Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/69

1832.] the forest, a Gum-tree of large dimensions, which had been uprooted by some blast from the mountain; and in its fall, had subdued many of the neighbouring bushes, and made a way where otherwise the forest would have been inaccessible. On descending from this natural bridge, to examine a tree-fern, I found myself at the foot of one of their trunks, which was about 5 feet in circumference and 10 in height. The lower part was a mass of protruding roots, and the upper part clothed with short remains of leaf-stalks, looking rough and blackened: this was surmounted by dead leaves hanging down, and nearly obscuring the trunk from distant view: above was the noble crest of fronds, or leaves, resembling those of Asplenium Filix-fæmina in form, but exceeding 11 feet in length, in various degrees of inclination between erect and horizontal, and of the tenderest green, rendered more delicate by the contrast with the dark verdure of the surrounding foliage. At my feet were several other ferns of large size, covering the ground, and which, through age and their favourable situation, had attained root-stocks a foot in height, crowned by circles of leaves three times that length. Other plants of tree-fern, at short distances, concealed from my view, by their spreading fronds, the foliage of the lofty evergreens that towered a hundred feet above them. The trunk of one of the tree-ferns was clothed with a Trichomanes and several species of Hymenophyllum—small membranaceous ferns of great delicacy and beauty. On a rocky bank adjoining, there were other ferns, with creeping roots, that threw up their bright green fronds at short distances from each other, decorating the ledges on which they grew. In the deepest recesses of this shade I could enjoy the novel scene—ferns above, below, around—without fear of molestation; no dangerous beasts of prey inhabiting this interesting island. The annexed etching will give the reader some idea of a tree-fern, many species of which exceed in beauty the stately palms of warmer climates.

5th mo. 7th, 1832. Having obtained a letter of introduction from the Lieut. Governor to Major Baylee, the commandant of the Penal Settlement, at Macquarie Harbour;