223 



E. Muelleriana (or of E. ougciiioides, Sieb., as Messrs. Lueluiiann aud Walter 

 imagined it to bo). In Eucalypts wbich are aberrant (and this remark applies more 

 or less to other genera) it is often the case that they may be referred to more than 

 one species, according to the point of view.* 



As to the reputed inferior quality of the timber of E. nigra as compared with 

 E. exgeiiioides, I have some timber of the former which seems as good as any of 

 the latter; indeed, I cannot tell any difference between the two. I would suggest 

 that the reputed inferiority of E. nigra timber is owing to local causes. 



In northern New South Wales {e.g., " Stringybark," Acacia Creek, Mac- 

 pherson Range, W. Dunn (No. 72), and " Woolly-butt," Armidale district, 

 H. A. Perrott) we have Stringybarks with broader juvenile leaves than those of 

 typical Muelleriana, the fruit smaller, and sometimes a little angled. Tlie juvenile 

 leaves appear to be quite identical with specimens from Eden, in tlie extreme south- 

 east of New South Wales, collected by Howitt, and referred to E. eugenioides. 



The tree also occurs in southern Queensland, e.g., Stanthorpe (A. Murjihy), 

 "the common Stringybark of the district, runs out near AVarwick," 



In one point at least (the angularity of the fruit) this last specimen shows 

 some aflBnity to the pear-shaped fruited series which connects E. macrorrhyncha 

 and E. Muelleriana (see p. 229). 



The leaves, buds, and some of the fruits precisely match Mr. Baker's E. nigra, 

 and I cannot separate them from the small-fruited form of E. Muelleriana, on the 

 one hand, nor from E. eugenioides on the other. I think their proper jilace is 

 transit between E. JIuelleriana and E. eugenioides. These northern specimens 

 connect with those from the (a), (b), (c) from the Armidale district, already 

 referred to (p. 219). 



Mr. Baker also records E. nigra from Cook's Biver, Sydney. I am of opinion 

 that these specimens are referable to E. eugenioides, the size and shape of whose 

 fruits is very variable in the Sydney as well as in other districts. 



These difficulties of nomenclature and hesitancy to attril)utc some forms 

 definitely to one species to the exclusion of others arises from the realisation, 

 which presents itself to a philosophic mind, that in nature wc have an infinite 

 gradation of forms — a fact which is increasingly brought home to us as our know- 

 ledge of them increases. A knowledge of the oil-contents of the cells of the leaves 

 is a contribution to such knowledge ; but wc must bo on our guard that we do not 

 allow ourselves to ])e unduly influenced by this, but should balance it fairly with 

 evidence obtained in other lines of investigation. 



• " Two species may in their typical forms be very unlike, yet exhibit such affinity that they are more or less 

 connected by fre(|uent interinciliates, hyl)ri(ls, or atavistic forms." ("The generic concept in the olassitication of the 

 flowering plants." — 11. L. Robinson in "Science," n.s. xxiii, p. 83.) 



C 



