Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 17.djvu/440

Rh 410 Amongst the Myrtaccse (containing some 140 species) there are plants ranging from the minute B&cJcia to the gigantic Eucalyptus, These, for the most part, have valuable resins and oils, and possess astringent and antiscorbutic properties ; the foliage is evergreen, and the flowers vary from white and yellow to purple and crimson. The forests are principally myrtaceous, some species yielding esculent fruits, while the wood and bark of many are becoming known throughout the world. While in point of utility the Myrtaccsz stand unrivalled, the Protcaccte,, by their various flowers, curiously shaped fruits, and harsh foliage, arrest the attention of the observer. The far-famed &quot;wooden pear &quot; (Xylo- melum pyrlforme), the gorgeous &quot;waratah&quot; (Tclopcaspcclosissima), and species of the hard-fruited Hakea and the variously coloured Grevillea represent this order in the vicinity of Port Jackson. In New South Wales there is only one heath correctly so termed (Gaulthcria hispida), and that only on the summits of snowy mountains near the Bellinger, or on the Australian Alps ; but the lovely epacrids, which are abundant near Sydney, take the place of heaths, and two of them (E. purpurascens and E. microphyU-a), as if to increase the beauty of their inflorescence, are sometimes found double even in a wild state. In each region, whether alpine, littoral, or beyond the dividing range, epacrids occur in a greater or less degree. The Leguminosss and Compositie, though nearly cosmo politan, attain a comparative maximum in New South Wales, the species of the former being over 300 and of the latter 250. Of legu minous plants, the species of Acacia are the most numerous (about 100), scattered in some places amongst the trees of the forest, and in others forming dense scrubs. Those remarkable for their scented and useful wood (such as A. pendula and A. homalophylla the &quot;myalls&quot; of the natives) are highly valued. Sturt s desert pea (Clianthus Dampieri), the Moreton Bay chestnut (Castanospermum australe), and the genus Swainsona have acquired a reputation amongst horticulturists. Many of the composites, the largest of which is the musk-tree (Aster argophyUus), are found not only near the coast but on the arid plains of the interior. Although from the frequent occurrence of certain orders, the flora of New South Wales is somewhat monotonous, yet the vegetation of the southern mountains, of the north-east portion of the colony, and of moist gullies is wonderfully diversified. The alpine plants of the south, occurring at an elevation of from 4000 to 6000 feet above the level of the sea, show an affinity for the flora of Tasmania, many plants being common to both colonies, whilst ten species at least are identical with those of Europe. In the northern parts of the colony the character of the vegetation is semi-tropical, similar in some respects to that of India. And then, again, in moist and shady gullies, or on the ranges of the mountains, tree- ferns rising to 50 feet, large climbers of the Vitis or Lyonsia genus, orchids of singular forms and various habits, and mosses, lichens, and fungi may be found in great profusion. In good seasons the interior is well supplied with splendid grasses, but when droughts prevail and the usual pasture fails, sheep and cattle find sustenance in salsolaceous bushes, the hardy composites, and plants of the geranium or umbelliferous kind. The Casuarinas, which prevail more or less from the coast to the far interior, are almost exclusively Australasian, some rising to be lofty trees, and others forming brushes on the mountains. Here there is a genus differing from others in the strangely-jointed steins of the species, their minute whorled leaves, and the peculiar growth of their wood ; and there, again, is the perplexing tree Alclwrnca ilid- folia, celebrated as having reproduced itself for many genera tions from female plants alone. In the northern specimens male flowers have been found, but not so in those near Sydney. Exocarpus cupressiformis, or the &quot;native cherry,&quot; is another anomalous shrub, having, as it is said, its fruit outside, or more properly raised on an obconical pedicel, which becomes thick, red, and esculent. In most countries the labiates are herbs or under- shrubs, but in New South Wales there is a large genus of the order (Prostanthera) which has species of considerable size, abound ing in scented and volatile oils, and adorned with a profusion of elegant flowers. The Stylidcas are not largely represented in Eastern Australia, but the species are very singular. The column in which the stamens and style are blended is remarkable for its irritability, and is scarcely like anything in the vegetable kingdom, excepting perhaps some of the orchids. So also in the Goodeniaccfe, which number nearly 50 species, there is a peculiar covering on the stigma, the object of which is yet a mystery. The monocoty- ledouous plants are between 600 and 700, and of these the Cypcraceze, Graminaccee, and Orchidaccae, are the most abundant. Some of the orchids are highly prized for the singularity of their structure and the elegance of their flowers, whilst the gigantic lily (Doryanthes cxcdsa) has been an object of interest from the earliest days of the colony. Of the palms, five species extend to New South Wales. The walking-stick palm (Kentia monostachya) occurs in the north, and Ptychosperma Cunninghami and Livistona australis extend to Illawarra. Fauna. As New South Wales has no natural boundary except the