72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



gnnnii, H. ; the Artichoke, Astdia alpina, R. Br. ; Bceckia 

 gunniana, Schau. ; Gentiana saxosa, Forst. ; the Eyebright, 

 Euphrasia hrownii, F. v. M. ; the Yellow Thyme, Hibberlia 

 serpillifolia, R. Br. ; Cehnisia longifolia, Cass. ; with the Coral 

 Fern, Gleichenia dicarpa, R. Br., and a Lycopodium. 



Of animal life we have but a poor record. A Black Snake 

 caused some excitement by crossing the track between our party. 

 We saw a few parrots and robins. Two long-haired caterpillars 

 attracted attention, one chestnut-brown with a golden band round 

 the middle, the other dark brown with golden spots. 



On the 28th of March we again visited the top, but encountered 

 a terrific thunderstorm. The thunder echoed from crag to crag 

 with a deafening roar, the rain came down like a torrent, and in 

 the dense mist we lost the track coming down, and so missed all 

 the specimens we had gathered and put in the shade when going 

 up. At that time GanUheria hispida was looking beautiful with 

 its clusters of snowberries. 



I should advise anyone intending to visit Mount Roland to go 

 the day before to the little village called Sheffield, which is some 

 five or six miles from the mountain ; or to Mr. Perkins's farm at 

 the foot of the mountain. Our party will never forget the 

 kindness and hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins. 



I am greatly indebted to Messrs. J. G. Luehmann and R. A. 

 Bastow for the identification of some of my specimens. 



The late Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth. — It is with very great 

 regret that the death of Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, a former hon. 

 secretary of the Field Naturalists' Club, is recorded. Owing to 

 want of space, an account of his work in the interests of natural 

 science must be held over for the next Natturalist. 



Personal. — During the month the editor received a charac- 

 teristic memo, on a post card from Mr. Robert Hall, as follows : 

 — "Yakutsk, Siberia, 30/6/03. I have truly set foot in the 

 wonderful tundra country ; full of birds, teeming with mosquitoes, 

 and covered with flowers. Every place greets my eyes with a 

 new plant ; first a field of forget-me-nots, as large as those we 

 cultivate, then a paddock of Iceland poppies. Our common 

 onion occupies swamps, and most lovely orchids border them. 

 Buttercups and blocks of ice line the banks of the Lena River, 

 and flowering willows densely cover the numerous islands of the 

 broad stream. Everything is done on a grand scale, and Nature 

 in May wakes quickly from her snowed repose. Insects are 

 varied and numerous. The whole is a wonderland and a 

 surprise." 



