THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91 



and Manna Gums, and the change was due to the better soil 

 derived from the slates forming the "Wall." These are vertical, 

 and have a northerly strike. We were now on the top of the 

 " Gehi Wall," at an altitude of about 2,225 ^^^^- To the right 

 was the Gehi canyon, formed by the Gehi River cutting through 

 the spur on which we stood. We descended for some distance 

 on a fairly stee|) grade, and came to the top of the wall proper, 

 where a glorious view was obtained of the whole Kosciusko 

 range. Peak over peak stood out above the general level of the 

 mountain, softening into lavender under the weakening rays of the 

 setting sun ; spur after spur descended from the main mass into 

 the valleys of the Gehi and its tributaries, and were lost in their 

 wealth of verdure ; while the streams roared as they rolled their 

 offerings to the gorge. 



We gazed on it with admiration, and hastily taking two photo- 

 graphs, set about getting the mare down the " Wall," which clearly 

 promised to be a task of some difficulty. She, however, was quite 

 equal to it, as, silting on her tail, with her front feet straight in 

 front of her, she quickly followed us to the bottom, with no 

 damage but the loss of some hair. 



The place is suitably named, for the difference in altitude 

 between the top and the bottom in some 350 yards is 825 feet. 

 We crossed Bain Creek at the foot, then a short spur and Gehi 

 Creek, which shows a fine contact of slate and intruded granite, 

 and finally came to the Gehi River. The stream here was then 

 about 50 yards broad, witii large boulders of granite and altered 

 sediments in its bed. It was very cold, and we were glad when 

 we had forded it. Dusk was now upon us, and it was quite dark 

 when we reached the second ford, which, however, offered no 

 difficulty. But at the third one on the same stream, all within a 

 mile, both banks were heavily limbered, and for some time we 

 could not find the landing place. This wading about, waist deep, 

 in a cold mountain stream in the dark was not altogether 

 pleasurable, and on crossing we decided to camp at once rather 

 than waste time trying to find the Gehi hut. 



We soon had a roaring fire, and dried ourselves. At this camp 

 we used bracken for a bed, and, as on a previous occasion, found 

 that numbers of "Soldier" or "Bull Dog" Ants, were on it. 

 When a light appeared these ants crawled up the white sides of 

 the tent, and, becoming a nuisance, had to be killed. They had 

 evidently been benighted and taken shelter under the fern fronds. 



31st March. — The morning broke very cold and foggy, with 

 the temperature at 34°. While having breakfast a pair of Lyre- 

 birds, Menura victorice, quizzed us curiously from the trees near 

 by, but disappeared before the camera was ready. On proceed- 

 ing up the Gehi Valley a fine plump Wonga Wonga Pigeon, 

 Leucosarcia picata, rattled away ahead of us, while several Black 



