COUNTRY ABOUT PORT GREY 195 



portion of the coast. Northward sand-ridges run parallel 

 with the coast-line and close to it; and these, and the 

 whole country where it has not been cleared by the 

 colonists, are covered with scattered clumps of scrub and 

 trees. Well away from the clearings there are scattered 

 trees and small groves or clumps of banksias, eucalyptus, 

 and grass-trees ; and there are a few patches of the white 

 and yellow everlasting flowers that are one of the 

 characteristic features of this country. Other vegetable 

 productions that may be noticed are tea-trees, wattle- 

 grass, and cabbage-trees. 



As far as I rode northward this was the character of 

 the country. Four or five miles behind Mount Fairfax 

 there is a range (the Victoria of Grey) of hills of about 

 eight hundred feet above sea-level. These are also of 

 ironstone formation, and have similar features to those of 

 Moresby's flat-topped range near the coast. 



This description of the country around Port Grey will 

 give a good idea of the whole region for many miles on all 

 sides of it. The trees and vegetation generally has a 

 stunted and withered appearance ; but after rain this grass 

 and herbage improves, and looks green and vigorous. 

 There is scarcely a fine native tree in the whole district ; 

 but imported fruit-trees, and others that are cultivated 

 and cared for in gardens, flourish and yield well. 



There are but few land animals in the district, and 

 those few daily grow fewer before the guns of the settlers ; 

 but there are plenty of birds ; and the seas all along the 

 west coast swarm with fish. Some of these animals I 

 now proceed to describe. 



