15 



like Cassytha glabella, contrasting pleasingly with .the rich blue of 

 Dianella revoluta (narrow leaved dianella), the leaves of which are 

 used by the natives for making baskets ; and the graceful lilac 

 Diopogon leimonop talus. The grass lands are covered with innu- 

 merable little gems, so minute as to be scarcely perceptible, but to 

 the quick eye of the botanist. Of these, perhaps, the most inte- 

 resting are, Aphelia pumilo, A. cyperoides, Desvauxia tenuior, Ran- 

 unculus sessilljioj'us, Mitrosacme paradoxa, Marchantia polymorpha, 

 Sebaea ovata, valuable for its medicinal virtues, and the rarer 

 S. albidiflora, we have observed on the salt marshes, near Brighton , 

 and near Lady Bay, Warrnambool — in the latter situation fre- 

 quently six to eight inches in height. 



S. ovata varies in height, from two to five inches, with five fid 

 yellow flowers ; stem, square ; leaves, in pairs, opposite, ovate, 

 nerved. In S. albidiflora the flowers are only four fid, and the 

 leaves not nerved. We may enrich our portfolio now, or, per- 

 haps, later in the year, November or December, with Veronica 

 gracilis, — 



11 The meek speedwell, 

 Looking up with gentle eye of blue, 

 To the younger sky of the self same hue."~ 



Burchardia umbettata, Hydrocotyle tripartita, Chaetospora axillaris, 

 with many others, for which we refer to our botanical index. 



That beautiful little Fairy Martin, skimming by, reminds us 

 that he, too, must have his meed of praise. This elegant species 

 is common about Melbourne, building its mud bottle-shaped nest 

 under verandahs, windows, and sides of houses. As far as our own 

 observation goes, it appears to leave the neighbourhood of towns 

 towards winter, and resorts further into the interior, frequenting 

 rivers and watery places, yet great numbers remain the whole year 

 near dwellings. It is a remarkably bold bird, flying within a foot 

 of one's face ; and under the head of the ferry-boat, across the 

 Yarra, at Richmond, several pairs have built their nests and reared 

 their broods, flying in and out, quite regardless either of the motion 

 of the boat, or the numerous persons who are constantly crossing. 

 The crown of the head is rust red ; back, scapulars, and wing 



