152 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



the species seems to be one which can adapt itself either to bright 

 light or darkness. 



The rocky projection of Point Bunbury is also interesting, 

 inasmuch as it shelters Apollo Bay from the force of the currents 

 from the south-west, the effect of which can be seen at various 

 places along the coast in the outlets of the various streams, which 

 nearly all have a north-easterly trend, sometimes running parallel 

 to the sandy beach for many chains at only a few yards distance. 

 Point Bunbury also bears a ridge of sand hummocks, beneath 

 which, on the ferruginous sandstone, are the remains of an 

 aboriginal camp. This, on examination, yielded many skinning 

 flakes of quartzite, &c., and chipped stones, together with 

 mollusc shells, often in groups of species. We did not succeed 

 in unearthing any tomahawks, though these have been found 

 here, as well as at Point Franklin and Cape Otway, further 

 south. 



Regarding the timber trees of the district, where bush fires have 

 not carried all before them, fine specimens of Blue Gum, 

 Eucalyptus globulus, Messmate, E. obliqua, Blackbutt, E. 

 pilularis, and White Gum, E. gunnii, exist, the first-named being 

 the predominant species. The Beech Forest, so named from the 

 magnificent growth of the native Myrtle or Beech, Fagus 

 cunninghami, extends from about four miles west of Apollo Bay 

 over a considerable area, and must not be confounded with " Beech 

 Forest," the terminus of the narrow gauge line from Colac, which 

 is some miles to the northward, on the summit of the main 

 divide. The Blue Gums here are unsurpassed in Victoria, and 

 almost equal those of Tasmania. The straight, clean boles of 

 this gum run up with scarcely decreasing girth for the greater 

 part of their height. In many cases I measured 125 feet to the 

 first branch, while a number of fairly large, but not monster, 

 specimens gave an average height of 225 feet, their girth at a 

 few feet above the ground averaging twenty-four feet. These 

 results were obtained by means of clinometer, Chesterman's tape, 

 and mathematical calculation, and may be taken as being as nearly 

 correct as possible. As showing the value of the timber here, a 

 measured acre, selected at random, was found to contain some 

 thirty trees, five of which equalled the dimensions mentioned, the 

 others being of diminishing sizes, all clean, straight, and sound, 

 showing that with judicious cutting the State possesses in this 

 forest a very valuable asset. However, the danger from fire is 

 very great. The selectors on the edge of the forest are in the 

 habit of cutting the undergrowth of hazel, dogwood, &c., which, 

 when dry, and the wind favourable, is set on fire, with probably 

 appalling results to the forest. 



Probably the finest growth of Beech trees is to be found in the 

 cool, shady valley of the upper portion of the Elliott River, where 



