Mar.,-] 

 1017 J 



AuDAS, A Botanist in (he Portland District. t6o 



land, on our cast. Following' the Batts Ridges in an I'asterly 

 direction, the limestone caves and lime quarries are passed, 

 and on the return journey grass-tree and tea-tree flats are 

 passed through, backed by marram-grassed sand-cUines, and 

 finally the clay country of West Portland is reached, with its 

 orchards, farms, and timbered spaces where wild-flowers 

 abound. Here the beautiful mazarine flowers of the liliaceous 

 plant Stypandra ccespitosa arrest attention, and Boronia fili- 

 folia, with pale ])ink blossoms, delicately perfumed, grow in 

 abundance, while the handsome pea-flowered shrubs, Pulteniea 

 mollis, P. humilis, Dillwynia patula, D. encifolia, D. floyihiinda. 

 Platvlohium ohtusangulum, Gompholobimn Hitegelii (in colours 

 yellow and red), were met with. Three insectivorous plants 

 abound generally — viz., Drosera peltata, D. auriculala, and D. 

 Menziesii. Insects are so frequentlj^ caught in the glandular 

 hairs of their leaves that these plants are sometimes known 

 as " fly-catchers." Where the scrub-land had been burnt the 

 Bracken Fern, Pteris aquilina, had spread rapidly and occupied 

 considerable spaces, thus hindering the growth of grasses which 

 would be of value as fodder. Growing along the sides of the 

 road, on the homeward route, the small introduced cruciferous 

 plant Eriophila vulgaris, with white flowers, flourished. Here 

 a dwarf form of the Brown Stringybark, Eucalyptus capiteUata, 

 is met with, and extends for a considerable distance. The 

 Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha, although not an original 

 habitant of this locality, grew luxuriantly, and was spreading 

 in all directions. It was in full flower, and I was informed 

 that quantities of the bloom are gathered and forwarded to 

 Melbourne for sale on our annual " Wattle Day." 



In conclusion, I may safely commend Portland and the sur- 

 rounding district as an interesting field to a naturalist, be he 

 entomologist, ornithologist, geologist, or botanist, and well 

 worthy of a visit to those interested in these branches of 

 science. 



[A useful little guitle to Portland has recently I)een issued by 

 the local traders. Copies can be had from ^Ir. J. W Barcham, 

 Portland.— Ed. Vict. Nat.] 



Mallacoota. — The Argus of Saturday, 17th February, con- 

 tains an interesting sketch, but too short, by Mr. C. Daley, 

 F.L.S,, of a holiday spent at Mallacoota. 



Caper Butterfly.— A nice specimen of the second brood of 

 the Caper Butterfly, Anaphceis Java teutonia, Fab., was noticed 

 flying in the Botanical Gardens on Saturday, loth February. — 

 F. G. A. B. 



