653 



and stringy-bark, of about 200 feet in height, with straight trunks, clear of branches 

 for from 100 to 150 feet; and resembling an assemblage of elegant columns, so irre- 

 gularly placed as to intercept the view at the distance of a few hundred yards. These 

 are elegantly crowned with branching tops of light willow-like foliage, but at an ele- 

 vation too great to allow the form of the leaves to be distinguished, yet throwing a 

 gentle shade on the ground below, which is covered with splendid tree-ferns and large 

 shnibs, and carpeted with smaller ferns. Some of the larger stringy-barks exceed 200 

 feet, and rise nearly as high as ' the monument ' before branching. Their trunks also 

 will bear a comparison with that stately column, both in circumference and straight- 

 ness. The bark of these trees is brown and cracked: that of the white-gums is French 

 grey, and smooth. 



" The prostrate trunks of these sylvan giants, in various stages of decay, add great- 

 ly to the interest of the scene. Some of them, lately fallen, have vast masses of the 

 rich red earth in which they grew, still clinging to their roots ; others, that have been 

 in a state of decay before they fell, present singular ruins of shattered limbs and bro- 

 ken boughs ; others, that seem to have been in a state of decomposition for ages, have 

 become overgrown with various ferns and shrubs. 



"As the distance from the sea increases, the Australian myrtle and sassafras, of 

 dark dense foliage, become the prevailing trees. In these denser forests, tree-ferns 

 form nearly the sole undergrowth, except the small, starry ferns, of low stature, of the 

 genus Lomaria, that cover the ground thinly. Some of the tree-ferus have trunks 20 

 feet high. Their leaves are from 8 to 12 feet long, and the new ones, now fonning, 

 rise in the centre like elegant crosiers.'' — p. HI. 



(To be continued). 



Art. CXKXIY.— Varieties. 



270. Note oji the occurrence of Cusciita Epilinum and Saponaria 

 Vaccaria in Morayshire. In July, 1842, Mr. Wilson of Alves detect 

 ed these two plants in a field of flax, in the parish of Alves, Moray- 

 shire, along with Camelina sativa. Mr. Babington's remark (Phytol. 

 250) that C. Epilinum does not make its appearance among flax 

 raised fi-om American and Riga seed, led me to enquire whence the 

 seed in the present case was imported. I am informed that all the 

 flax-seed used in this district is procured either fi-om America or Hol- 

 land ; that those who are in the habit of using both, can distinguish 

 American seed firom Dutch by the rounder shape of the former ; and 

 that the seed respecting which I made the enquiry, was the remains 

 of a cargo which had been cleared out at London, was obtained from 

 the vessel on its arrival at Burghead (a small port on the Moray Frith), 

 and was considered to be American on the ground just mentioned. — 

 J. B. Brichan ; Forres, February 14, 1843. 



271. Note on a supposed new British ^cidium. Last August I 

 found at this place a species of ^cidium, which is not noticed in 



3c' 



