I4<^) Excursion to Belgvave. Fv^'*^ vvvVi 



the locality presents a delightful variety of vegetation to the 

 eye of the tourist. The Banyalla is frequently found in this 

 district making a host of the tree-fern trunks, on which it 

 grows into rather large bushes. Most of the Dicksonia tree- 

 ferns were unrolling from twenty to thirty new fronds above 

 those of the previous season, while many of their trunks were 

 covered with masses of the Spotted Polopody. A very fine 

 mass of the Batswing fern was observed on the upper side 

 of Clematis-avenue. A number of the plants were found 

 densely crowded together, with erect parallel growths, many of 

 the fronds being from three to five feet in height. Three 

 of the party who were stopping overnight at Belgrave con- 

 tinued on to Sherbrooke Falls, and thence to the township. 

 The rest returned to the Monbulk road, and enjoyed the sight 

 of the picturesque vegetation along the western side of the road 

 as they made their way stationwards. 



The record of ferns for the day was twenty-one, and, as it is 

 possible two or three of the smaller species were overlooked, the 

 extent of the fern flora of the district may be set down at 

 twenty-five, or about one-third of the Victorian hst. This 

 estimate would probably hold good also for the Dandenong 

 Ranges as a whole. 



I am indebted to Mr. Chas. Oke for the following notes about 

 the entomology— or rather coleoptera— of the trip. He 

 says : — " Insects were less numerous than is usual at Belgrave 

 in early December ; but, as last summer bush-fires had swept 

 over the greater part of the ground traversed, this was only 

 to be expected. Careful scrutiny of every likely and unlikely 

 spot revealed over eighty species of coleoptera, mostly common 

 species, but a few rare ones were secured. The greatest rarities 

 were three specimens of two species of Chlamydopsis, which 

 were obtained only after very carefully examining numerous 

 ants' nests. One specimen is an undescribcd species, the 

 others are the third and fourth specimens to be taken of C. 

 pygidialis, Blackburn. I think I may safely say this is the 

 first record of these interesting beetles being taken on a Club 

 excursion. Other myrmecophilous beetles taken were a 

 Colydiid, a Tenebrionid with remarkable antennae, a Chrys- 

 omelid, and a Brent hid. As few flowering shrubs were met 

 with, none of the flower-haunting species were collected." 



The party returned to town by the evening train, well 

 pleased with their outing. — F. Pitcher. 



