AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 85 



which has for its western boundary the north-eastern tele- 

 graph line, extending from Seymour to Wahgunyah, a rough 

 idea will be given of the vast territory in which the stringy- 

 bark is found, spreading over large tracts, and forming 

 dense forests. This is particularly to be observed in the 

 districts extending southward from Chiltern and Beech- 

 worth, following the Yarra track, and occupying the 

 mountain ranges in the centre of the colony. In higher 

 elevations it often forms nearly the whole of the arboreal 

 vegetation, while, in lower situations, its forests are 

 frequently interspersed with the messmate. The stringy- 

 bark is found in many other parts of Victoria, but the 

 territory indicated shows the localities where it occurs in 

 the greatest profusion. Where the stringy-bark becomes 

 less dense in eastern Victoria, it is compensated for by 

 other indigenous trees, the box-gum {Eucalyptus melliodora), 

 for example, and by, occasionally, the lightwood, or more 

 properly speaking, blackwood (Acacia ?nelanoxylon). 



On the Mitchell, Tambo, Latrobe, and Macalister Rivers 

 in Gippsland, Eucalyptus trees are very plentiful. The 

 species called ' box ' is found in the vicinity of most rivers, 

 usually on knolls and in undulating country with a clayey 

 soil. On the Avon and at Cape Liptrap, wattles (Acacias) 

 abound. Along the Goulburn, and in the district which 

 that river waters, towards the north of eastern Victoria, the 

 box, and red and white gums (Eucalypti melliodora, rostrata, 

 and leucoxylon), are found in patches, but the ' stringy-bark ' 

 is most plentiful, and forms the principal timber. There 

 are occasional groups of sheoak (Casuarina stricta and C. 

 suberosa) and Murray pine (Frenela rhomboided) in the 

 district ; the former are common near the coast. Again, 



