821 



As I base my classification on tliat of Mueller's of 1859, it may be a convenience 

 at the outset to eliminate the smaller species (Mallees or Marlocks), partly because they 

 form a natural group, and partly because they are »Qt classified apcording to their 

 barks. Nor are their timbers classified in practice as it is. They may, for the most 

 part, be looked upon as depauperate Gums. I wU make a few preliminary remarks on 

 size, and, by the elimination spoken of, we shall be in a position to more conveniently 

 study the remaining species. 



Descriptions of Barks necessarily tentative. — In describing the g^iieral appearance 

 of the trees and their barks, I have, as frequently as possible, stood in front of what 

 I considered average trees, and have written the descriptions on the spot. But these 

 descriptions have been done at different times. Further, some of the descriptions 

 have been written by different hands, some of them have been written at considerable 

 intervals of time, while some are short and some are long. As a result, the terms 

 employed for the same object vary with the talent and the experience of the authors 

 as descriptive writers. It becomes, therefore, a matter of careful research to 

 standardise these descriptions, and I can do no more than hope that the begiiming I 

 have made may be found useful. 



Following is my proposed classification : — 



0. Mallees (or Marlocks). 



(To be eliminated from the general bark, &c., classification, as a matter of 

 conveiuence. I list them below as True Mallees, False MaUees, and Marlocks.) 



1. LeiopMoice (Smooth-barks or Gums). 

 I propose the following provision^al sections : — ■ 



A. Shaft-like or columnar. 



{a) Pale timbers. 



(b) Red timbers. 



B. More or less erect in habitj but not shaft-like. 



(a) Pale timbers, 

 (6) Red timbers. 



(c) Brown timbers. 



C. Scrambling in habit. 



(a) Pale timbers. 



(h) Dark-coloured timbers, red to reddish-brown. 



D. Western Australian Blackbutts. 



E. Gimlet Gums. 



F. Grey and Spotted Gums. 



