134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV. 



it can be shown that the buds and blooms now recorded for June 

 in this locality were phenomenally early, it will be seen that even 

 by September much of the vernal beauty of this part of the 

 country, or at least one phase of it, will have passed. 



The early flowering of Kennedya monophylla and the acacias 

 mentioned at an altitude where it might have been looked for 

 later may be due partly to northern aspect and partly, perhaps, 

 to the season being earlier this year. The former factor is, of 

 course, a permanent one, but the latter can be valued only as 

 reports from other districts come to hand during the coming 

 months. 



On a previous visit I saw a Lyre-bird at Wallaby Creek. 

 They were probably plentiful at one time, as a tributary of the 

 King Parrot bears the name Pheasant Creek, pheasant being a 

 common bushman's name for the Lyre-bird, Menura victoria, 

 Gld. I heard no Coachwhip-birds on this occasion, but about 

 the highland area were Red Lories, Platycercus elegans (trouble- 

 some in the orchards of the valley when apples are about to 

 ripen), a few Rosellas, P. eximius, and Black Jays, Strepera 

 cuneicaudata, feeding on insects in the garden of the Hospice — 

 in all fifteen species, as against thirty-three reported by Mr. 

 Keartland for January, 1900. 



Traces of Wombats were seen in many places ; one stupid 

 looking animal was almost run over by the buggy, a flick from 

 the driver's whip failing to hurry it in the least. At the Hospice 

 Mr Olney informed me that these animals are a great pest at 

 times, and have to be destroyed, to prevent damage to the 

 vegetable garden. An iron-bossed club and a much scarred and 

 bitten bull-terrier were produced as evidence of many a melee 

 close to the house. Among native plants one of the favourite 

 foods of the Wombat is Xerotes longifolia. Of this the animal 

 eats the tender leaves and the white underground parts of older 

 foliage. 



In conclusion, I endorse the opinion expressed in the report of 

 the 1900 excursion, that the country lying between Toorourong 

 and Mt. Disappointment should some day be examined by an 

 excursion party. The going would be away from the beaten 

 track, and, consequently, more difficult, but the information 

 gained would probably compensate for the physical discomfort 

 so endured. 



The Caper Butterfly, Belenois java, Sparr. — For the second 

 time this season this butterfly, formerly known as Pieris teutonia, 

 Fab., was greatly in evidence about the city and suburbs on 30th 

 November and ist December. The questions arise where does it 

 come from, and where does it go, and have the larvae other food- 

 plants than Capparis Mitchelli ? 



