174 Excursion to Toolnngi. rvJ"^XXXlv 



was hardly noticeable when wc got out into the beautiful 

 country. Tlic fourteen-mile drive from Yarra Glen to Toolangi 

 was very interesting — among hills covered with medium-sized 

 eucalypts. From one point, locally known as " Cape Horn," 

 there was an extensive view over the Yarra valley to the 

 Dandenong Ranges and Malleson's Look-out. As wc walked 

 up the steep part of one hill we could not help admiring the 

 Sweet Bursaria, just then at its best, bearing its panicles of 

 small, creamy- white, scented flowers. Here also were found 

 spikes of the pink orchid Dipodium punctatum, often called 

 " native hyacinth " by the bush folk. Our destination, 

 Alanbee House, we found to be nicely situated in a sheltered 

 spot, and as an agriculturist I could not but admire the 

 seven acres of potatoes close by, which were in splendid order, 

 and were excellent when sampled at dinner. We were going 

 to be very energetic in the afternoon, but, attracted by some 

 pleasant shade alongside the Yea River afforded by a thicket 

 of hazel, musk, sassafras, and tree-ferns, amidst which the 

 umbrella and star ferns were climbing, not even the leeches 

 and mosquitoes could make us move. The call for afternoon 

 tea was more successful. Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., who had 

 been announced as leader of the excursion, was unfortunately 

 pre\'ented b}' his official duties from lea\'ing town, so we were 

 glad when our fellow-member, Mr. Chas. Daley, F.L.S., who 

 was spending a holiday in the district, kindly undertook to 

 act as leader on the morrow for a visit to the Sylvia Falls. 

 This was particularly good of him, for he had been there only 

 a day or two before with Mrs. Dale3\ and was well aware of 

 the difficulties of the track. Wc went to the " Canoe " in the 

 evening, and found the ferns along the river a beautiful sight. 

 On the way back we passed Mr. C. J. Dennis's house, sur- 

 rounded with wattles and gums, and " Ginger Mick " intro- 

 duced his friendly self, accompanying us back to " Alanbee." 

 The walk to the Sylvia Falls seemed to us more than the 

 seven miles it is reputed to be, but it was very beautiful and 

 interesting, and, even if w(> did cross the stream twenty-nine 

 times, we did it each time over a different kind of crossing. A 

 soft mist was falling, making the bushes moist, while our foot- 

 steps made no sound on the soft wet leaves as we went along. 

 Our path was through a tangle of blanket-wood, sassafras, 

 hazel, musk, lomatia, with tree-ferns decked with filmy ferns, 

 mosses, and lycopods. Later we came to the myrtles, Fagtis 

 Cunninghami, but I like to call them by their proper name — 

 beech. They were so beautiful — the old, old trunks covered 

 with mosses and lichens, even out to the uttermost points of 

 the hmbs. They yield a beautiful timl)er for household use. 

 From them Beech Forest, in the Otway peninsula, got its name. 



