144 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



THE BUFFALO MOUNTAINS CAMP-OUT. 

 Thursday, 24th December, 1903, to Monday, 4th January, 



1904. 

 Although ray name does not appear on the excursion list as one 

 of the leaders of the Buffalo camp-out, yet through force of 

 circumstances I came to occupy that position, and therefore have 

 to give some short account of the outing. When the idea of a 

 " camp-out " at the Buffalo Mountains was suggested some 

 months ago by Dr. Sutton and Mr. Barnard in a paper descriptive 

 of a Christmas collecting trip which included a visit to the 

 Buffalo Gorge, it was thought that the distance from Melbourne 

 (nearly 200 miles) and the time required for such an excursion 

 would prove difficulties in the way of getting a representative 

 party from the Club, besides which the character of the country 

 to be visited added further difficulties. However, inquiries were 

 made of a local guide as to the probable cost, &c., and on this 

 being announced several names were handed in as probable 

 starters ; the list grew, and finally a party of twenty-two, including 

 eleven ladies, left Melbourne by the early morning train on 

 Thursday, 24th December last, for Porepunkah, the nearest station 

 to our destination. Some of the ladies on arrival at Spencer-street 

 Station, and claiming seats in the compartments reserved for the 

 Field Naturalists' Club were scarcely believed by the porters, who 

 had evidently formed quite a different idea as to the appearance 

 of a field naturalist. We travelled very comfortably as far as 

 Wangaratta ; here we had to change trains, and, to be all together, 

 chose a covered truck, which proved rather dirty and decidedly 

 rough. On our way we were interested in seeing the large fields 

 of golden grain, ripe and ready for the harvest. Many of these 

 same fields on our return journey had been badly discoloured by 

 the heavy rains in the interval. 



On arrival at Porepunkah we were met by our guide, Mr. Jas. 

 Manfield, jun., and greeted iby a telegram from the president of 

 the Club wishing us a pleasant trip and the compliments of the 

 season. Quite an imposing array of traps, evidently collected from 

 all the district round, was waiting to convey us and our belongings 

 to " Ernani," Mr. Manfield's home at the foot of the mountain — 

 a 4-roomed house, where twenty of us were accommodated that 

 night. The gentlemen occupied the barn, sleeping on improvised 

 beds of wire-netting stretched over logs. Mr. Weindorfer, 

 eager to be early at work, accompanied by Mr. Roy Felstead, 

 pushed on for the summit of the mountain that evening. Three 

 members set out for the Eurobin Falls, some two miles up the 

 stream, missed their way, did not see the Falls, and were too 

 late for the good dinner the rest of the party enjoyed. Others 

 were content to explore the creek, bathe, and generally amuse 

 themselves as they were severally inclined. 



