I 



332 PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Some of the plants enumerated in the New Zealand column, are 

 not Tropical productions (like those generally accompanying the 

 Polynesians), but they seem rather to belong to Northern climates; 

 and yet, they were found already in New Zealand, by Cook and 

 Forster. A careful examination into the facts, and a comparison of 

 specimens, will doubtless explain the seeming discrepancy with the 

 laws of botanical geography. The plants referred to, are : 

 Sonchus oleraceus, observed to be disseminated throughout the Inte- 

 rior. I have had occasion to remark, both within and without the 

 Tropics, that this plant is one of the first to extend itself over the 

 new countries in which it obtains foothold. 

 Siajos angulata, frequent around the native villages. The leaves, 

 are sometimes boiled for greens; but I am not sure that this custom 

 is aboriginal. 



Calystegia sepium, growing apparently wild on the borders of open- 

 ings, and observed to be disseminated throughout the Interior. 



Phalaris Canariensis, likewise observed to be disseminated through- 

 out the open country. 



The natives of Australia, being for the most part devoid of cloth- 

 ing, and possessing very few manufactures, have contributed perhaps 

 less than any other branch of the human family, to the dispersion of 

 seeds and plants. — Moreover, if plants have been aboriginally intro- 

 duced into Australia ; this has been done in all probability, by visiters. 

 Indeed, the Northern coast, is known to have been frequented for 

 many centuries, by Malay tribes, and even by Chinese ; and it does 

 not seem probable, that the Eastern coast, has altogether escaped acci- 

 dental visits from Papuans and Polynesians. — In the above Table of 

 localities, the Australian column will be found nearly blank ; and the 

 species most deserving of inquiry, are reduced to the following : 

 Siegesbeckia, observed growing on the fiats of the Hunter River. The 



specimens, have not been compared with Polynesian. 

 Sapium, found by Mr. Rich in the agricultural district of Illawara. 



The specimens, have not been compared with Polynesian. 

 Calystegia sepium, observed only in wild situations : as in New Zea- 

 land. 



Sicyos angulata, growing in wild situations on the Upper Hunter: 

 and as already mentioned, in New Zealand. 



Solanum aviailare, Forst. A naturalized weed, observed in the envi- 

 rons of Sydney, and also on the Upper Hunter. At New Zealand, 



