Although I have called the Swan and Murray rivers the boundaries to the north and south as being fixed points, it would be more correct to say the country adjacent to these rivers, varying from one to four or five miles, the entire area being about fifty miles by thirty. Rottenest Island which is in front of the Swan river, was discovered by Vlaming in 1696.
The country is generally of the open forest description, in undulating plains, covered with a great profusion of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, amongst the more important families of which are first the Myrtaceæ (Jussieu), comprising the Eucalyptus, and the guava, immediately related to it; these form nearly three-fourths of the forest. In this order we find the red gum tree (Eucalyptus resinifera), the blue gum tree (E. piperita), the brown gum tree or mahogany (E. robusta), the white gum tree (E. ——), the black butted gum tree (E. ——), stringy bark tree (E. ——); also the Leptospermum, Callitris, tea tree (Melaleuca linarifolia), and others; these gum trees are found most useful for building purposes.
The second class in importance is the Leguminosæ, divisible into three principal families—the Mimosoæ, Lomentaceæ and Papilionaceæ. The Mimoseæ belong almost wholly to the genus Acaciæ, and are very generally diffused; amongst these are the black wattle tree (Acacia melanoxylon), green wattle tree (A. decurrens), and several other species. The Papilionaceæ include the Gompholobium glaucescens, and Hovea rosmarinifolia. The third class is the Proteaceæ, to which belong the Banksia, Hakea, and four species of Grevillea. 4th.— To the Diosmeæ (Brown) belong the Boronia, Correa, &c— 5th. Dilleniaceæ (Decandolle) different species of Hibbertia.—6th. The Epacridiæ (Brown) Styphelea, Epacris, three species.—7th. The Compositæ (Jussieu) Aster, Bellis, Helichrysum albicans.—8th. Thymeleæ, two species of Pimelea called ligustrina and linoides.—9th. Solaneæ, Anthocercis albicans.—10th. Goodenoviæ, several species.—11th. Orchideæ, several varieties; those which resemble the bee and butterfly are most admired—Umbelliferous plants and Filices. The more conspicuous plants and trees not belonging to any of these families, and which greatly contribute to give a character to the landscape, are a species of Zanthorea, or grass tree; a Zamia, or palm tree; three species of Casuarina, the she oak tree (C. stricta), swamp oak tree (C. paludosa), and forest oak tree (C. torulosa); the latter make good shingles, and paling or fencing. The Nutsya floribunda, or cabbage tree, a singular plant, nearly confined to this part of the coast, and named after its discoverer; when in flower it much resembles the
