122 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



flower, but P. muelleri, P. gunnii, and P. mollis were past their 

 best. Tetratheca ciliata was everywhere, from the purest white 

 through different shades of pink to deep magenta, but curiously 

 enough the deeper shades, generally the most plentiful, were 

 here the rarest. Another charming plant was also ubiquitous in 

 Bauera rubioides (Saxifrage^e), and a prettier shrub when in 

 bloom with its different tints of pink is difficult to find, while its 

 flowering period seems to extend through many months. A 

 straggling plant with flowers somewhat resembling Bauera, but of 

 the deepest yellow, Hihhertia serpilli folia, was very plentiful ; 

 but perhaps the flower which attracted most attention, 

 on account of its beautiful sky-blue flowers, was Dampiera 

 stricta (Goodeniacese), which was in great abundance and in 

 many parts gave a distinctly blue tinge to the undergrowth. Of 

 its nearest allies, the Goodenias, there were several species, 

 Goodenia ovata giving quite a yellow aspect to the waste land 

 along the railway line. The order Araliacese was represented by 

 Panax samhucijolixs, a stately shrub or small tree, but it was not 

 in bloom. Aslrotricha ledifolia, belonging to the same order, 

 was very common, and its greyish vestiture and blossoms were 

 sufficient to add another tinge to many parts of the scrub. At 

 first sight this plant greatly resembles the Zierias (Rutacese). The 

 beautiful blue creeper, Comesperma volubile, was in most cases in 

 fruit, but some good spikes of C. ericiniim (magenta) were gathered. 

 The Epacridae were nearly over, but what a sight these hills must 

 present in the spring, when Epacris impressa, from purest white 

 to deepest crimson, is everywhere. Styphelia ojcycedrus was quite 

 over, but the last spikes of S. ericoides still retained their tiny 

 flowers. Here and there Clematis aristata entwined the bushes 

 with its sprays of creamy-white flowers, while Leptospermum 

 scoparium (Myrtacese) was just bursting into bloom, with its pure 

 white paper-like petals. A near relative, Melaleuca squarrosa, 

 grew in abundance in the swampy parts of the creek, bearing its 

 honey-scented bottle-brush flowers, and shedding its singular bark, 

 composed of innumerable layers of material about the thickness 

 of tissue paper. Of the Eucalypts only E. Gunnii and E. amyg- 

 dalina were obtained in flower. Other than the Pultenaeas and 

 Acacias, Plat ylobiiivi for mosum seemed to be the only representa- 

 tive of the Leguminosge. Among the Composites, the Musk, Aster 

 argophyllus and .4. stellidatus, called by Mr. Guilfoyle " the Snow- 

 bush," were conspicuous by their panicles of pure white flowers, 

 while Cassinia aculeata, in many cases with pink instead of white 

 headlets, was very plentiful. The Hazel, Pomaderris apetela, was 

 in full bloom, but the handsomer Prostanthera lasiantha (Dog- 

 wood) was not yet bearing its sprays of violet-dotted labiate 

 flowers. Lyonsia straminea, one of the so-called " Supplejacks," 

 was climbing about the vegetation in the gullies, but its flowers 



