418 R. H. CAMBAGE. 



afterwards at various points near the Flinders and Clon- 

 curry Rivers and to the southward near Winton and Long- 

 reach. It is known to extend as far south as Nyngan. 

 This is the common Whitewood, a drought-resisting fodder 

 tree of the Bourke country, and the fruits are somewhat 

 remarkable for the samarae or wings. The presence of this 

 and other species mentioned, of north-western New South 

 Wales trees around the Gulf of Carpentaria and over the 

 intervening area, is evidence of a similarity of climatic 

 conditions over this thousand miles of country. 



Bauhinia Carronii and B. Hookeri, the former with 

 bright red, and the latter with beautiful white flowers 

 were noticed at various points. They seem to be usually 

 known as Bohemia or Bohemew trees, the name evidently 

 being a corruption of Bauhinia. At Boomarra station near 

 the Oloncurry, the native name of B. Carronii was given 

 me as "Bigunny," being practically the same as that 

 recorded for the same species by Mr. Edward Palmer, 

 ("Pegunny't). 1 The flowers of both species are rich in 

 honey, and at Georgetown a tree of B. Carronii, which at 

 that period had a scanty supply of leaves, but was covered 

 with scarlet flowers, was noticed to be full of birds which 

 were busily engaged extracting honey, and at the same 

 time carolling in a most delightful manner, as so many 

 Australian birds can do, and filling the air with sounds of 

 gladness. The leaves of these trees are very prettily 

 arranged as pairs of leaflets somewhat ovate in shape, and 

 in their disposition resemble the wings of a butterfly when 

 at rest. The leaflets close up at night. 



The genus is one of considerable interest and extends 

 over the tropical regions of the world. B. Carronii is 

 recorded as far south as from the extreme north-west por- 



1 "On Plants used by the Natives of North Queensland, Flinders and 

 Mitchell Rivers, for Food, Medicine, etc." This Journal, Vol. xvit, (1883) 

 p. 95. 



