THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 147 



Thursday (31st) was spent in short walks round about the 

 camp, and during the day we said good-bye to Mr. Gossler. Then 

 we had to prepare for the evening's bonfire, under the direction of 

 the Messrs. Summers. Long will we all remember that New 

 Year's Eve, with its impromptu programme of songs and recita- 

 tions, a charade, the re-incarnation of the Buffalo and the Haunted 

 Gorge ghost, speeches, singing of " Auld Lang Syne," and supper. 

 The glorious night, the eerie position, with its weird outlook, 

 and the jolly company combined in making an effect never 

 to be forgotten. 



Friday (ist January, 1904) was mostly spent in resting after 

 the exertions of the previous evening. We said good-bye to Mr., 

 Mrs., and Miss Shephard, Miss Shaw, and Mr. Mathieson. An 

 attempt was made to go to the " Leviathan " Rock, but we only 

 got a little beyond Carlile's when, as rain threatened, we had to 

 return. Having collected a pair of Buprestid beetles on Richea 

 gunnii, and being anxious to secure more, I stayed behind, and 

 succeeded in getting several, but also got a drenching. This 

 beetle proves to be a rarity. 



During our absence Mr. Weindorfer paid a flying visit to the 

 camp to show that he had returned from Bogong, and to say 

 good-bye. 



It rained all Friday night, and Saturday was almost equally wet, 

 still two or three enthusiasts went out collecting. 



On Sunday morning rain was still falling. However, about 10 

 o'clock the weather cleared, and we started for lower levels, with 

 many a regret for having to leave the Buffalo, ten days there 

 seeming far too short. 



On reaching the creek that tumbles down the Gorge we turned 

 aside to have a last look at the waterfall, and the sight well repaid 

 us. Here the rain began again, and continued for the rest of the 

 day. The "tundra" in front of Carlile's was practically under 

 water, so that dry feet, not to mention legs, were out of the 

 question. Slippety-slop down that mountain we went, occasionally 

 measuring our length, but merry withal. The Eurobin Creek, we 

 crossed so easily on our journey up, was now a swollen torrent, 

 and we had to make a detour to find a log high enough to form a 

 bridge. 



At "Ernani" we met some of the others who had come down 

 before, all nice and dry, and ready to practically welcome us with 

 spare clothes. Then ensued such a drying of garments. 



On Monday morning, 4th January, eighteen of us left Pore- 

 punkah by the early train (5 a.m.), and mid-day saw most of us in 

 the city again, where we were met by Messrs. Weindorfer, 

 Shephard, and Mathieson, whose kindly welcome we much 

 appreciated. 



Everybody enjoyed themselves, judging by the regrets expressed 



