Nov., 1907. J THK VlCTOKIAfJ NATURALIST. Ill 



OVER THE DIVIDING RANGE. 



By F. G. a. Barnard. 



{Read before the Field Naturalhts' Club of Victoria, 'Mk Sept., lOOV.) 



In May last 1 had an opporlunity of crossing the Great Dividing 

 Range, as we know it, at two places somewhat out of the course 

 of the ordinary traveller. Lancefield, an old-established town, 

 46 miles almost due north of Melbourne, and standing 1,560 

 feet above sea level, was my starting point. I may say here that 

 my visit to Lanceheld was occasioned by the fact that, as a 

 member of this Club, I was asked to deliver a natural history 

 lecture to the local Improvement Society, and lead a tield excur- 

 .sion of the District Teachers' Association. 



The Lancefield district, as you probably know, is celebrated 

 for its fertile soil, in which are raised immense crops of hay and 

 potatoes, but, being on a high table-land, seems to be somewhat 

 cold for the dairying industry. This fertile soil is the result of 

 the volcanic activity which took place there in former times, how 

 long ago none can tell. About a mile south of the town is 

 Melbourne Hill, which I found time to ascend. This is a much- 

 worn-down crater, and probably was the origin of the greater part 

 of the volcanic outpouring of the district, though from its top 

 other eminences can be seen which doubtless helped in the same 

 direction. References to some of these will be found in an 

 interesting paper read before this Club some years ago by Mr. 

 T. S. Hart, M.A., entitled "The Volcanic Rocks of the Mel- 

 bourne District" {Vict. Nat., xi., p. 77). Melbourne Hill, which 

 rises to perhaps 500 feet above the surrounding country, is 

 cultivated to the summit, and in the season would afford a 

 magnificent prospect of well-tilled farms. The fertility of the 

 soil is also evidenced by the log fences still remaining as bound- 

 aries to some of the fields. These huge logs, probably the 

 remains of giant red gums, will evidently last tor many a day. 



The quarter-sheets of the Geological Survey, published about 

 forty years ago, show the geology of the district to be of a varied 

 character. Pliocene, basalt, silurian, granite, and trap are all in 

 close proximity to the town. Standing in the township and look- 

 ing north, one seems to be surrounded by a circle of hills, the 

 greater part being the Main Divide. To the south-west is 

 Macedon and the Camel's Hump (Mt. Diogenes), next the Cobaw 

 Ranges west and north-west ; due north the range is slightly 

 lower, while to the east is the more lofty Mt. William Range. 

 This, however, is not portion of the Main Divide, but a parallel 

 range, and sei)arated from the Divide by the No. 3 or Boyd's 

 Creek. The Deep Creek, which is the main source of the 

 Saltwater River, as we know it nearer town, follows a circuitous 

 course round the district. Taking Monument Creek as its most 



