PHYSIOGRAPHY OF TASMANIA. 141 



apparently then fastened on by this curious lichen. Of 

 flowering grasses, we gathered the tall Alpine Holy grass 

 {Hierocliloe reclolens), the Craspedia richei, whose tall stalk 

 and downy, button-shaped flower towered above the dwarf 

 Poa grass ; we also gathered two other species {Hypochodris 

 radicataa,ndFrasophyUunifuscum). On the northern shore, 

 near the bank of stones, and here and there elsewhere, 

 isolated bushes of the ''Mountain Pittosporum " were found, 

 and these were the tallest shrubs on the island. The Pepper 

 tree {priniys ((roinaticci), with its red stems and berries, was 

 more plentiful than the last, and grew in company with the 

 pretty little bush Bellcndena iiwntana, v/hich has green 

 Teaves, with a red obverse surface. The " Yellow Bush," so 

 well known on the mountain plateaus of Tasm-a.nia, with its 

 intensely hard wood, is found on the island, as well as round 

 the shores of the lake; but I have not seen it anywhere 

 so plentiful as on Ben Lomond. Other small shrubs make 

 up the vegetation we observed, and are included in the 

 list at the end of this note, and for the identification of all 

 of which I am indebted to Mr. Rodway. 



As regards the zoology of this lonely little tract, one 

 would naturally expect to find it devoid of life ; but Mr. 

 Archer assures me he once saw on it the largest specimen 

 of a Porcupine {Echidna) he ever came upon; the inference 

 of which discovery is, that this animal must be a permanent 

 inhabitant of Pine Island, or crossed over on the ice pre- 

 vious to a thaw. Whip-snakes are also said to be denizens 

 of it. 



The only bird seen was the ubiquitous Pipit, or Ground 

 Lark {Anthus australis). The little Gull breeds, at times, 

 plentifully on Garden Island, near the Police Station, and 

 no doubt affects this one, but we had not time to look for 

 evidence in the shape of old nests, many of which we came 

 upon in the former islet. 



The list of grasses and shrubs observed on Pine Island 



is as follows — 



Shrubs. 



Drimys aromatica Pepper Tree. 



Pittosporum bicolor Pittosporum. 



Orites revoluta Yellow-b ush. 



Pultencea ruhumbellata Native Wallflower. 



Bellendena montana Mountain Roebel. 



Coprosma nitida Mountain Currant. 



Comesperma retusum Purple Broom. 



Olearia/nyrsinoides Rou^h-leaved Daisy-tree. 



Ozothamus Hookeri Hooker's Scent-bush. 



BoecMa gunninna Gunn's Boeckia. 



Hakea microcarpa Small-fruited Hakea. 



