FLORA OF THE TORRES STRAITS. 447 
Eleusine cegyptiaca, Pers. ‘Small Crow-foot Grass.” 
A very common grass upon the island, usually on the flat land, 
Spikes, 3 to 5 in a spreading head. Dr. W. E. Roth gives an 
interesting account of the mode adopted by the natives at Boulia 
in preparing “damper” from the seeds of this grass, called by 
them “ ya-ra-ka.” ‘“ Ethnological Studies among the N. W. Central 
Aborigines.” 
Triraphis mollis, R. Br. 
Panicle narrow, dense, 4 to 6 in. long, having a soft appear- 
ance. 
Eragrostis Brownit, Nees. ‘ Love Grass.” 
A very variable grass, met with in most parts of Queensland. 
Ectrosia leporina, R. Br. ‘ Hare’s Tail Grass.” 
A glabrous grass of 1 or 2 ft. ; panicle dense, soft-looking, and 
3 to 6 in. long. 
ACOTYLEDONS OR CRYPTOGAMS. 
The small number of cryptogamous plants which I am enabled 
to record as baying been observed on Thursday Island may in 
some measure be accounted for by my visit to the island having 
been made at the dry season of the year, and from the fact also 
that what is considered there as the wet season had this year 
passed over without the usual quantity of rain. I, however, do 
not think from what I saw of the vegetation that this particular 
island is one likely to furnish any great variety of these plants. 
On some of the other islands, having a better water supply and 
larger area of scrub, these plants are likely to be found more or 
less abundant. All I can record at present are— 
. Filices. 
Lygodium japonicum, Sw. 
Polypodium scandens, Forst. 
Notholena fragilis, Hook. 
NV. Prenticei, Luerssn. 
Fungi. 
Polyporus fruticum, Berk. 
On the twigs of trees. 
Polystictus cinnabarinus, Fries. 
On dead wood. Dr. Roth informs me that this common red 
fungus is worn as a forehead ornament by the natives of Keppel 
Island. 
Uromyces fusisporus,* Cke. and Mass. 
Phyllosticta Acacie,* Cke. 
Both on the phyllodes of acacias. 
* Not previously recorded for Queensland ; determined by Dr. M. C. Coeke. 
