was abundance of water and weed in the latter we only obtained 
an Aneylus , perhaps a narrow variety of A. australica , Tate, and 
Physa ciliata, Ten. Woods. On the flat below Mayfield here and 
there we found Helix ( Charopra) funerea, Cox, plentiful under 
logs and split wood. On the Sassafras Tableland three species 
were met with, either under old logs or bark, or in old stumps 
between the bark and the wood. They are Helix (Pomatia) 
gulosa , Old., H. (Dorcasia) brevipila , Pf., and II. ( Rhytida) 
capillacea , Fer. 
Botany. — Time did not permit of much attention being paid to 
matters botanical. Scattered over the open low scrubby portions 
of the Sassafras Tableland we found a most beautiful reticulate 
lichen, which Mr. T. Whitelegge provisionally referred to 
Cladonia retipora , Sprengel, a reference subsequently obligingly 
confirmed by the Bev. Dr. W. Woolls, F.L.S. 
The latter, in his “Contribution to the Flora of Australia,” 
refers to it as follows : — “ The most interesting lichen that I 
have seen in Australia is C. retipora , .... from the vicinity 
of Berrima, .... but as the species was described by 
Sprengel many years since, 1 think that it must occur somewhere 
nearer the coast. It grows to the height of several inches. 
As it becomes old, it assumes somewhat a coralline appearance, 
becoming nearly white. My learned friend, Dr. F. Mueller, 
informs me that C . retipora is common in the glacial regions of 
Tasmania and New Zealand.” It forms one of the most attractive 
plants growing on the more open and usually dry flat spaces on 
the tableland, usually sheltered by a few low bushes. It is 
locally called 1 Coral/ but botanically is evidently little known, 
and it is, therefore, with much pleasure that we are able to fix a 
well marked habitat. It grows at heights between 2,000ft. and 
3,000ft., and in masses from nine inches to one foot in length, 
On the heights near Mayfield Trignometrical Station, we found 
a very peculiar fungus protruding from the ground only within 
the shade of the She-oaks (Casuarina). It is to be regretted 
that it was met with only in the dead state, and in consequence 
Baron von Mueller, who was kind enough to examine specimens, 
would not venture to name it. It was, however, pointed out to 
the writer by the ltev. Dr. VVoolls, F.L.S,, that the fungus in 
question has many points in common with the genus Phallus, 
The stipe is elongated, simple or bifurcate, each portion bearing 
at its apex a capsule. 
The Sassafras ( Doryphora sassafras) is remarkable for the 
pleasant aromatic odour emanating from the leaves when bruised, 
and a bitter principle, which can be extracted from the bark by 
infusion and used as a tonic. The tree grows to a height of 
one hundred and twenty feet, with a diameter at the butt of about 
three feet. 
