CHARACTER OF EASTERN COAST. 
li 
hold out, or appear to hold out, greater advan- 
tages. The eye naturally turns to the south on 
the one hand, and to Port-Macquarie northerly on 
the other. It is to be remarked that the eastern 
shores of Australia partake of the same barren 
character that marks the other three. It is ge- 
nerally bounded to a certain extent by a sandy 
and sterile tract. There are, however, breaks 
in so prolonged a line, as might have been ex- 
pected, where, from particular local causes, both 
the soil and vegetation are of a superior kind. 
At Illawarra for instance, the contiguity of the 
mountains to the coast leaves no room for the 
sandy belt we have noticed, but the debris from 
them reaches to the very shore. Whether from 
reflected heat, or from some other peculiarity of 
situation, the vegetation of Illawarra is of an 
intertropical character, and birds that are 
strangers to the county of Cumberland frequent 
its thickets. There is no part of Australia where 
the feathered race are more beautiful, or more 
diversified. The most splendid pigeon, per- 
haps, that the world produces, and the satin bird, 
with its lovely eye, feed there upon the berries 
of the ficus (wild fig,) and other trees : and a 
