Vol. XXVIII. 

 ign 



1 Kelly, From Healesville to Mount Donna-Buang. 115 



as far as we could see. I was told that on the plateau there 

 was little else but dwarf snow-gums. Hence I expected to find 

 Eucalyptus coriacea ; but if these dwarf gums are not stunted 

 forms of E. ohliqua I am mistaken. Soon I hope to have an 

 opportunity to examine them more closely. At stages on the 

 way a lax form of Stellaria hung gracefully from decaying tree- 

 limbs, but now the smaller plants were hidden. Overhanging 

 boughs and tangles of prostrate trees and projecting limbs 

 covered with snow impeded our progress at times, occasioning 

 sometimes a delay in crossing, sometimes an ugly flounder as 

 we crossed, and once, at least, a dismount. An occasional 

 patch of treacherous mire changed the colour of things. One 

 in particular was blackness itself. It was a slough, but not 

 of despond. We and our hopes were getting higher. At noon 

 we reached the summit, 4,080 feet above sea level — a fitting 

 hour for the achievement. The snow at the top, after being 

 trodden hard, was about three and a half feet deep, while the 

 drifts were very much — perhaps in places two feet — deeper. 

 At the place where we met the Warburton party a large space 

 had been cleared, and we were enclosed by a ring of timber, 

 so that no views were obtainable. The opening up of vistas, 

 however, is fast being proceeded with. Within this circle we 

 tethered our horses to trees and fallen boughs, and lunched. 

 A fire was roaring in a snow-pit formed by a hole recently 

 occupied by the roots of a large eucalypt, and a plentiful supply 

 of tea and hot water was available. 



After remaining on the summit a couple of hours and listening 

 (or not listening) to speeches typical of such occasions, we 

 sought our mounts, many of which had sunk to their girths 

 in the snow. The return journey was not facilis decensus, but 

 it took rather less time than the ascent. On the way up we 

 had seen tracks of wallabies in the snow, and fresh tracks were 

 noticed on our return. In the neighbourhood of Ben Cairn Rock, 

 which lay at some distance to the south of the track, a small party 

 detached themselves from the main body and made a detour 

 to see if a road could be found viii that interesting object. I 

 believe their expedition promises a successful issue. This 

 plateau (3,350 ft. above sea-level), it will be remembered, was 

 visited by a Club party from West Warburton in January, 1910 

 {Vict. Nat., XX vi., p. 185). About this point we passed through 

 a thick mist, which hung only to the higher levels. The down 

 grade riding at the stony patches and the steep pinch I 

 mentioned before required considerable care, but, with no 

 mishaps of any consequence, we reached home about 5 o'clock. 



As I write this a party of ornithologists is visiting the 

 mount from the Warburton side. It is hoped they will be 

 rewarded with a sight of something in their own particular line. 



