24 
The Queensland Naturalist. Vol. 2 
NOTES ON A VISIT TO WEST AUSTRALIA. 
By R. llUdge. 
Having lately visited the south-west district of West 
Australia (September, 1913 to February, 1914), I have been 
asked to write some notes on the country, more particularly 
with regard to its natural history, for the F.N.C., and also 
to exhibit the specimens brought back. 
M\' original intention of going straight from Albany to 
the foot of the Stirling Range, and there forming a camp, 
was unfortunately frustrated by the steamer not calling at 
that place on account of the small-pox scare. Hence, I 
landed at Fremantle, and had to make the best arrangements 
I could after arrival in Perth. The loss of part of my baggage 
detained me there over a week, but I made excursions daily 
to the various suburbs, — Guildford, Midland Junction, and 
Darlington on the east ; Osborne, Claremont, Cottesloe and 
otliers on the west. At Darlington, in the Darling Range, 
I tir.-^t made real acquaintance with the wild flowers of West 
Australia ; at the other places they were but little in evidence, 
having been supplanted by weeds, old tins, bags, broken 
bottles, etc., in profusion. At King's Park, overlooking 
Perth Water, they have a reserve for the native flora, but 
I could not help observing that many of the indigenous 
plants were being replaced by foreign. At South Perth, I 
\’isited the Zoo, and found it excellently well kept, and with 
man\- hue ])lants and trees, forming a nice resort in ])retty 
surroundings for the people. 
The general features of the country may be divided 
into two main divisions, viz..— the flat coastal country 
extending from the Darling Range to the sea, but broken 
bv the dark-wooded range of hills near Cape Naturaliste, 
known as Blackwood Range, and by Mt. Lindsay, Mt. Frank- 
land and other hills between Wilson's Inlet and the Leeuwin. 
All this part is well forested, in some portions densely so. 
Jarrah and Karri are the main timbers. The first-named 
seems to affect the ranges more, whilst the latter is only found 
in the extreme south-west. Between the Yallingup Caves 
and the Margaret River some good trees may be seen, but 
from that river towards Karridale the country has been 
stripped. The main future source of supply for karri will 
be in the tract from the I.eeuwin east to Wilson’s Inlet. 
The second division consists of the elevated region 
extending east from the Darling Range. The Darling Range, 
averaging perhaps 800 to 1.000 feet ; its highest part being 
about 1,900 feet. This plateau dips lightlv down into the 
^\allev of the Avon River, and thence has a gradual ascending 
slope, with occasional depressions, for some hundreds of 
