THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 123 



EXCURSION TO BAYSWATER. 



Six members found their way to Bayswater by the 10.20 p.m. 

 train from town on Saturday, 13th October. Of these two devoted 

 their attention to the birds, while botany and entomology claimed 

 the other members of the party. 



Crossing the Sassafras Gully road at the gatehouse the party 

 were soon at work in a well-timbered paddock which borders the 

 railway line and runs down to the Dandenong Creek. In one of 

 the trees near here a Great Kingfisher has its nest every year. 

 The birds were noted, but had evidently not commenced laying. 

 A little further on a White-shafted Fantail was noticed busily 

 engaged in laying the foundation of its nest. Pardalotes, Acan- 

 thizse, Sacred Halcyons were also noted here, and along the creek 

 the Sericornis, Mountain Thrushes, and Thickheads were fairly 

 numerous, though very few nests were found. The creek was 

 now followed up as far as a ti-tree swamp, but with indifferent 

 success. Nests were taken of the Superb Warbler and White- 

 throated Thickhead, and several specimens secured for skinning 

 purposes. In the swamp the little Emu Wren was seen, but as it 

 was getting late no time could be devoted to a search for the nest. 



The botanists of the party had by this time a fair collection 

 of specimens, but the entomologists complained of indifferent 

 success. 



On returning to the station a little before 5 p.m. five other 

 members were found awaiting our return, having arrived by the 

 afternoon train and worked in a different direction. Owing to 

 the limited time at their disposal, they had not much to show for 

 the afternoon's walk, an Emu Wren and Short-billed Honeyeater 

 being the most noteworthy specimens secured. The return to 

 town by the 5 p.m. train concluded a very enjoyable, though not 

 very profitable, outing. — W. Macgillivray. 



EXCURSION TO SPRINGVALE. 



The weather during the week ending Saturday, 27th October, 

 was very unsettled, which will no doubt account for the small 

 attendance at the excursion to Springvale fixed for that date, but 

 those few who did put in an appearance had the satisfaction of 

 spending a very pleasant afternoon. On arrival of the party by 

 the 1.30 train from Melbourne they were met by the Rev. E. H. 

 Hennell, who elected to proceed in a south-easterly direction 

 from the station. The ground in many places was swampy from 

 the recent rains, but these objectionable spots were easily 

 avoided. From the large quantity of Leptospermum scoparium 

 and Ti-tree, Melaleuca squarrosa, which was in flower, it was 

 fully expected good results, especially in Coleoptera, would be 

 obtained, but unfortunately, although both were most carefully 



