136 Daley, Notes of a Visit to Mallacoota Inlet, [vou xxxiv. 



peculiarly littcd by aspect, rainfall, and other climatic con- 

 ditions, as well as by properties of soil, lor the extension of 

 vegetation, especially from the proUhc north towards the 

 genial south, and thus increasing the range of certain species 

 bevond the limits which, under other less favourable con- 

 ditions, they would occupy. Thus the species of Blood-wood 

 showing the greatest power for accommodation to climate, 

 and also the most adaptive species of Angophora, have reached 

 the southernmost limit of the continent, and have also made 

 some progress in migration westwards along the southern slope. 

 To the same agency is probably due the presence of the 

 Cabbage Palm, Livistona aiistralis, the Victorian Waratah, 

 Telopea oreades, an occasional Kurrajong, Brachychiton 

 populneus, the Gippsland Orange, Acronychia levis, and other 

 northern plants unknown elsewhere in Victoria. To this 

 faciUty for extension and distribution afforded by the direction 

 and position of tlie mountain barrier is also due the presence 

 of bird and reptilian life approximating generally more to that 

 of New^ South Wales than of Victoria. 



Mr. (xrifftths Taylor, Commonwealth Physiographer, has, in 

 connection with his work on " The Physiography of Eastern 

 Austraha," pointed out how, through the eastern Geocols or 

 gaps in the Main Divide, the entry of the vegetation of one 

 area into another may be made. One of these Geocols — the 

 Cooma or Monaro — stretches from Omeo through Bombala 

 to Cooma. It is probable that an offshoot of this may have 

 been also additionally instrumental in the distril)ution of 

 some northern species of plants into Gippsland, the tendency 

 being for plant migration towards the coastal regions. 



In connection with this distribution of plants, the important 

 influence which geological formations exercise over tht' 

 character of the vegetation cannot be overlooked. Mr. R. PL 

 Cambage, F.L.S., who has done excellent work in studying the 

 relationship of the flora of New South Wales to the geological 

 formations on which it occurs, refers to the Blood-wood, /:. 

 corymbosa, as always selecting the sandstone, and avoiding 

 the Wianamatta shale, in the Hawkesbury district. At Malla- 

 coota the Ironbark, E. sideroxylon, so inseparable a feature 

 and almost an indicator of Victorian auriferous areas, is 

 naturally found growing over the Ordovician measures. Mr. 

 Lees informs me that the; Snowy River Mahogany, extending 

 eastwards to the Thurra River, tlien the Apple and Blood-woocl, 

 at first scarce and intermittent, but gradually increasing until 

 well into New South Wales they come in contact witli the 

 Tallow-wood, K. microcorys, do not mingle, but form distinct 

 botanical zones, confined to lower altitudes, and not extending 

 beyond the slopes of the coast range. Then northwards, at 



