134 Excursion to Laheriouche . rvJ"^*xxxi"v 



is crossed by several creeks, but apparently there is no ex- 

 posure of any underlying rock surface. A point of interest 

 about half a mile east of the camp was a dry watercourse with 

 well-dcfnied banks of what had presumably at one time been a 

 fairly large stream, in the old bed of which a small creek lias 

 cut its course several feet deep, but seems too small a stream 

 to account for the formation of the ancient channel. It is 

 probal)le, especially as there is an intrusion of the Older 

 \'olcanic in the range to the north-east, that the course of the 

 original stream may have been diverted elsewhere, or a main 

 affluent captured by some other stream, leaving the old bed 

 dry, in wliich a creek much diminislied in size and volume has 

 carved its narrow channel l)elow tlie old bed. Time did not 

 permit of much investigation to determine the question. Other 

 than the Boronia the plants noticed call for little comment, 

 and almost all are to be found miich nearer ■Melbourne. The 

 same remark applies to the ferns met with ; in some cases the 

 latter were of very luxuriant growth. Before leaving, the 

 opportunity was taken to thank most heartily" the Messrs. 

 Currie and otlier friends for their hospitality and active co- 

 operation in making the excursion such an enjoyable one. — 

 C. Daley, P. R. H. St. Johx. 



" JoLRN.^L OF Agriculture, Victorla." — The December 

 number of this periodical contains at least two articles of interest 

 to naturalists. The first, " Fluke in Sheep," is dealt with by Dr. 

 Georgina Sweet, Mr. H. R. Seddon. B.V.Sc, and Mr. \\ . A. X. 

 Robertson, B.V.Sc, the first-named taking the structure and life- 

 history of this insidious menace to our flocks. The life-history is, 

 as well known, a most intricate one, and there are many steps in 

 it when disaster may overtake the individual, but, seeing" that one 

 adult lluke is capable of producing 45,000 eggs or more, there is 

 likely to be always a fair number of individuals on the way to 

 maturity. In a short article, Prof. A. J. Ewart, Government 

 Botanist, gives some account of the Algaroba tree, which has 

 been frequently recommended as a valuable stand-by for cattle in 

 dry seasons, but he shows that there are many other trees or 

 plants whicli would ])e far more profitable to grow for the 

 purpose. Mr. J. \V. Audas, F.L.S., of the National Herbarium, 

 in an instructive article on Victorian grasses, points out the 

 distinctive features of a number of our grasses and their value 

 from the stock-raiser's point of view. He remarks that the well- 

 known Kangaroo Grass, Anthistiria imberbis, produces very few 

 fertile seeds, hence, if too closely eaten down during seeding time, 

 there is a chance of this valuable grass being lost. 



