15 
was discovered on this last occasion. Amongst the plants gathered on the alpine heights 
a new genus of Vacciniese, dedicated to a meritorious phytochemist (Wittsteinia vacciniacea), - 
is the most interesting, as we recognize in it for the first time an Australian representative 
of the tribe, embracing the Bleaberry, the Billberry and many similar excellent fruits, 
which prosper in a kindred climate. Whether the plant is likely to afford a useful fruit 
remains yet to be ascertained, inasmuch as after the recent delique-scence of the snow the 
spring vegetation was only bursting forth at the time when we visited the Baw Baw 
moimtains. Plants of the Wittsteinia were .secured for our garden. The restriction of 
this plant to the south-western part of the Alps, where it occurs in millions, as also the 
extensive existence of Libertia Lawrencii, Oxalis Magellanica, and the vast prevalence of 
Fagus, are to be ascribed to the increased humidity of the climate in this part of the 
snowy mountains, caused by the copious fern-tree vegetation of the surrounding country 
south and westward. To the same cause the timber, although in a diminutive state, owes 
its existerice on the summit of these mountains at elevations which in other parts of the 
Alps are denuded of forest. Yet, although the above-mentioned plants introduce still more 
strikingly the feature of the highland vegetation of Tasmania into our Alps, my expecta- 
tions of seeing amongst many other Tasmanian mountain plants also some of the curious 
alpine pines of that island reappear in our highlands, was not verified. Thus it was 
proved, that whilst very few endemic species exist in the lowland vegetation of Tasmania, its 
higher and pai'ticularly its alpine ranges nourish many species perfectly restricted to that 
island. Decaspora Clarkei (a dwarf half-shrub, with exquisite edible berries), Leucopogon 
Macersei, Orites lancifolia, Prostanthera cuneata, Podocai-pus alpina, Gualtheria hispida, 
and especially dwarf scrubs of Tasmania aromatica were very conspicuous on the Baw 
Baw ranges, whilst Lycopodium scariosum, Mitra.sacme montana, Oxalis Magellanica, and 
TJneinia compacta were only on this occasion ascertained to exist in the Australian mainland. 
The rather sudden S.W. termination of the Alps is almost within sixty miles of 
the metropolis. 
To facilitate perhaps travelling over our snowy mountains, it may be of some 
importance to point out, that the whole western system of the Alps can be traversed with 
packhorses without any great obstruction along the crest of the leading ranges. The 
traveller, then above the deeper valleys of rivers, finds usually supplies of water from 
springs, and meets more or less limited or extensive pastme ground for halting places. 
Thus the ranges may be traversed without any considerable descents to lowlands from 
Mount Baw Baw to the Albert ranges, the Barkly ranges and Mount Useful, again from the 
Barkly ranges to the source of the MacAUister Kiver, and thence to Mount AYellington, 
or again in an almost continuous line to the Bogong ranges, from whence during the 
summer the journey is over mostly grassy country easily accomplished to the Mitta Mitta, 
Cabongra and Livingstone Kiver. 
Most of these alpine tracts have been visited by me in former years, and it is my 
intention to connect the lines of my highland explorations by a new journey at the end of 
this summer, in which, as on many previous tours, I .shall enjoy the support of Angus 
McMillan, Esq., by whose generosity and cormsel, my researches, it is but right to 
acknowledge, were always greatly facilitated. 
I have the honor to be. 
Sir, 
Your most obedient and humble Servant, 
■e.rtele4;.vt< 
am/ 
- . f 
The Honorable the Chief Secretary. 
FEED. MUELLER, 
Government Botanist and Director of the 
Botanic and Zoologic Garden. 
