THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 119 



foot of the hill by Mr. G. Backhouse, where the advance party 

 was waiting for them. 



The flowers again were a never-ending source of interest. 

 Bushes of the brilliant orange-flowered Pultencea stricta bordering 

 one part of the road were a sight to behold, the masses of 

 their highly -coloured flowers showing out well against the soft- 

 looking foliage, and we wondered why this plant was not more 

 cultivated, as it would hold its own anywhere. We reached our 

 destination — the summit of a high ridge — in due course, and 

 while having an al fresco lunch admired the superb view across 

 to Western Port, with French Island beyond, on the one side, or 

 Mt. Juliet and the neighbouring ranges on the other. After 

 lunch we wandered about, either collecting or admiring the 

 magnificent views from different points. Some of the party, 

 desirous of further exploration, went down the steep hillside 

 to a fern gully, and through some very rough country, striking 

 the road again at the foot of the range, while the others saw the 

 ladies safely into the conveyances at the foot of the mount and 

 then walked back to camp, Including visitors, we sat down to 

 dinner in the evening to the number of twenty-five. 



Some heavy showers fell on Sunday night, but fortunately 

 cleared off before the morning, and Monday was a perfect day, 

 and found members early astir, and after breakfast at 6.45 a.m. 

 collecting was done in our immediate neighbourhood. Mr. 

 Fulton and Mr. Coghill, in their search for the Land Crab, 

 Engceus/ossor, had excavated a hole about 4 feet deep and 8 feet 

 across, but were amply rewarded for their mining operations in 

 capturing about 30 of these crustaceans or so-called " yabbies." 

 They were also fortunate in securing specimens of another 

 species in the creek, which they fished for with pieces of 

 meat attached to a string or by bags with a meat bait 

 at the bottom, and we hope to hear the results of Mr. 

 Fulton's work in these crustaceans later on. We had 

 lunch soon after midday, then the tent and luggage were 

 packed up, and at 3 o'clock Mr. Gerald Backhouse came with 

 his conveyance and took all the luggage to the station, and we 

 followed on later, gathering bunches of coral fern and flowers on 

 our way. The day being a public holiday, many excursionists 

 had come from Melbourne, consequently we secured accommoda- 

 tion for the whole party in a covered truck, and had afternoon 

 tea in that vehicle before the train left at 5 o'clock. The distant 

 views as we returned seemed even prettier than on our forward 

 journey, while the foliage at the crossing of the Monbuik Creek 

 in the departing daylight was particularly charming. At Ferntree 

 Gully a compartment was reserved for us, and we reached town 

 about 9.30 p.m., after an exceedingly enjoyable outing, and we 

 regretted that more were not able to join in the excursion. 



