THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ' 153 



under the branches of which here and there appeared Lomatia 

 ilici/olia and the orchid Dipodiicm ptmctatum, both of which 

 continue all the way up as far as the Gorge. 



Our first halt was at our guide's homestead, " Ernani," situated 

 at the foot of a spur from the mountain, and up which the bridle 

 track leads to the Buffalo table-land. Two miles from this 

 charmingly situated spot, on the banks of the Eurobin, a change 

 from the silurian to the granitic formation takes place, and we find, 

 with the appearance of GreviUea parvijtora, Hibhertia serpild/olia, 

 AstrotricJia ledifolia., Veronica denventia, Pullencea mollis, Caly- 

 cothrix tetragona, and Tracliijmene billardieri, a striking change 

 in the vegetation, which here, in the black soil saturated with 

 water, shows a luxuriant growth. The higher we ascend the more 

 the plants of the lowlands disappear, being gradually replaced by 

 alpine forms. Goodeitia hederacea, almost clinging to the rocks, 

 is one of the first of the alpine plants to greet us. The de- 

 clivities burst forth in splendour under the bright yellow-flowering 

 Oxylobium alpestre, accompanied by Daviesia ullcina and D. 

 latifolia, while the white-flowering Pimelea lini/olia, the pink- 

 petalled Tetratheca ciliata, T, ericifolia, CandoUea serridata, and 

 Erythrcea australis, the azure blue bell of Wahlenbergia gracilis, 

 with Stackhousia viminalis and other lowland forms, which, in 

 spite of the great climatic differences, succeed in ascending to 

 these higher altitudes, each contributes its share to the harmony 

 in the gradation of colour. 



But all this splendour and magnificence is only an introduction 

 to the kingdom of the apine flowers which nature presents to us 

 at a height of 4,500 feet above sea-level, and involuntarily we 

 put the question, " What is it which induces all these plants to 

 enjoy their life in these lofty altitudes ? " It looks as if a number 

 of selected species had combined in order to enjoy their existence 

 far from the destructive hand of man ; or as if their proud 

 relatives in the valleys had banished their dwarfed sisters to the 

 barren heights of alpine regions. 



With the first view of the Buffalo Hospice we set our feet on a 

 green carpet, interwoven with the greatest variety of colours in 

 flowering plants. The blooms of Ranunctdns muelleri, Ilnanaca 

 hydrocotylea, and the pale straw-coloured flowers of Caliha 

 iniraloba— the first messengers of the alpine spring — have dis- 

 appeared, and made room for others ; Herpolirion novce-zealandice 

 scatters its star-like flowers over the sunny meadow land ; at the 

 edges of the rocks Kunzea muelleri exposes its light yellow, and 

 Kunzea parvifolia its purple flowers to the sunbeams ; on the 

 banks of the creek we met with the orchids Prasophyllum 

 fuscum and Thelymitra ixioides, the sky-blue flowering Veronica 

 nivcea, Comesperma rettisum, Cardamine dyctiosperma, and 

 Drosera peltata. In marshy ground appear Goodenia gracilis, 



