176 AuDAS, Nature in the Sew a Range; [voT."^*xxx'v. 



From this point we struck out for a track which led from the 

 Victoria Valley round the end of Mount Difficult to Hall's Gap. 

 En route nice specimens were collected of Olearia lepidophylla, 

 Brachycome scapiformis, Grevillea parviflora, Piiltencea laxi- 

 flora, Stackhousia viminea, Acacia Mitchelli, Conosperma calymega, 

 C. ericimim, Hihhertia virgata, H. densi flora, and Phehalium 

 pungens — the latter a very pretty, twiggy shrub, twelve to 

 eighteen inches in height, bearing white, waxy flowers. Op 

 previous visits to the Grampians I had not met with this 

 shrub. Orchids growing in rather unusual surroundings were 

 observed. In some instances they were seen growing from 

 the small fissures in the sandstone rock, those noted being 

 Calochilus Robertsoni, Thelymitra antennifera, T. longifolia, 

 T. ixioides, Diuris longifolia, Pterostylis longifolia, P. barbata, 

 P. concinna, and Cyrtostylis reniformis. 



Having reached a large, swiftly-flowing creek containing 

 good water, we decided to boil the billy and have lunch, and 

 enjoy a short respite from travelling. Feeling refreshed, we 

 pushed on and negotiated a high ridge, from the top of which 

 a splendid view of the Victoria Valley was obtained. The head 

 waters of the Glenelg River could be traced, running in a north- 

 westerly direction at the start, and finally turning southward 

 after making a circuit of the northern end of the Victoria 

 Range. The principal point of interest from here is the 

 " Asses' Ears " — a bold prominence on the Victoria Range. 

 Continuing from this spot in a northerly direction, some deep 

 and rugged gullies were encountered, the walls of sandstone in 

 some places being almost perpendicular ; however, after much 

 difficult climbing, we eventually reached Scrubby Creek. The 

 vegetation along the creek was very luxuriant. Splendid 

 specimens of Proslanthera lasianthos and Pomaderris apetala 

 attained a height of fully thirty feet, and Pimelca spathulata, 

 an elegant shrub in full l^loom, made a very effective display 

 with its pretty heads of drooping greenish flowers. The 

 Acacias, A. melanoxylon, A. vernicifliia, and A. retinodes, 

 looked particularly well, the foliage being very regular and 

 ornamental, and of a much lighter shade of green than is 

 usually seen. A great variety of ferns flourished along the 

 banks of the stream ; splendid masses of Gleichcnia dicarpa were 

 observed, and G. flabellata was particularly fine. Todca 

 barbara grew in profusion, and in some places formed close 

 thickets, while Lomaria discolor, L. capensis, Aspidium 

 aculeatnm, Pteris incisa, also the tree-fern, Dicksonia antarctica, 

 with its stately heads of fronds, added beauty to the scene. 



Leaving Scrubby Creek, we soon struck the track we were 

 in search of, and started on our homeward journey. Proceeding 

 now under more comfortable circumstances, along the track 



