TASMANIA. 77 |(of the order Steradrfcete) of New Sooth Wales 1»ursts upoa 3 eyes of the traveller with a blaze that justifies its name, and the orange masses of the silky oak of the Clarence river (Grevillia robtfsta)^ though less vivid, have a richness almost as startling. I In Tasmania the west and great part of the north aro 'occupied hy the Silurian formation which is found in the south-east of Australia, while volcanic rocks seam the centre of the island, and carhoniferoiis strata characterize a great part of the west. The smaller area of the island (about 15,000,000 acres) and comparative superiority of its mountain heights furnished permanent streams, and the forest, when first seen by Europeans, asserted sway over almost all the soil which was not covered with water. The colonists strove early to discover coal-measures which could be profitably worked. They sought for gold also, and found it, though not in the abundance which prevailed on the mainland of Austraha. The tin mines which they discovered in later years were a more unmixed good. The character of the soil, produced from the rocks which form the mountains and hills, promises a long continuance of fertility in a climate favourably njodified hy the closely- surroonding ocean. The marsupial order prevailed as in Austraha, but animals unknown on the Continent were found in the island. The tiger of the settlers (Thifla(gnKs i'l/nocephalmjr the devil {Dasynrus or Sarcopkiliia ttrshuts)^ botli carnivorous and savage, were in the island only, and were a problem to naturalists. There were, however, fossil remains of both animals on the mainland; and of a fiercer carnivore, large as a lion, but with feller weapons, which preyed upon gigantic kangaroos, now like it>iel({Thi/L(coleo carni/tw), long Bxtinct."^ The kangaroo and wombat were in both eoun- kries, as was the platypus,'^ which, with its duck-bill, webbed
- feet, and mole-like body, once puzzled scientific men in
' The author would not veivtiiitr mi thiw iissertion except on tlnj authority of Professor Owen, the moniirch of conipavative anfttoniy, who gathered the flry bonea of antiquity aud restored the foiMUi^ of the past* ^ 1894* The author was iu Loudon in 188ii when the first eiHiion of this work waa puldished, aud IVofcaaor Owen volunteered to look over the r proofs relating to tho Australian fttuiiii. He made several notes witk hia lowu hauil be&idea that rolatiu^ to tJie TLylaeoleo.
