TIMBERS. 373 
Wood of a light colour, soft, and light; if. cut when full of 
sap it is especially liable to decay, but it is not a durable wood 
under any circumstances. Weight, 38lbs. per cubic foot. It is 
common in the Eastern Archipelago and South Sea Islands. 
Queensland. 
aX. Alphitonia excelsa, Recsseck, (Syn. Colubrina excelsa, Fenzl.) ; 
N.O., Rhamnez, B.FI., i., 414. 
Variously called ‘‘ Mountain Ash,” ‘“‘ Red Ash,” “ Leather-jacket,” and . 
** Coopers’ Wood.” In the Illawarra district of New South Wales it is 
called “ Humbug,” while ‘ Murr-rung ”’ was formerly an aboriginal name in 
the same district. ‘‘ Nono-groyinandie” has been given as a Clarence 
River (New South Wales) aboriginal name for this tree. The aboriginals 
of Northern New South Wales call it ‘‘Culgera-culgera,” while some 
Queensland aboriginals call it ‘‘ Mee-a-mee.” 
The wood is hard, close-grained, durable, and will take a 
high polish ; it is suitable for gun-stocks, and a variety of other 
purposes. (Hill.) The timber becomes dark when old. It is 
valuable for coopers’ staves and indoor purposes. Wood near 
the outside somewhat pinkish, the inner wood dark-brown, or 
parti-coloured throughout; very tough, and warps in drying. 
A slab of this wood in the Technological Museum, which 
has been seasoned over twenty-five years (having been exhibited 
at the London International Exhibition of 1862), has a weight 
which corresponds to 53lbs. 50z. per cubic foot. 
The Revd. J. E. Tenison-Woods points out that in Queens- 
land this is one of the very characteristic trees of the “‘ Brigalow”’ 
scrubs. Diameter, 18 to 24in. Height, 45 to soft. 
New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Australia. 
72. Alsophila australis, R.Br., (Syn. A. excelsa, R.Br.; A. 
Coopert, Hook. et Bak.); N.O., Filices, B.FI., vii., 710. 
A “ Tree-fern.” By the aboriginals of Illawarra (New South Wales) 
it used to be called ‘‘ Beeow-wang,” and by the aboriginals of Queensland 
“ Nanga-nanga.” 
it “ Pooeet.” 
This timber (z.e., the outer hard portion) is used for walking 
sticks and articles of fancy furniture. It is nicely veined, and 
The aboriginals at the Coranderrk Station (Victoria), call 
