to Fxrnrsio)! to Phillip fshmd. [voi^xxxi. 



island there are many small patches of native timber, &c., still 

 left. The prevailing eucalypt seems to be the Narrowed-leaved 

 Pepi)crmint, /:. amygdalina, of only moderate size. Here and 

 there the Yellow Box-gum, /: mclliodora, occurs, and just about 

 the centre of the island a limited numl)er of Blue Gums, 

 E. globulus, of various ages, may be seen. During a visit to 

 Pyramid Rock we found quantities of Acacia verticillata, but 

 very stunted in growth ; Goodenia ovata occurred there also, but 

 a stouter form than usually met with. TliC common heath 

 {Epacris) seemed scarce, and where the orchids are found, which 

 many years ago formed such a feature at our wild-Hower 

 exhibitions, seemed to me a puzzle ; l)ut then, of course, it was 

 too early even for their foliage to betray their presence. I was 

 told that sheokes once covered large portions of the western 

 side of tlie island, but the only specimens we saw were in the 

 corner of a jxiddock near Rhyll. The only shrub in bloom on 

 the Woolamai Peninsula was a composite, Olearia {Aster) 

 axilldfis, which has a very aromatic odour. Here the Coast 

 White-bush, Caloccphalus Brownii, formed large cushion-like 

 masses. The I\Iutton-l)irds have had additional cover provided 

 for ^ leni by the planting of marram grass, which is doing 

 -■<^e iingly well along the sand-ridges. Of neither the tussock 

 g. nor the cladium, among which most of the burrows are 

 situ .'d. was I able to get flowering specimens, so cannot 

 identify the species. The sweet Bursaria was in many places in a 

 ]iicturesquc stage, its purse-like seed-vessels being of a rich sienna 

 ( our, and quickly attracting notice. Along the ocean coast-line, 

 opposed to strong winds, the vegetation is, as might be expected, 

 very scanty. It was sad to see how the European gorse or furze 

 is taking possession of the roadsides, and, along with the sweet- 

 briar, it will soon become a formidable pest to the land-owners." 



The party regretted that, owing to unforeseen circumstances, 

 Mr. J. Gabriel, whose name appeared in the excursion list as 

 co-leader, was unable to take part in the outing, more especially 

 as he is so thoroughly acquainted with all parts of the island 

 and its surroundings. — E. C. Joshua. 



Flowers in the Snow. — The Coiinlry-Sidc (London) for 

 April has a short illustrated article on the Alpine Soldanella, a 

 composite plant which thrusts its flowers up through the snow 

 (»f the Swiss snowfields during the early spring. If the snow is 

 not too thick the flowers are very numerous, and apjiear like 

 vi(jlet daisies stuck into the snow. The plant has tliick ever- 

 green leaves, and the respiration from the flower buds i)roduces 

 sufficient heat to melt the snow surrounding the flower-stalk, 

 thus enabling it to reach the light and air. 



