58 



extension between the ranges, and somewhat capricious occur- 

 rence upon their flanks, correspodding with the similar 

 peculiarity observed in the occurrence of the tertiary deposit 

 upon the N.E. Coast, with which they perfectly correspond. 



The physical features of these islands are expressed some- 

 what more minutely in the general map of the colony by Mr. 

 Sprent than is usually the case, but still it conveys no 

 adequate idea of the strange appearance presented by the 

 great granite ranges standing out abruptly like headlands 

 or craggy islands from the plains of tertiary land, level as a 

 sheet of water for miles, stretching for miles in length and 

 width around their base, and winding in bay like valleys 

 between them. 



These plains are mostly sand or coarse quartz gravel 

 derived from the adjacent granite rocks. This has been 

 generally denuded away where the ranges butt against the 

 coast line ; but occasionally sections remain, showing friable 

 sandstones with an amount of false bedding, which almost 

 suggests unconformability, or impure limestone, the source of 

 springs crusting the cliffs with tufaceous deposit. 



The ranges in Flinders are with one exception (that of the 

 Patriarchs), confined ;.o the western coast line, and the highest 

 point determined by Mr. Sprent was the summit of Strzelecki 

 Peak, which has an elevation of 2,550 feet. They are nearly 

 entirely composed of granite, and although, in some instances 

 covered by forest and scrub, are for the most part bare and 

 rocky masses, affording a great variety of really grand and 

 very beautiful scenery. The slopes of these ranges, and the 

 tertiary pJaiiis surrounding them, forma vast open grass tree 

 country with only occasional belts of tea tree, and similar 

 scrub. The true grassy portions of Flinders are restricted 

 and patchy, the most important being situated on the extreme 

 north end of the island, opposite to the Sisters, and in the 

 vicinity of the settlement. Cape Barren is generally 

 mountainous, and unfitted for occupation, the lower portion 

 and plains bordering the ranges forming grass tree open 

 country as in the case of Flinders. The smaller islands seem 

 to be those best adapted for pastoral purposes, and most of 

 them produce a rough coarse grass on which sheep manage 

 pretty well. These are chiefly granite also, but being of low 

 elevation have the advantage of exposing the most recent 

 tertiary beds, containing a large amount of lime in the form of 

 unaltered shells, closely allied to existing species. Many of 

 them have also been at one time, or are still, highly manured 

 by the existence on them of mutton bird rookeries. The 

 plan exhibits outlying patches of Silurian rocks ; these are of 

 unimportant extent, relatively to the general area of the island, 



