THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 



F. V. M., whose brown trunks were covered with masses of the 

 little filmy fern, Trichomanes venosum, R. Br. Other ferns noted 

 were Lomaria capensis, Willd., Lindsaya linearis, Swartz, Pteris 

 tremula, R. Br., and the Oak Fern, Pteris incisa, Thun. The 

 rocks were covered with many beautiful mosses and lichens, 

 the most conspicuous mosses being — Bryum altisehwi, C. M. ; 

 Leucobryum candidum, Hampi ; Dicrtmium hillardieri, Bridel ; 

 Hypnum cupressiforme, Simm. ; Lepidozia alothrin, Hook ; and 

 Ptycho)nnion aciculare, Labill. 



The last two thousand feet are climbed up a ravine, over a sort 

 of cataract of loose blocks of reddish sandstone, the walls on 

 either side being masses of conglomerate some hundreds of feet 

 high, and on one side almost perpendicular. This ravine had 

 evidently been an ancient watercourse, but all that was left of the 

 stream was a small spring which trickled from under the moss- 

 covered boulders, into a sort of basin, and disappeared again 

 under the rocks. 



From here to the top of the mountain we added to our 

 collections the Gordon Lily, Blaadfordia marginata, Herb. ; the 

 singular epacrid, Richea gunnii, H.; the Solomon's Seal or 

 Turquoise Berry, Dryynophila cyanocarpa, R. Br. ; the Swamp 

 Tea-tree, Melaleuca ericifolia, Sm. ; the Native Pepper, Brimys 

 aromatica, F. v. M. ; the Snowberries, Gaultheria hisplda, R. Br., 

 and G. lanceolata, H. ; the Asters, Olearia {Eitryhia) hdifolia, 

 Benth., 0. pini/olia, Benth., and 0. gunniana, H.; SprengeUa in- 

 carnata, Sm. ; and the Golden Rosemary, Oxylohium ellipticitm, 

 R. Br. 



From the top of the mountain there is a fine view of the 

 surrounding country and hills, and even the most ardent botanist 

 or geologist must pause to admire it, with that silent outreach of 

 the soul towards eternal beauty. The surface geological forma- 

 tions can almost be traced by the vegetation, especially where the 

 decomposition of the tertiary basalt has resulted in rich agricul- 

 tural land, with its fields of green potato-tops or golden corn, 

 backed up by virgin forest. 



The centre of the mountain is flat, and around the edges are 

 great masses of stone, to the south all sandstone, contorted and 

 tilted aUnost perpendicularly. This sandstone is composed of 

 rounded grains of ancient rocks, and contains much iron, the 

 protoxide and peroxide compounds colouring the rocks various 

 shades of green and red. 



Among the trees and shrubs growing on top of the mountain 

 may be mentioned Eucalyptus gunnii, H. ; Honeysuckle, Banksia 

 marginata, Cav. ; dwarf specimens of the Beech, Fagu,s cwa- 

 ninghami, H. ; the Purple Botde-brush, Melaleuca squaivea. Lab.; 

 the Native Heath, Epiacris impressa, Lab. ; E. longiflora, Boronia, 

 gunnii, H. ; B. rhomboidea, H. ; the Purple Heath, Tetratheca 



