REVIEWS. 
77 
the sea-shore of the colony is much less so; our earliest acquaintance with 
its algos is derived from small, but interesting collections made by some of 
the early French expeditions, and by Dr. Robert Brown, who accompanied 
Flinders ; while the largest collection of algag (141 species) from this coast 
was brought by Mr. L. Preiss, a nearly complete set of which were de¬ 
posited by Senator Binder, of Hamburgh, in the Herbarium of Trinity Col¬ 
lege, Dublin, while they were described by Dr. Sonder. These, with other 
similar advantages, Dr. II. had availed himself, of previous to the com¬ 
mencement of his own researches, which were carried on at King George’s 
Sound and Cape Riche, on the southern coast, and Freemantle, Garden 
Island, and Rottnest Island, all in the immediate vicinity of Swan river, on 
the western coast. The peculiar features of the coast at each of these 
points are described with a happy brevity which we would gladly enrich 
our pages with were sufficient space afforded. 
Some of the descriptions reminded us forcibly of the rock-pools in which 
Mr. Gosse pursued his researches on the Devon coast; while others pre¬ 
sent a curious contrast to the scenery which a European eye is accustomed 
to. Of these, the description of Rottnest Island, or rather its shore, inte¬ 
rested us very much. This island, which is about seven miles long by 
three wide, is situated about twelve miles W. by N. from Freemantle, and 
is thus described—- 
“ Almost the whole island is surrounded by limestone reefs, at greater or less dis¬ 
tances from the shore. The limestone seems of very recent formation, and is of 
similar character to that at Arthur’s Head, and in other localities near Freemantle, 
already described by several geologists. It is remarkable for very fantastic and di¬ 
versified forms. The reefs are generally flat-topped, but the surface is very rough, 
either thickly bristling with sharp points, a few inches high, or broken into mina- 
ture mountains and valleys—strongly recalling to mind the raised map of Switzer¬ 
land. Other reefs are ridged ; the ridges parallel to each other, but variously di¬ 
rected towards the shore. The outer face of the bordering reef is generally very 
steep, often perpendicular or overhanging; and frequently it goes down, like a 
quay-wall, into two or three fathoms of water. At the N.E. angle of the island, a 
very remarkable quay-like reef, called the ‘Natural Jetty,’ runs out many hundred 
yards into the sea. Its surface is laid bare, at low water, of spring tides, which 
rise and fall from two to three and a half feet. Many of the detached reefs are 
shaped like round tables, or mushrooms, being fixed on a slender central stalk, often 
only a few feet in diameter ; the horizontal ledge, or table, spreading out to many 
yards on all sides. Sometimes two or three of these tables are joined together by 
narrow stone bridges ; and sometimes large holes, through which you can look 
down two or three fathoms into the clearest water, are found in the table; and the 
swells rise through them, and flow over. I often wondered how these filigree 
reefs could so long withstand the beating of the waves in winter storms, Almost 
all of them offer good harvests to the algologist; and beautiful pictures to any 
one who can appreciate the loveliness of living vegetable forms. The surfaces 
of most are well clothed with the smaller Rhodospermece ( Laurencice , Hypnece , 
Acanthophora , 8fc.), and thickly studded with a Caulerpa (C. Icetevirens , Mont?} 
with short stems, clothed with brilliant club-shaped leaves, resembling minature 
clusters of grapes. At every few yards, deep, basin-like hollows, of greater or 
lesser size, break the surface of the reef, and afford well-sheltered nooks for a 
