THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 171 



elsewhere in the State. The ferns seen were Alsophila australis, 

 Dicksonia billardierii, Lomaria capeiise, var. jjrocera, Polyfiodium 

 jninctaium and P. pustulatum, Pteris incisa, P. aquilina, 

 A diaiitimi cethiopicum, Asphniitnijlabelli/'olium. 



The Sassafras tree was in fine bloom between Fernshaw and 

 the top of the Spur, and perfuming the air with a scent which 

 reminded us of that of the Syringa or Mock Orange. Some 

 specimens of the sticky Acacia leprosa were seen in bloom about 

 Fernshaw. The Native Pepper Tree, Drimys aromatica, was 

 seen along the roadside ; young plants brought away are still 

 growing in the open in our garden. 



Of hepatics, mosses, and algse we have made no referfuce 

 here, as several require further examination in order to be deter- 

 mined, and the fern list might have been considerably increased 

 had we explored the deep gullies carefully, but at this season, as 

 we have shown, this was impracticable. 



Although we saw nothing of the Lyre-bird, Menura victorice, 

 we were informed by Miss Keppel, of Marysville, that, despite the 

 fact that foxes had increased rapidly of late, the Lyre-bird was 

 more numerous this year than it had been for many years past. 

 At Marysville, too, we were informed that Wombats are becoming 

 a nuisance because of their interference with cultivated grasses, 

 &c. The Satin Bower-bird, also, is reported to be increasing in 

 numbers, but we did not see any. 



There was, as before remarked, very little Native Olive, 

 Notelcea ligusirina, and no sign of the Satin or Stinking Box, 

 Eriostenioti squameus, while Piitosportim bicolor, if present, was 

 not prominent, and this, together with the conspicuous presence 

 of the Sassafras, Atherosperma iiioscliatum, the Lyre-bird, Afenmra 

 victorice, Gld., the reported frequency of the Satin Bower-bird, 

 Piilunorhynchus violaceus, Vieill., and the large number of 

 Wombats places the Blacks' Spur region in marked contrast to 

 the Olway Forest district, vvhicli, however, is an area of Jurassic 

 formation and geograpliically isolated, as reflected by its animal 

 and plant life recorded in the Naturalist, vol. xxi., p. 149, a few 

 months ago. 



Although this paper is primarily a series of notes on the botany 

 and ornithology of the districts visited, some generally descriptive 

 notes have been added in order that the general reader may be 

 able to gain some idea of the country passed through. 



Plants of the Healesville, Narbethong, Marysville, and Buxton 

 Districts, including the Blacks' Spur. 



(* in bloom, t in fruit, § specially referred to in foregoing description.) 



Ranunculacea.'— Magnoliaceae — 



Clematis aristata, R. Br. 



microphylla, Cand. 

 ^Ranunculus lappaceus, Smith 

 aquatilis, Dodoens 



SUrimys aromatica, F. v. M. 

 Monimieiie — 

 *Atherosperma moschatum, Lab, 

 *Hedycarya cunninghami, Julasne 



