THE VICtORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl. 



more in length, and varying in shape from spheroidal to fusiform 

 nodules. One rounded bomb was found fractured, which showed 

 the interior to be composed of several layers of scoriaceous or 

 frothy lava of varying density, which had evidently accreted 

 round a nucleus in successive stages. The crater lake 

 shows the characteristic features, well preserved, and from 

 the presence of rushes it was evident that a considerable swamp 

 exists there during the winter months. The crater has been 

 broken down on the western side, and the ' breaching ' is most 

 distinctly shown as a wide valley with gently_ curving sides, 

 through which the lava once flowed down in a resistless stream to 

 fill up some old creek valley, and spread over the site of where 

 Coburg, Collingwood, and Richmond now stand. Another 

 interesting feature — the level of the crater-floor being lower than 

 the breached edge of the crater — points to a sagging down of the 

 lava within the throat of the volcano during the last stages of the 

 eruption. The basalt of this cone, besides being scoriaceous, 

 shows numerous phenocrysts of olivine, generally of the variety 

 rich in iron." As showmg how unexpectedly one may come 

 across interesting specimens, it may be mentioned that in passing 

 through a wire fence on the top of the hill a specimen of that 

 singular beetle, Bhipidocera mystacina, Fab., noticeable for its 

 beautiful pectinated antennae, was taken, and further search 

 revealed another specimen on the wire not far away, probably 

 sheltering from the strong wind prevailing. A descent was now 

 made to the Sydney road, which passed round the western side of 

 the hill. On reaching this we found the height to have dropped 

 to 1,025 feet, showing that the mount has an elevation of about 

 350 feet above the plain. On the other side of the road some 

 rocky hills attracted our attention, so, leaving the ladies to follow 

 the road to Wallan, the others made a slight detour, and found 

 the hills to be the remains of the rim of another crater, but 

 much smaller and imperfect. Growing in the crevices of the 

 basalt were numerous plants of maiden-hair fern, Adianium 

 cethiopicum, just sending up new fronds after the recent rains. 

 Hereabouts some good volcanic bombs and pieces of light scoria 

 were picked up by those interested, and we then wended our 

 way towards Wallan, about 3 miles distant, which we reached 

 just as darkness set in. We found the ladies had ordered tea at 

 the Tower Hotel, so we were all soon engaged in replenishing 

 the energy expended during the afternoon. As the railway 

 station is quite two miles from the township, we had a pleasant 

 walk after tea in the brilliant starlight, and caught the 10 p.m. 

 train for town. It is unfortunate that trains are so infrequent on 

 the North-Eastern line, as there are several other places in that 

 direction which would be worth visiting if it could be accom- 

 plished without so much expenditure of time. — F. G. A. Barnard. 



