Feb., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 147 



some were removed for home cultivation. A number of mosses 

 were also secured, but insects were very scarce. After breakfast, as 

 Mr. Kelly reported that Leptospermttm scoparium was blooming 

 well in the lower country, we determined to try in that direction 

 and see if any beetles were to be caught, but we spent too much 

 time on top of the range stripping bark and turning logs, with 

 poor results owing to the dry weather. Then we turned down 

 into a hollow which afterwards became a fern-gully, the head of 

 the western branch of Chum Creek. Here among the tree-ferns 

 grew some fine specimens of Asplenium iimbrosum, but the 

 descent was too rough, so we worked out on to the hillside, but 

 little of interest was noted before we returned to lunch. Insects 

 were extremely scarce, though a number of Painted Lady butter- 

 flies, Pyrameis Kershawi, were flying about the brilliant yellow 

 blossoms of a fine growth of Senecio dryadens. 



In the afternoon another attempt was made on the Chum 

 Creek valley, and with better success. Taking a spur forming the 

 western boundary of the eastern branch, we soon got into a por- 

 tion of the Victoria State Forest, and presently the whole hillside 

 was a perfect flower garden. The deep orange flowers of 

 Pultencha Gunnii were chiefly responsible for the gay scene, but 

 Grevillea alpina (scarlet), Eriostemon correifolius (lemon), 

 Teiratheca ciliata (pink), Comespermum volubile (pink), and 

 Goodenia ovata (yellow) added other tints to the wayside. 

 Various acacias and Epacris impressa had been very fine earlier 

 in the season, but were now quite over. Crossing the creek, we 

 came to some poor heathy land with stunted gums, not far from 

 where Grevillea repens was noted on the Healesville excursion in 

 January last. Here Dillwynia Jiorihunda (bright brick-red) was 

 the most prominent flower, with occasionally Grevillea repeats and 

 Bceckea diffusa. The pure white blossoms of Leptospenrmum 

 scoparitim were plentiful, but beetles were conspicuous by their 

 absence. Further on some clumps of the splendid blue Dian/ella 

 revoluta (Liliacese) added another colour to the scene. A 

 solitary specimen of the blue orchid, Thelymitra aristata, was 

 observed. Numbers of the flower-spikes of the smaller grass-tree, 

 Xa-tithorrhoea australis, were to be seen. Several bushes of 

 Banksia collina were noted, but the flowers were over. It was 

 getting late, and as we had a climb of about a thousand feet to 

 accomplish in a distance of about three miles, we turned home- 

 ward, taking the track up the western branch of the creek, which 

 eventually led us to the part we had traversed in the morning. 

 Great patches of the fern Blechnum cartilagineum and the Golden 

 Bracken, Duvallia dubia, were passed, and again Goodenia ovata, 

 though such a ubiquitous plant, caUed for special admiration. 

 Growing on a fence, as we returned, was a splendid plant of 

 Clematis aristata in full bloom, the pleasant perfume of which was 

 distinctly noticeable many yards away. 



