194 



IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



of a wrecked craft, from the mud. Following a 

 natural avenue, we were soon in the heart of the 

 forest. Palms, with bunches of red fruit depending 

 from their crowns, Richmond River Pines [Araucaria 

 cunninghamii'} ,Cedars, and Moreton Bay Figs, formed 

 the aristocracy of this little island's flora. The trees, 



IN THE CANEFIELDS. 



in many instances, were festooned with creepers, whose 

 rope-like stems swung gently. One could easily have 

 climbed these stout stems to the roof of the jungle. 

 Branches were tufted with orchids and parasitical 

 ferns; but there was a marked scarcity of flowers, 

 except in glades, where Convolvulus bells, pink, blue 

 and lilac, hung from the mantle of leaves, and in 

 marshy hollows, where lilies grew thickly. Red- 

 crowned Fruit Pigeons [Ptilonopus swainsoni] were 

 feeding among the palms and fig trees. Pademelons 

 [Macropus thetidis] went bounding through the scrub, 

 startled by our noisy footsteps; in the glades, butter- 



