164 Mellor, The A.O.U. in Tasmania. [,st^April 



barking, merely to kill and get rid of them. Some of these 

 slain giants, as they lay in decay, measured 220 feet in the 

 barrel, almost without a limb, and beautifully straight and 

 workable in the grain, and it was pointed out that some day the 

 abuse will have to be accounted for, although several generations 

 may pass away ere that time arrives, and those not responsible 

 will surely suffer. Various excursions were made at intervals to 

 outlying places,- so that more varied specimens could be 

 collected, and not the least profitable of these was that to the 

 summit of Mt. Barrow, whose topmost peak is 4,644 feet above 

 sea-level, or about 500 feet higher than Mt. Wellington, and here 

 from the pinnacle a splendid panoramic view was obtained of 

 the country for miles around, while beyond the sea was visible, 

 with some of the Strait Islands dotted on its surface. The 

 climb, which is of circuitous route, occupies the best part of a 

 day, being 5 or 6 miles in length, but the scenic effect well 

 repays the trouble taken. The vegetation resembles that of a 

 cold region, being of extremely hard and tough growth, to 

 withstand the fierce gales and the ice and snow that perpetually 

 cover the summit in winter time, and this season being 

 exceptionally cold and wet, these elements have kept up far 

 into the spring and summer, and the naturalists were able to 

 indulge in a little pastime of snowballing. On another occasion 

 two members of the party had some exciting experiences in 

 being caught in a snow storm on the mountain heights when 

 far from home, but, happily, reached camp none the worse for 

 their exposure. Camp was struck on 5th December, and most 

 of the members made their way back to Launceston and home 

 to their several States, high in their praise of the courtesy and 

 attention shown by the Tasmanian people in assisting in 

 scientific research, the names of Mr. W. M'Gowan, Superin- 

 tendent of City Parks and Reserves at Launceston, and Messrs. 

 H. C. Thompson and F. M. Littler, of Launceston, being specially 

 mentioned. 



Mount Arthur. 



After the members had returned to their several homes I had 

 the pleasure of yet another mountain region exploration in 

 company with Mr. H. C. Thompson, of Launceston. This 

 expedition was directed towards that high eminence, Mt. Arthur, 

 which is situated in a north-easterly direction from Launceston. 

 It was on the 15th December we set out by the afternoon train 

 for Lilydale, a station some 3 miles from the foot of the 

 mount. Here we started to carry our swags, which were heavy, 

 but " a friend in need " happened to pass our way who proved 

 " a friend indeed " by carting us to our destination, " Craigel- 

 lachie," the property of Mr. W. M'Gowan, who kindly placed at 

 our disposal his mountain retreat, a small unoccupied house 



