84 THE VICTORIAN NATUHALIRT. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE TREE-LINE IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, —Mr. G. Weindorfer's paper, " Some Comparison of the 

 Alpine Flora of Australia and Europe," in the September 

 Naturalist, is very interesting, and full of points for discussion. 

 At page 65 he states that I do not explain the basis adopted by 

 me for the statement that " the height of the tree-line is fairly 

 constant (about 6,500 feet) " on Mount Kosciusko. 



The trees forming the tree-line are Eucalyptus coriacea (pauci- 

 floraj. They are abundant on the Monaro plains, and can be 

 traced all up Mt. Kosciusko, gradually diminishing in height until 

 (at the height above sea-level stated) they abruptly cease, forming 

 a narrow strip of mallee-like growth about twenty feet high. This 

 growth fringes the edge of the escarpment, and extends for a 

 considerable distance at the same level. There is no abrupt 

 transition in the tree-growth, and it is proper, in my opinion, to 

 use the term " tree-line " in the sense in which I have used it. 



I agree with Mr. Weindorfer that the tree-line is much lower 

 on the Victorian side — probably this is accounted for by the 

 southern aspect. 



With reference to the snow-fall, referred to at page 66, deep 

 snow-drifts are eternal on the highest parts of Mt. Kosciusko. 

 Snow may fall any day in the year. I have been snowed up for 

 three days in January, and have seen the remains of some 

 thousands of sheep that perished in a blizzard on 26th January, 

 a few years ago. 



I notice at page 64 that Mr. F. Reader, in exhibiting Pheros- 

 phcera fitzgeraldi, says that it has been found at the Katoomba 

 and Leura Falls (quite close to each other) only. I beg to say 

 that it is far from rare at the Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains. — 

 Yours truly, 



J. H. MAIDEN, 

 2%th September, 1903. Director Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 



" Red Rain." — Those interested in the nature of " red-rain " 

 sediments will find a valuable contribution to the subject by 

 Prof. A. Liversidge, LL.D., F.R.S., in the Jcurn. and Proc. R. S. 

 N.S.W., vol. xxxvi., 1902, pp. 241-285. We are indebted to 

 Mr. G. S. Walpole for kindly calling our attention to the paper, 

 which was unfortunately omitted from our article on the subject 

 in the June number of this journal. — F. Chapman and H. J. 

 Grayson. 



