180 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



able, when it is considered that they are but instances of an almost 

 complete diversity between the natural history of this country and that 

 of other regions. 



The timber of the Australian trees is generally of greater specific 

 gravity than water. 



The remark, that the leaves of the trees are wood, and their wood 

 iron, is not inappropriate to most of the plants of this country. It is 

 not, however, to be inferred that all the plants are different from those 

 of other countries; so far from this being the case, a considerable 

 admixture of ordinary forms was met with. Among these were a great 

 variety of grasses, some of which were before considered to be peculiar 

 to North America. Many other forms decidedly North American were 

 also met with, a circumstance which, from the difference of geogra- 

 phical position, distance, and climate, was not to be expected ; but for 

 these details I must refer to the Botanical Report. 



All seem to have been struck with the apparent monotony of the 

 scenery, foliage, and flora, although in reality the latter presents great 

 variety. The general sentiment was, that they were fatigued by it, 

 which is not a little surprising, as the Australian Flora rivals in number 

 of species that of Brazil. This feeling may be accounted for by the 

 overpowering impression that is made by the gum trees, whose foliage 

 is of a dark sombre green. There is also something in the general 

 absence of underbrush ; and the trees are so distant from one another 

 that there is no need of roads, so that a carriage may drive any 

 where. 



The trees are in general tall in proportion to their diameter, with an 

 umbrella top, and have the appearance of being thinly clad in foliage. 

 No woody vines are to be seen, nor any parasitic plants. In many 

 places a stunted growth of detached shrubs, called in the colony 

 " scrub," exists, which might be termed one of their " forests" in a 

 dwarf shape. 



In the Illawarra district a totally distinct state of things exists. Here 

 is to be found all the luxuriance of the tropics — lofty palms, among them 

 the Corypha australis, with tree-ferns of two or more varieties, diffe- 

 rent species of Ficus, a scandent Piper, and very many vines. The 

 forest of this district is thick, and alive with animal life. 



This district is about fifty miles long, and forms a semicircular area 

 about thirty miles in its greatest width. The peculiarity of the situation 

 of this district would tend to show what would have been the probable 

 state of New Holland, or rather its eastern side, if the mountains were 

 sufficiently high to intercept the moisture of the ocean, and prevent the 

 access to it of the dry hot winds from the interior. Illawarra may be 



