36 FLOEA OF ATTSTBALIA. 



in large patches. In the same manner, on the top'of walls or be- 

 tween the bricks of houses when the mortar is getting somewhat 

 decomposed, Tortula muralis sends forth its hair-tipped leaves. 

 Dicranum flexuosum comes up in low wet ground, and as it dies 

 away before the approaching summer, leaves dark and discoloured 

 patches here and there between the grasses ; and D. bryoides^ 

 which cheered the celebrated African traveller in his despondency, 

 comes on the moist dripping banks of our creeks." 3. " Cata- 

 logue of the Dipterous Insects collected by Mr. B. Wallace, at 

 G-ilolo, Ternate and Ceram," by F. Walker, Esq. 4. " Description 

 of a (supposed) new Annelid," by Dr. Hart Vinen. 



AUSTRALIAN FERNS. 



"DEIiHAPS there is no order of the vegetable kingdom which 

 has more attractions for the general observer J;han that of 

 Ferns. The extreme elegance and extraordinary diversity of 

 their forms, as well as the facility with which many species can 

 be procured and dried, tend to make the study of Ferns highly 

 popular, and to induce even persons who have but little idea of 

 classification, to collect specimens for amusement. As these 

 plants are found in various localities, sometimes for instance on 

 the banks of our creeks or on the margins of marshes, and some- 

 times in the dense forest or on the Alpine height, there is scarcely 

 any part of our coast in which some species do not occur. The 

 wide geographical distribution of Ferns, therefore, is well calcu- 

 lated to promote the study of this interesting order, for although 

 some of the rare species have a very limited range, and are found 

 only by those who search diligently for them, yet many of the 

 common forms around us present interesting subjects for inquiry, 

 and gradually lead to the elucidation of species less known. 

 But whilst alluding to what may be deemed ". common forms," it 

 must be recollected that species which are plentiful in one place, 