Pacific, there are no organic tyi&amp;gt;es which characterize this colony in the same degree as the marsupials, proteads, eucalypts, and acacias distinguish the Australian region as a whole. In this respect neither do its northern districts differ from South Queens land nor its southern from north-east Victoria, while its west is uniform with the rest of the great continental plain. With this proviso, New South Wales may be justly regarded as the typical region of East Australia. It is made up of three strips, each a subregion in itself the coast, the dividing range and its plateaus, aud the lower western plains. The coast ranges, bathed by a heated oceanic current, shelter a warm and moist sea margin, in which as far as 34 40 S. lat. we find jungles of palms, figs, nettle- trees, aud a host of other sub-tropical plants, haunted by talegallas, fruit pigeons, flying foxes, &c. ; the table-lands enjoy an essenti ally temperate climate ; and in the plains of the interior the scanty rainfall imposes further restrictions on animal aud vegetable life. The indigenous mammals are all marsupial, with the exception of a few bats and rodents, and even among these Hydromys is peculiar. This indicates permanent isolation since Mesozoic time. The dingo was doubtless introduced by man, while whales and seals belong to no coast in particular. The dugong (Halicore) is not found south of Moreton Bay. Many extinct marsupials, be longing to Australian types, but of gigantic size, as Diprotodon, Notothcrium, Thylacolco, with huge kangaroos, are found in Pleistocene deposits. With them are associated Thylacinus and Sarcophilus, now restricted to Tasmania. No DidcLphys occurs, fossil or recent. Cuscits is tropical only. Nor is the singular Dcndrolagus, akin to the phalangers rather than the kangaroos, found in Australia. All other genera of marsupials are represented in New South Wales. The flying possum (Pctaurista), tiger cat (Dasyurus maculatus), wallaroo (Macropus robustus), &c., are con fined to the eastern, and Myrmccobius, Chceropus, and Peragalca to the western districts. Of these Thylacoho is related to the Jurassic Plagiaulax, Myrmecobius to Amphitherium, &c. , the oldest mammals known to paleontology. Among birds, woodpeckers, vultures, and many other families are unknown ; while honeysuckers (Melli- phaga), lyre birds (Menura), cockatoos, rosellas (Platycercus), brush-tongued lories (Trichoglossus), brush turkeys (Megapodius), emus, jackasses (Dacclo), moreporks (Podargus), magpies (Gymno- rhina), wood swallows (Artamus), crested pigeons, bower birds, and plain turkeys (bustards) give a most distinct character to the avifauna. Of reptiles, the luth (Dcrmatochdys) is not uncommon on the coast, while long-necked tortoises (Chelodina) frequent all inland waters. Lizards of the skink, gecko, and agama families are numerous, as Hinulia, sleeping lizards (Cyclodus), rock scorpions (Phyllurus), Jew lizards (Grammatopkora), and, in the west, stump- tails (Tracliydosaurus), which Dampier declared the ugliest animals on earth. The monitors are represented by the (so-called) iguanas (Hydrosaurus}. Crocodiles are absent. Of snakes, the Crotalidae are unknown. The PtperidtB appear by the death adder (Acan- thophis). Sea snakes, as Platurus and Pelamis, occur upon the coast. The harmless colubrines Tropidonotus, Dcndrophis, Dipsas are known by single species ; but the Elapidse, as Dicmcnia, the black snake (Pscudcchis), and several species of Hoplocephallts, are common and dangerous. Morelia spilotcs, the diamond snake, peculiar to the coast, and M. varicgata, the carpet snake, belong to the pythons. No tailed batrachians occur, but there are a few species of frogs, mainly of the genera Limnodynastcs, PseudopJiryne, Pclodryas, and Hyla (tree-frog). As to marine fishes and inverte brates, the region is naturally intermediate between the Indo-Pacific and South Australian districts, partly limited indeed on the south by the cold waters of Bass s Straits, but quite open to the north ; hence the fauna is rich and various. The number and variety of the insects of New South Wales is well known. The most distinct types are probably in the Colcoptera, where Carcnum, Anoplognathus, Stigmodera, and Amycterus form very important groups in the Caralidse,Lamellicornes, Buprcstidaz, aiidCurculionidse respectively. So also Thynnus among the Hymenoptera. Lepidoptera alone are comparatively few, restricted to the coast, and of Indian types. In like manner the land and freshwater molluscs, numerous to the north and east, become rarer towards the south and west. Fisheries. Up to the present time but little enterprise has been displayed in developing the extensive sea-fisheries of the colony. The fish as a rule are shore-fish, and are not commonly met at a greater distance from the coast than 3 or 4 leagues, or in a greater depth of water than 40 fathoms. The line-fish, such as schnappers, teraglin, king-fish, rock cod, morwong, and other forms, are generally found in the neighbourhood of reefs, or rocky patches off headlands and in offings ; while the net-fish, such as mullet (of various kinds), black and silver bream (or tarwhine), whiting, black-fish, gar-fish, flounders, flathead, tailors, and travally, are obtained on inshore beaches or flats of the many inlets and rivers which break the coast-line. No gadoids or codfish have as yet been found, nor any larger flat fish than flounders and soles. The chief freshwater fish are the Murray cod and the golden and common river perch. Freshwater herrings abound in the eastern rivers, also eels, but they are not much sought