\l STIIALIA. I'm 



ville, 40 miles distant, two hours later. Ilcalsvillo is 

 at the foot of a range of mountains that rise to a height 

 of from 2,500 to 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. 

 The village is the terminal point of the railroad. The 

 road passes through a. prosperous agricultural and pas- 

 turage plain, from which the mountain ranges can he 

 seen in the distance. The eucalyptus tree attains its 

 largest size in the moist, fertile ravines and summits 

 of the mountains, where the rainfall is most abundant. 

 A carriage awaited us at the depot, and we at once 

 ascended the excellent zigzag road which leads over one 

 of the mountain passes. From the very beginning we 

 entered a forest of eucalyptus, with an almost impene- 

 trable undergrowth of shrubs and bramble. Rabbits 

 shot across the road with the speed of lightning, and 

 the little Australian quail sought, slowly and thought- 

 fully, shelter in the inaccessible jungle. Magpies and 

 the laughing jackass (Australian kingfisher) watched 

 our progress and defied us in a language replete with 

 mockery. It is a great treat to see a virgin forest of 

 eucalyptus trees. As we ascended the steep, tortuous 

 incline the trees became larger and larger, until we 

 reached the highest elevation, when we were face to face 

 with the patriarchs who were born centuries ago and 

 had nearly reached the limits of their lives. Here were 

 trees 250 feet in height and 33 feet in circumference. 

 These veterans had not forgotten their customary 

 habits ; old and decrepit, they were engaged in throwing 

 off their old clothing that had served them for fully 

 a year. They began the divestment of their dilapidated 

 garment near the top of the evergreen crown, from 

 where the rags were hanging down in streamers, swayed 

 to and fro by the mountain breeze, and many of them 

 were lying in disorder at the foot of the rejuvenating 

 veteran monarchs of the forest. They were not prema- 

 ture in changing their clothing. The bare parts of 

 their bodies and limbs were already protected by a 

 brand new coat and sleeves of a smooth silvery-white 



