THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77 



the cocoons had the same number in it would make a total of 

 4,096 young spiders — not a bad brood. At one place on the 

 roadside the scrub was on fire, and we had some difficulty in 

 getting our horses past. The scenery was for the most part very 

 monotonous, with heavy timber more or less all the way, and 

 most of the country had been recently burnt, which did not add 

 to its beauty. A few tracks of lizards and snakes were seen on 

 the dusty road, but they were not numerous. Bush rats and 

 mice were plentiful, and their footprints often seen. Although a 

 considerable distance from the ocean we could occasionally hear 

 the noise of the surf breaking on the shore. 



We arrived at Orbost at 5 o'clock. The town is situated on 

 the banks of the Snowy River, which we had imagined as being 

 a clear, pellucid stream, but found on the contrary that it was very 

 muddy. Every now and then a heavy flood comes down and 

 submerges most of the river flats, destroying any crops that may 

 be growing there and covering the soil in many places feet deep 

 with sand. The occurrence of these floods is a great drawback to 

 the prosperity of the place. 



There were wonderful crops of maize and flax growing here. 

 The latter especially looked well, and although a recently-tried 

 plant, seems to be a thriving one. We were shown some plants 

 15 feet in length, and the average height of the crops vyas about 

 12 feet. We were told that it grew about one foot a week. When 

 ready it is cut and made into bundles and then steeped in water 

 for about eight days ; it is then dried and crushed to get the bark 

 and pith oft". 



We left Orbost again for Mario at 6 o'clock, on horseback, a 

 pack-horse carrying our luggage. As the punt over the Brodribb 

 River was not working, we had to go over the bridge along a very 

 rough road, which made the distance 15 miles, and we reached 

 Mario about 10 o'clock p.m. The situation of this place is very 

 fine, overlooking the valley of the Snowy River on one side and 

 the open ocean on the other, both being but a short distance 

 away. Early next morning a start was made for the Bemm 

 River, a distance of 25 miles. On the way a detour was made 

 up the Cabbage-tree Creek to see some of the Cabbage-tree 

 Palms, and we found a specimen, some 60 ft. in height, growing 

 on the banks of the creek. Continuing our journey along a fairly 

 good road, the Bemm River Hotel was reached during the 

 evening. The country passed through was mostly very poor and 

 covered with Bayonet Grass and Eucalyptus. Shortly after leaving 

 Mario we passed close to the ocean beach, but on high land, and 

 on the unruffled surface of a backwater, separated from the ocean 

 by a low sandbank, numbers of Musk Duck, Black Duck, and 

 Teal were enjoying themselves. The first named were generally 

 in small companies of about seven birds, possibly the young with 



