28 TROPIC DAYS 



compact blotch. And when the wind torments sea and 

 forest, and branches bend and sway, and creepers drift 

 before it, the white blooms of the orchids, so light and 

 delicate that a sigh agitates them, might be "foam- 

 flakes torn from the fringe of spray" and tossed aloft. 



The technical description of a fairly common tree 

 Ixora timorensis is silent on a quality that appeals to 

 the unversed admirer almost as strongly as the hand- 

 some flowers, which occur in large, loose panicles at the 

 terminals of the branches. Boldly exposed, the white 

 flowers as they lose primal freshness change to cream, 

 but last for several weeks. The omitted compliment 

 from formal records is the singular fragrance of the 

 flowers strong, sweet, and enticing, though with a 

 drug-like savour, as if rather an artificial addition than 

 a provision of Nature. During December the perfume 

 hangs heavily about the trees, being specially virile in the 

 cool of evening and morning. Being confined to the 

 tropical coast, away from the centres of population, 

 and flowering at a season when visitors avoid the north, 

 the scented Ixora has so far remained uncommended. 

 Those who are familiar with it in its native scene dwell 

 on its unique excellence, and are proud to reflect that 

 when a comprehensive catalogue of the flowering and 

 perfumed plants of Australia comes to be compiled it 

 will stand high in order of merit, being unique and 

 characteristic of the richness of that part of the continent 

 in which it exists naturally. 



Twice during lengthy intervals have I been perturbed 

 by the conduct of the sea-swallows (terns) which breed 

 in this neighbourhood. They select for their nurseries 

 coral banks, depositing large numbers of eggs beyond 

 the limit of high tides. In obedience to some law, the 

 joyful white birds began to lay in September, five or 

 six weeks earlier than usual. It seemed to be a half- 



