The weekly Placer herald., 1853-04-16
Natural Predictions Of Aus
t"9li4.


BE of producing most uf the v~getatiun
Of the tropical and temperate zones, the
island i. snguilrly destitute Of SsluS6ls
natural productions Neither grain or be
larger fruits are natives of the island, al
though bmh have been Introduced and rul
tivated with good success. The natural
vegetation ia generally Of the mammoth
species austra ia is n land of Singulari :
ties. and in nnfhing is thiS more apparent
I" the eve than in is hotnaical features
Here the grass, instead Of being spread
evenly over the plain, grows in arge
nln"r,- ~lu-tArS; the honeysnrkle is a
self sustaining tree; the trees are al ever
greens; ra>pherries, currants and cherries
grow wild but the currantS are Ike Gran
berries, and the cherries are singular mon
Strositips, the fruit consisting "f a spongv
pulp, and the stone or pit firmly adherns
to the outside. There is fruit re-ein
bling our pear in outward appearance, but
within it is aS hard as lignum vitp, and it
is just cal pd the wooden pear, We
are speaking now Of the natural fruits
and vegetation II should he remarked
that nearly a ! the useful fruits and vege-
tables Of other lands have Now been ac
cIinatized The trees of the forest are of
gigantic size. The most common is The
"gum trpe,"a large tbut verv unprepo>
se>Sing tree, with a ragged bark, caves
wide apart and casting little Shrde. Near
lv a the ti,nhpr is Of hard wood kind :.
Of greater specific gravity than water, and
very liable to rot Ii shrink- greatly in
seasoning, and is comparatively Va ueleSs
to the arc hitect. Pines. the mountain ash :,
and some other valuable trees are found
in some parts Of the island. The forest
scenery of Australia bears a marked re
semhIauce to that Of Brazil There is no
nndprhruSh, ard the trees are rarel ly SO
close together as 70 impede travelling even
in carriage. The foliage is, however,
dark and Somhre, and tn" forests possess
a gloomy grandeur and sub unity.
II may he remarked before leaving this
subject, that Australia has emphatcally
vegetation peculiar to itSe f. A writer on
fifth Of all the species of plants in the
known world are peculiar 10. or in other
words, are found only in this island CONT
nent. If their utility oulv equalled their
variety, the island woiid, indeed, be a
paradise.
But with all this variety Of vegetation.
the native animals are few in number, and
like everything else on the island, present
their anomalies and peculiarities Near
lv all the birds are S0ngleS>; some of them
utter di-cordant cries, hut the woods are
not vocal with melody. like those Of Amer
ira The bird. genera " possess beanti
full plunnaye, whirh, however, poorly
ouriiTan<ates the absence of melodious
voice. There are no beasts prey on
the island, which are formidable to man.
The native dog is very troublesome to the
shepherds, no are obliged to watch their
hnrks at night to preserve them from the
inroadS of these animals. Of the kanga
roo, there are several species, some of
which have the size and proportions of
large calf. The nrnithorynchuS, another
native Of Austria ia, is PEI hapS the most
singular animal in tn. world. 1t has the
body and habits Of a mole, the feet and
bill of durk, and the internal formation
of a reptile, though it is not col'i-blooded
They urrow in the mud Of rivers and
swamps. Among the other animAlS is one
also peculiar TO the island. ca led the
wambat, "hich is abont the size of bad
ger, anh the flesh of Which is said to be
very tender, and excellent for food. AMI
tIl"'S SiIi''h' ~ hpi' "'hi'I' "'"' h'''''' w
our porcnpi rs. rabbits, nu>krats, and
mice exi t, hut they are of different spe
cies from those of 'inerica.
But if the animals Of Austria in are not
formidable to man, he has nevertheless
cause tor watchfulne>s when in the bush
The reptiles are abundant, and some of
them exceedingly venon,oils. Lizards and
snakes are found everywhere The land
IL ar,h .,r guiana, and the crimson sided
snake, IRE of great beauty, hnt their bite
is dea,lv The b ack snake, the whip
snake su,I deaf adder, all poisonous, are
often founo',, and it is sometimes danger
Gus to frequent on foot the places where
they abound. n, it Is not easy % dl~tIn-
gui-h them when curIrd mp amid the tufts
of grass. Land lee"heS or blood suckers
are very co,umnn, AMI are much dreaded
on account of their bite,' ~ me w"nm,i al
ways uIcerateS and is very painf" hfSe
Iittta drawbarks the enthusiastic 2" d.
seeker can offset against SOME OF the ma
tural advantages Of the island as p ace
of temporary or permanent resi''eh'e.
In the Danish theaters. the gas-lights III
the audience part Of the house are turned