131 



Temperature. 



The yearly mean ... 

 Maximum, January 31 . . 

 Minimum, September 26 

 Mean diurnal range for tlie year, 

 Greatest diurnal range . . . 



'Rainfall. — At Cape Borda, average for 12 years, 23"8 inches. 

 American Eiver " 15 " 20-33 " 



Kingscote, for year 1880 ... 19'65 " 



The rainfall on the north coast of Kangaroo Island is about 

 equal to that at Adelaide, but the other climatic elements, as 

 indicated in the foregoing tables, show in what way the climate 

 of Kangaroo Island is superior to that of Adelaide. The south 

 coast during the summer months is visited by light and local 

 showers, which do not penetrate far inland, but which doubt- 

 lessly serve to maintain a perennial flow of water in the many 

 channels of the south-western portion of the island. 



Botanical Explorations. 



1. Egbert Brown, the naturalist to Flinders's expedition, 

 carried the first botanical collection from Kangaroo Island to 

 Europe. The number of species was small, but it included 

 types of several new species. In the "Elora Australiensis," 

 the locality-name, Kangaroo Island, with the collector's name, 

 B. Broion, annexed, will be found recorded under 29 species 

 names. Eobert Brown's opportunities for extended botanical 

 work were few, and the period of his visit was unfavourable. 

 Erom the narrative of the voyage I compile the following brief 

 diary: — March 22 and 23, 1802, on shore at Kangaroo Head. 

 April 2-5, 1802, on shore at Kangaroo Head ; boat excursion to 

 American Eiver and Pelican Lagoon; ascended Prospect Hill, 

 situated on the isthmus connecting Dudley Peninsula with the 

 main mass of the island. The collection was derived almost 

 entirely from the littoral tracts, and Eobert Brown could not 

 have seen the characteristic inland flora. 



2. Latour Leschenatjlt, one of the botanists to Baudin's 

 expedition, who followed in the next year, sojourned off Kings- 

 cote from January 7 to Eebruary 1, 1803; and he tells us, that 

 "the island is sandy and without rivulets, that the vegetation 

 is beautiful, and the plants very varied. I have discovered a 

 great number of new species" (" Peron's Yoyages," vol. II., p. 

 366)'. E. Peron, the zoologist to the expedition, and the author 

 of the narrative, writes : — " At the head of this grand bay 

 [ISTepean Bay] there are forests which appear to extend far 

 away towards the interior, and which are composed of different 



