148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



amygdalina, Stringybark, E. capitellata, Ironbark, E. leucoxylon, 

 and Yellow Box, E. meliodora ; the undergrowth being mostly 

 composed of various species of Acacia, Blanket Tree, Senecio 

 Bedfordi, Hazel, and a species of Daviesia, which is locally termed 

 the native hop. A fair number of settlers have taken up most of 

 the land at each side of the road. Whilst stopping at one of 

 these farms some years ago I was shown a number of native 

 stone axes which were found in the valley of a small stream which 

 runs into the Tyers. Of course they originally belonged to a 

 tribe of aborigines, but it is rather puzzling to think why they 

 should have encamped in such a district, where there is little or 

 no game, and which is situated so far from the sea. From the 

 number of axes found it may be concluded that the tribe was of 

 some importance. The road now winds downwards into Jacob's 

 Creek, and thence upward to the table land of Moondara ; this 

 part of the country is of basaltic origin, and is now covered with 

 farms to the very foot of Mount Baw Baw. 



The following extract, containing a description of a portion of 

 Moondara was written by me and appeared in the Australasian in 

 June, 1885: — "The Moondara Creek heads, in their primitive 

 state, must not be confounded with ferntree gullies. Instead of a 

 narrow gorge, with the usual mixture of rocks, luxuriant vegetation, 

 and sparkling water, we have a wide flat containing some sixty 

 acres, the declivity being hardly perceptible ; the black soft soil 

 is partly covered with bright green ferns, some growing erect, 

 others bending in graceful curves ; the few fallen logs scattered 

 about are completely covered with tiny ferns, mosses, and lichens. 

 The Musk trees meet overhead, almost obscuring the sunlight ; 

 from their contorted stems that lovely parasitic fern Polypodium 

 scandeas is pendent, whose shining green leaves help to brighten 

 the sombre effect of the grey bark, while their curious hand-like 

 shape heightens the weirdness of the place. Masses of long filmy 

 ferns, like mermaidens' hair, float in festoons from the brown stems 

 of the tree ferns ; ropes of Supple-jack, Clematis aristata, hang 

 about in all directions ; gigantic clumps of the White Gum rise 

 here and there, piercing the canopy of foliage : their roots, thrust 

 out from the base, grow in twisted folds like huge boa constrictors. 

 In many places stand groups of Blackwood trees, a few measuring 

 as much as four feet in diameter. Altogether the gloom, pierced 

 at intervals with struggling rays of sunshine — the twisted gnarled, 

 and fantastic shapes of most of the trees, and the strongly con- 

 trasted colours, together with the ghostly appearance of the white 

 gum trees, produce a scene that for weird beauty I have never 

 seen equalled." 



I am informed that there are many parts of the Moondara 

 plateau which is in the same primitive condition as that just 

 described. About three miles further the road begins to descend 



