168 POBEST CULTUBE AND 



rence of lofty forest ranges along the whole eastern 

 and south-eastern coast changes largely there the as- 

 pect of the country, and in this alteration the moun- 

 tainous island Tasmania greatly participates. Thus 

 the extensive umbrageous forest regions of perpetual 

 humidity commence in the vicinity of Cape Otway ; 

 extend occasionally, but not widely interrupted, 

 through the southern and eastern part of Victoria, 

 and thence, especially on the seaside slopes of the 

 ranges, throughout the whole of extra-and intra-trop- 

 ical East Australia in a band of more or less width, 

 until the cessation of elevated mountains on the north- 

 ern coast confines the regions of continued moisture 

 to a narrow strip of jungle-land margining the coast. 

 In this vast line of elevated coast-country, extend- 

 ing in length over nearly three thousand miles, and 

 which fairly may pass as the " Australian jungle," the 

 vegetation assimilates more than elsewhere to extra- 

 Australian types, especially to the impressive floral 

 features of continental and insular India. Progressing 

 from the Victorian promontories easterly, and thence 

 northerly, we find that the Eucalypts, which still pre- 

 ponderate in the forest of the southern ranges, gradu- 

 ally forsake us, and thus in eastern Gipps Land com- 

 mences the vast assemblage of varied trees which so 

 much charms by its variety of forms, and so keenly 

 engages attention by the multiplicity of its interest. 

 Bathed in vapor from innumerable springs or torrents, 

 and sheltered under the dark foliage of trees very 

 varied in form, a magnificent display of the Fern- 

 trees commences, for which further westerly we 

 would seek in vain the climatic conditions. Even 

 isolated sentries, as- it were, of the Fern-tree masses 



