March, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 169 



heard that some vandals had taken it into their heads to have 

 these fine trees chopped out, but I am pleased to say thai, public 

 opinion being fortunately too strong against them, they failed in 

 the attempt. 



The train journey from Cairns to Kuranda on the Cairns- 

 Herberton line is something to be remembered, as after travelling 

 a few miles the slow ascent of the mountains is commenced, and 

 the vegetation begins to improve both in beauty and density. As 

 we climb up these formidable steeps the forests on either side 

 are clothed with plants of many descriptions — orchids, Monstrea, 

 Pothos, and other epiphytal plants, too numerous to note in a 

 hurried railway journey such as this was ; tall Kentia palms 

 adding greatly to the beauty of the scene. A few miles on 

 the Cairns side of Kuranda we pass by the splendid Stony 

 Creek Falls, of which I present a plate. The face of these 

 falls is some 300 feet in height, and covered with ferns, amongst 

 which I noticed our old favourite Gleichenia Jlabellata, and other 

 fine ferns, including what I took at a glance to be the so-called 

 Ribbon-Fern, Ophioglossum pendulum, and the Bird's-nest Fern, 

 Asplenium nidus. I was informed that when at their best these 

 falls throw their spray over the train in passing. Proceeding on 

 we pass the marvellous valley of the Barron River, its stupendous 

 falls not being nearly at their best at the time of my visit. (The 

 jjhotograph here given shows the falls at about three-quarter 

 flood time.) 



Kuranda having been reached, a glorious sight presented 

 itself; here is a forest of eucalypts, acacias, cedars, &c., with 

 palms and tree-ferns in profusion. Kuranda is undoubtedly a 

 veritable paradise for the naturalist. Street's coffee plantation, with 

 its pretty garden, is just across the Barron River, the Jacarandas 

 there being particularly fine. At Kuranda is the home of Mr. F. 

 P. Dodd, an insect collector, who has a magnificent collection of 

 Lepidoptera. Most of the specimens, having been reared, are 

 consequently in the best possible condition. Amongst them he 

 has grand specimens of the rare Queensland Atlas Moth,Charagias, 

 and several other fine species, besides many rare beetles. Some 

 of tiie latter I secured for my collection, and amongst the gems 

 which 1 obtained here may be mentioned a splendid new 

 buprestid beetle of the genus Cyria, some fine lucanids, longi- 

 corns, Callirhipis, Lymexylonidse, &c. 



After leaving Kuranda, with its lovely Jacarandas, Poincianas, 

 &c., the country becomes poor and miserably uninteresting, 

 reminding one of some of the driest and poorest-timbered country 

 of our own State. A large portion of the country, however, besides 

 being auriferous, contains tin, copper, wolfram, and other 

 valuable minerals. In these dry parts the Pandanus or Screw- 

 Pine, together with Cycads and Macrozamias, appear to take the 



