218 NATUBAL HISTORY SKETCHES. 



where nature still reigns paramount in her sternest and 

 wildest mood. 



Scarcely a wild-flower of any size delights the eye, 

 except the pink and white heather, which certainly do 

 present a splendid appearance when a large patch in full 

 blossom bursts suddenly upon the view; and some creepers, 

 which, beautiful as they are when examined closely, are 

 too small to attract the notice of the casual passer-by. 

 The wild orchis and the geranium are everywhere com- 

 mon : many of the smaller species appear to be identical 

 with their namesakes at home ; and I have plucked more 

 than one little wild mountain-flower on the ranges here, 

 which has brought back to my mind scenes many thou- 

 sand miles distant. The flowering shrubs are some of 

 them most beautiful ; and many a rare exotic, which 

 would be highly prized in the greenhouses at home, 

 blooms unnoticed in all the wild luxuriance of untamed 

 nature, in the deep gullies here. The only two large 

 wild-flowers that I ever saw, were the large white lotus, 

 common in the water-holes and creeks, and a large white 

 star-flower, which grew in rich profusion by many of the 

 mountain streams. As for wild fruits, I never could fall 

 Lr_ vitjj a~y wortli gathering, except the wild cherry, 

 which is a little brger than an apple-pip, and grows 

 with the stone outside ; the native grape, of a transpa- 

 rent greenish-yellow hue, as large as a black currant, 

 which clusters on a creeper thickly interlaced among the 

 tea-tree scrub ; the cranberry, which here grows on a flat 

 creeping bush, on and sometimes in the sand ; and a few 



