The view over the blue harbour, with He Nou in the dis-
tance and the rich vegetation of the tropics all around, is beauti-
ful beyond expression. Now the merry chirp of the cosmopolitan
sparrow is heard, and anon the swallow goes darting past.
Strolling around, we see the birdVnest fern (asplenium
nidus), which grows as wild in the Caledonian bush as in the
Queensland scrubs ; but the " stag-horn " and " elk horn, 11 so
luxuriant in the bush of Eastern Australia, are here quite rare.
The oleander in full flower and the spiny yucca, aloes and
prickly pear, with the yellow of the buddlea and red of the
romantic hibiscus, lend also their touches to the rich colouring.
Crotons of many tints and quaint-looking cycads are
clustered around by the well-known Madagascar periwinkle
(vinca rosea) in one bath of bloom ; and the sombre leaves and
pithy bark of the naonilli on yonder hill add toning to the
picture, and give very pleasing impressions to the enthusiastic
botanist.
There is also arundo donax, the so-called bamboo of the
southern parts of Australia, and almost a pest in Southern
Europe. This is the reed with which Achilles is said to have
thatched his tent, and was, of course, introduced.
