THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 105 



of Mullet Creek, only a few feet above the level of the water, 

 with precipitous banks overhanging the line on the other side, 

 affording excellent opportunities for studying the vegetation. 

 Just before reaching Woy Woy, and even close to the platform, 

 I was pleased to see numerous specimens of a cycad, an order of 

 plants unknown in Victoria, but part of the characteristic flora of 

 Australia. These were probably Macrozamia ( Encephalartos ) 

 spiralis, Miq. Further from the line were some fine Cabbage 

 Palms, Livistona Australis, Mart., while at the station a man was 

 offering for sale a splendid specimen of the Stag's-horn Fern, so 

 that 1 think the vicinity of Woy Woy would be an interesting 

 spot, at any rate to a Victorian. In a garden we passed I 

 noticed a patch of bananas, but whether they produce a profit- 

 able crop so far south I cannot say. 



Our steamer called at Newcastle, but too late to see anything 

 beyond the city. Next day, as we were nearing the Solitary 

 Island, two whales were seen playing not far from the vessel. 

 Arriving in Moreton Bay at low tide, we had ample time to study 

 the sandy shores of Moreton Island, or the hundreds of Medusa 

 swimming in the water, before proceeding up the Brisbane River, 

 with its mangrove-lined banks. Further up, where the tasty 

 villas of the citizens came in sight, many of the verandahs were 

 quite covered with the gorgeous orange blossoms of a tecoma, 

 while cocoanut palms and clumps of giant bamboos lent variety 

 to the scene. Having only a few hours in Brisbane, I naturally 

 first of all visited the Botanical Gardens, which, though very 

 small, contain many notable trees, especially palms, as Mr. French 

 has recently told us (Victorian Naturalist, xiv., p. iii). I was 

 surprised to find the plants and grass looking so brown 

 and dried up, thinking that in a semi-tropical climate vegetation 

 was always green. Some small ponds were almost covered with 

 Azolla, and doubtless would afford many profitable dips to the 

 pond-life man. Crotons, Coleuses, and Poinsettias were growing 

 in the open air, but were not at their best. As I wanted to get 

 a glimpse of the bush country near Brisbane, I determined to go 

 out to Mt. Coolha (One Tree Hill), about five miles from 

 the city. Taking a 'bus to Toowong Cemetery, I had a two- 

 mile walk up the road to the top of the hill, where I could hardly 

 persuade myself that I was not on an outlying spur of the Dande- 

 nongs, so like was the vegetation to Victoria — in fact, I was quite 

 disappointed, as I expected something more tropical. Perhaps 

 had I been able to spend a longer time I should have found some 

 novelties. However, anyone who wants a pretty walk and a good 

 view of Brisbane cannot do better than visit this hill, returning by 

 a short cut through the bush to Taringa railway station. I was 

 sorry to notice here and in other places about Brisbane what a 

 pest the Lantana, a garden shrub with us, is becoming. 



