82 PARAMATTA . 



be as great, if not a greater rarity, at Sydney 

 than in England, for in the latter country I am 

 happy to see they are endeavouring to, and I 

 hope will, succeed in breeding them. 



The acacias (of the species floi^ihunda and 

 jillifannilms) were abundant, and covered at this 

 season with a profusion of delicate golden 

 flowers, imparting to the otherwise sterile aspect 

 of the woods, a gay and animated appearance, 

 as well as diffusing a grateful fragrance around, 

 wafted by the gentle breezes to a still greater 

 distance ; their drooping branches, thickly 

 studded with pending clusters of blossoms, de- 

 corated the sides of the roads, gardens, barren 

 plains, and banks of rivers, being the only 

 trees that at one period of the season bestowed 

 some life to the usual uninteresting character of 

 the scenery, at some parts aided by other flower- 

 ing shrubs in full blossom, among which those 

 of the Epacrid(B family were most profuse. 



Paramatta is a pretty village situated in a 

 vale, and has some well-constructed public 

 buildings — as the government-house, orphan- 

 school, commissariat stores, female factory, &c. 

 The situation of the village renders it exceed- 

 ingly sultry during the summer months. The 

 government-house is well-situated, and the 

 building is of neat construction ; the grounds 



