BOTANY OF SWAN RIVER. 309 



supported through nearly the whole of the dry season, but 

 that most descriptions of it had even fattened on the natu- 

 ral herbage of the country. 



From these more general observations I ])roceed to make 

 a very few remarks, chiefly relating to the geographical 

 distribution of some of the families or more interesting 

 species, either contained in the herbarium, or distinctly 

 noticed in Mr. Eraser's rei)ort. 



The striking resemblance in general character, and the 

 identity of many of the species with those of King George's 

 Sound, have been already mentioned. But this portion of 

 the shores of New Holland, extending from Swan River on 

 the west coast to Middle Island, in l^'^"" 10' east long, 

 on the south coast, may be said to contain the greatest 

 proportion of those genera which form the chief peculiarities 

 of 'New Holland vegetation. 



In comparing the Flora of the district of Swan River 

 wdth more distant regions of the same continent, it may be 

 remarked, that })robably not more than four or five s})ecies 

 are common to this part of the west coast, and to the same 

 parallel of the east coast of New Holland ; and that even 

 the existence of some of these species at Swan River is not 

 altogether certain. 



In the collections which I have examined there is no 

 specimen of Antldstiria aiistralis, or Kangaroo-grass of 

 New South Wales ; but as this valuable grass must have 

 been well known to the botanical collector, and as it is 

 perhaps the most general plant in New Holland, I have 

 no hesitation in admitting its existence on the authority of 

 Mr. Fraser's report. 



Mesemhnjantlienmm cequilaferaJe is neither contained in 

 the herbarium, nor mentioned by the collector. I find, 

 however, in one of the letters from Swan River, published 

 by Mr. Cross, a plant noticed as a ])ot-herb, that, from the 

 account of the writer, is probably this })lant, which, next to 

 Anthistiria ausfralis, is perhaps the most widely diil'used 

 species in the Flora of New Holland. 



The third species is Ptcrls escalcnla, the only fern found 

 by Mr. Fraser, and which is both general and abundant 



