573 



Prostanthera lasiantlios, Fricsia pcduiiculaiis, and many oUicr slinibs, are met witli in 

 the middle region of the mountain. For a considerable part of the way up, we availed 

 ourselves of a path that is nearly obliterated, which was used by the workmen, when 

 laying a watercourse from the breast of the mountain, for the purpose of supplying Ho- 

 bart Town with water. This path led through a forest of tree-ferns, surmounted by 

 myrtle, &c. Nearer the top, we had to ]iass a large tract of tumbled basalt. The up- 

 per parts of many of the stones were split off, probably by the alternations of frost and 

 heat. A few patches of snow were still remaining. 



" Tlie top of the mountain is rather hollow, sloping toward Birches Bay, in the di- 

 rection of which, a stream of excellent water flows. The ground is swampy, with rocks 

 and stony hills. Astelia alpina, Gleichenia alpina, Drosera arcturi, several remarka- 

 ble shrubby Asters, a prostrate species of Leptospermum, Exocarpos humifusus, a dense 

 bushy Richea, and several mountain shrubs, of the Epacris tribe, are scattered in the 

 swamps, and among the rocks." — p. 159. 



In the narrative of a second visit to Flinders Island, in December, 

 we find a more detailed account of the grass-trees than any that has 

 previously been given. Their stems are five to seven feet in height, 

 and as many in circumference ; the crest or summit consists of a num- 

 ber of grass-like leaves, three or four feet in length, and from the cen- 

 tre of these rises a single erect flower-spike, varying from five to ten 

 feet in height : this is thickly clothed with hard scales, and small, 

 white, star-like flowers, except for about eighteen inches, at the base, 

 which is bare. The trunks of these grass-trees are charred with con- 

 tinual burnings of the scmb ; and abundance of red resin, capable of 

 being used in making sealing-wax and French polish, exudes from 

 them : this resin fills the place left by the decay of the flower-stalk, 

 and is abundant at the base of the stem, protecting this part from ex- 

 cess of moisture. The head of a grass-tree that has not thrown out a 

 flower-stem is pleasant eating, and has a nutty flavour. Accompanying 

 the description is a plate, representing these extraordinary plants. 



In May, 1834, our travellers being at Hobart Town, visited a small 

 settlement on tlie Derwent, called Brown's River, and noticed in their 

 walk Sprengelia incarnata, a heath-like shrub, which was in flower 

 in some marshy grouTid by the way : also Plagianthns discolor, one 

 of the Malvaceae, bearing clusters of white blossoms : the species of 

 this genus are called Currijong, in common with others whose bark is 

 sufliciently tenacious for making cordage. 



Norfolk Island. — James Backhouse landed on Norfolk Island in 

 the beginning of March, 1835 : he thus describes it. 



" Norfolk Island is about seven miles long and four broad. A small portion of its 

 southern side is limestone ; to the east of this there is a still smaller portion, of coarse, 



