WILD LIFE IN TASMANIA. 
65 
state of nature. On each side the scrub is growing luxuriantly, 
and our attention is at once arrested by the pretty flowers of 
the epacris, which are everywhere in profusion. It is a grace- 
ful heath-like plant, growing from the height of six inches to 
three or four feet, and we notice here three species — a dark red, 
a pink and a white. It is called by the bush folk “ native 
fuchsia,” and forms a beautiful b^rdering to our rough track, 
the colours of the flowers being \,ell set off by the dark green 
of the scrub behind. There are also here three kinds of wattle 
{Acacia) in flower, the prickly being covered with long spikes 
of 3mllow blossom, the other two bearing little round yellow 
sweet-scented tufts. Up this stem of young ti-tree, scarce three 
feet high, is climbing a tiny creeper, with no leaves that we can 
make out, but abundance of little oval blue flowers, or rather 
buds, for they never seem to get beyond that stage. The young 
gums {Eucalyptus) are also in flower, bearing bunches of small, 
yellowish, feathery balls, and some kinds of ti-tree are showing 
their white blossoms. 
Intermingled with the epacris which borders our track are 
three species of Boronia, with flowers somewhat resembling 
very small wild roses, the colours being three shades of purple, 
one so faintly tinted as to look almost white. The medium- 
shaded variety has a very sweet scent. They are sometimes 
called “ native roses,” as the Epacris is styled “ native fuchsia 
but higher up the road we can get real roses, for there the sweet- 
briar flourishes, and disputes with the bramble the right of 
possession. We have now arrived at a gentle dip in the road, 
and, descending the slope, find ourselves in a little flat of ten or 
twelve yards in extent, where pools of rain water are still lying 
in the whitish sand, and where the scrub and wild flowers are 
growing luxuriantly. 
Here our attention is at once caught by the pretty birds 
commonly styled honey-eaters, which congregate in unusual 
numbers just at this spot, attracted perhaps by the wealth of 
floral beauty. Very busy too are the pretty creatures on this 
bright spring morning, flitting hither and thither, playing with 
each other in their rapid flights, and making the air musical 
with their clear notes and melodious pipings. We can distin- 
guish three separate species in this one small spot — all birds of 
a slender, graceful build, with long delicate curved beaks. The 
largest is about the size of a starling, of a soft greenish yellow, 
with a patch of brighter yellow on the throat. Next comes the 
handsomest of the three, slightly larger than a hedge-sparrow, 
and exceedingly elegant in appearance. His head is dark, his 
breast a beautiful chestnut with a white streak running through 
it from the throat, and along each wing is a broad stripe of 
bright yellow. It is very pretty to watch him running up the 
bark of one of the giants of the forest, picking away with great 
energy the while at the insects concealed in the crevices, like a 
miniature woodpecker ; or descending, cling sideways to one of 
