THE VICLORIAN NATURALIST. 153 
Martin’s Hillis the north ascent of a granite plateau, which, with 
the exception of the narrow and lower spur which forms the light- 
house foreland, constitutes the southern extremity of the Promontory. 
The climb was a steep one and one could not but marvel at the. 
sagacity and dexterity of our pack-horse. He performed many 
gymnastic feats during our tramp, but I think his ascent of that 
harsh, and steep, and insecure hill-front beat all the rest. Once up, 
however, and the rest of the eight miles to the light-house was easy 
work. On the brow of the hil, Gompholobium Huegelit, and G 
minus grew together in abundance. We came across three specimens 
of the blue-tongued lizard, Cyclodus gigas, two on this part of our 
journey. One was feeding ona fungus, the other apparently on a 
dead bird. They are easy enough to catch, of course, but we carried 
no means of preserving them. So with the Echidna; we disturbed 
three of these ant-eaters and made them burrow to amuse us, but 
did not bring away more than a few spines as_ trophies. Amonest 
birds we noted the Blue Mountain Parrot, the Cockatoo Parrot, 
flocks of the little Love Birds, and a number of Parrakeets, which I 
am quite unable toname. Atthe mouth of one of the creeks we found 
fresh emu tracks on our return. While collecting shells on some 
rocks which ran out into the sea on the seven mile stretch of sand, I 
noticed a small heron standing near me, and ever and again darting 
on some victim. 1 had not before made the acquaintance of a sea- 
heron, and watched him for some time. Wallabies occasionally 
bounded away from us, startled at our approach. The sportsman 
has not yet made the Promontory desolate, and the native inhabitants 
can still be observed, undisturbed in their proper hauuts. 
Near the lighthouse I found several everlastings. Helichrysum 
lucidum grew magnificently. H. obtwsifolium occurs here, but does 
not reach Tasmania. H. dealbatum, however, is found across the 
Straits. I have already mentioned H. Baxteri as extending only to 
the neck of the Promontory, and I am informed by Baron yon 
Mueller that it had not been observed so far south before. The 
flora of the Promontory is especially intéresting im its relation to 
the distribution of plants. for here we have the land of the continent 
which most nearly approaches Tasmania. I must here record my 
obligations and thanks to Baron von Mueller, to whom I submitted 
many of my specimens, and whose determinations of difficult species, 
render this paper trustworthy in its record of plants. 
Among the huge granite boulders of this iron coast, and in 
crevices and caves of the rocky cliffs, grow numbers of specimens of 
Asplenium marinum, which we had gathered in similar situations in 
Guernsey and Cornwall. It was,indeed astonishing to fird this 
plant world-wide in its distribution, and to reflect that it has its 
habitat, as it were, scarcely on land and scarcely in sea, occupying 
