Vol. XXVIII 



1911 



] Kelly, From Healesville to Mount Donna-Buang. 11; 



short struggle, I remounted and finished the chmb with more 

 comfort to us both. 



After this toilsome part of the journey we encountered a more 

 gradual but rougher way. Loose stones and slippery outcrops 

 of dacite, with logs, from saplings to trunks of the largest trees, 

 strewed the way. Here, as we rode, still in Indian file, along 

 the backbone of the ridge running westerly from the Dividing 

 Range, which separates the head waters of the Graceburn and 

 Watts from the Badger, and in which the high peak called 

 Donna-Buang occurs, the flora and the scenery began to change. 

 Looking away westerly towards Yarra Glen, large sheets of 

 flood waters, lake-like on the flats, could be seen, whilst across 

 them the morning train was steaming along the viaduct. On 

 our left front, whilst looking towards Yarra Glen, was Launching 

 Place, plainly visible ; and to the right, the highest houses of 

 Healesville, appearing as outposts at the foot of Mount St. 

 Leonard. Thus, Eucalyptus amygdalina gave way to E. regnans, 

 while E. ohliqua took on the mountain form that bushmen call 

 " Menindie," and which, in my opinion, is E. hcemasfoma. 

 Riding in close quarters, back and front, with no chance to 

 go aside, note could be taken of nothing smaller than medium- 

 sized shrubs. Among these were Olearia {Aster) argophylla, 

 stunted, and with many stems, and what was apparently 0. 

 [Aster) stelhtlatus in alpine form ; Acacia dealhata, whose foliage 

 was so like that of A. mollissima as almost to convert one to 

 Maiden's grouping of these two as varieties of A. deciirrens ; but, 

 as there was neither blossom nor bud, it is safer with such casual 

 observation to reserve identification. 



At this stage, which was about half way, someone ahead had 

 halted the troop — a fallen tree was being negotiated. Suddenly 

 a voice at the back called out, " Look at those holly berries ! 

 Get some." One of the party moved into the scrub. I guessed 

 what the hollies were, and had some passed along ; they were 

 the fruit of Coprosma hirtella, and magnificent specimens, too 

 — luscious, and about twice the usual size Many a stunted 

 bush of this plant had been passed recently. The next plant 

 to attract my attention was an Eriostemon in bud. Scattered 

 along the way, high up on the ridge, were several bushes. I 

 could reach them from the saddle, but they were too tough to 

 pick. Several stems sprang from each root. The leaves were 

 very large and thick, emitting a foetid smell when crushed. 

 My nearest companion secured two pieces for me (I had but one 

 when I returned, and that I take to be E. myoporoides). A little 

 further on we came to the first snow — light flakes sparsely 

 scattered. The aneroid showed 2,000 feet above Healesville 

 (267 ft.), and we had come but little more than half way. It 

 was not the first snow that we had seen, for on peaks ahead, and 



