

 them increase verj^' slowly, pi'obably continuing in life foi' 

 centuries, and their reproductive organs are supposed to 

 remain fertile for ages. The destruction of such plants is a 

 loss which cannot be readily made good. Many of them 

 are of more rapid growth, and some of them are ainiual. 



In favoui-able localities they are found on the earth, on 

 stones, on rocks, on the bark and leaves of trees, and on 

 other plants, even on other lichens, on dead wood, on 

 decayed moss, on fallen leaves, &c., on dry bones, on leather, 

 on glass. Some prefer one substratum and some another, 

 and some grow indifferently on an}'. Some saxicole lichens 

 gi'ow only on calcareous rocks, some on siliceous rocks, and 

 some on any. Certain kinds love the mountain, and some 

 grow oidy on Alpine or sub Alpine heights ; others love the 

 plain. Some grow only in wet places, others in the dens«^ 

 sunless shade, either on trees or in caves, or under ovei- 

 hanging rocks. Some like the neighbourhood of the sea. 

 othei'S of rivers or lakes. Some live in the water, either 

 constantly or occasionally submerged, in the channels of 

 streams, or on the seashore ; and some flom'ish on the slate 

 roofs of houses. 



4. — The Collecting <jf Lichens. 



The collecting of lichens is best done in tine, but not too 

 dry, weather. Those which grow closely attached to the 

 bark of plants, may be secured by cutting off the bark with 

 a strong sharp knife. If a piece of wood is taken along 

 with th.e bark, so much the better, as it v/ill prevent the 

 bark curling up when dried. The tough timl)er of our 

 fences and decorticated hardwood trees, on which some 



