52 
[upper 
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY. 
The Botanical Exhibition comprises specimens of woods and 
other vegetable structures, unsuited to the Herbarium, and 
capable of being advantageously exhibited. Entering the 
FIRST BOOM 
through the Eastern doorway, the Wall of the Eastern End 
is seen to be occupied by numerous specimens of Fern- 
trees, among which the following merit particular notice : — 
A trunk of Alsophila Brunontana, Wall., forty-five feet in height, 
from the mountains of Sylhet ; two trunks of Alsophila contaminates, 
Wall., from the Philippine Islands, with a section of the same from 
New Guinea ; two lofty stems of the great New Zealand Fern-tree, 
Cyathea dealbata, Swartz ; aud another fine species from New 
Zealand, Cyathea medullaris, Swartz; the Tree-fern of the Cape 
of Good Hope, Hemitelia Capensis, R. Br. ; and several specimens 
of Dicksonia Antarctica, Labill., one of which is remarkable in addi- 
tion for the bifurcation of its stem, another for the curious induration 
of its central pith, and a third (presented by the Tasmanian Commis- 
sioners to the Exhibition of 1862) for its great size. 
The numbering of the Wall Cases commences at the 
Eastern end of the Northern side of the Boom, and their 
contents are arranged in the following order : — 
Case 1 contains specimens of remarkable Cbyptogamic structures, 
chiefly Ferns, but including also a few Alg;e and Fungi. 
The Alg^e, or Sea-weeds, are represented by the Magellanic genera 
Lessonia and D'Urvill^ea, and by Laminaria buccinalis, Lamour., 
from the Cape of Good Hope, three of the most remarkable of Fucoid 
forms. 
The few Fungi exhibited belong to the subdivision of the genus 
Boletus named Polyporus, and are chiefly remarkable on account of 
the large size of the specimens. 
At the back of Case 1 are placed specimens of the fronds of 
Alsophila fruinata, Kaulf., from Chili, and Thyrsoptekis elegans, 
Kunze, from the island of Juan Fernandez. On the floor of the Case 
is a specimen of Platyceiuum alcicorne, Desv. ; and beside this are 
placed several bases and sections of the large trunks occupying the end 
