152 fHE VICTORIAN NATtJRALlSt. [Vol. XxVt. 



Wurmbea dioica, Cymhanotus Lawsonianus, Brachycome ciliare, 

 Ranunculus lappaceus, Leeuwenhoekia dubia, Erechtites arguta, 

 and Craspedia Richea were unusually abundant. Crossing the 

 railway for the second time above the Rowsley station, we struck 

 the Parwan Creek and journeyed along the left bank for some 

 distance, noting on the way numbers of robust specimens of the 

 introduced Cape Spurgewort, Euphorbia lathyris, and a fine tree 

 of the Twisted Acacia, A. implexa, in full bloom. Hereabouts 

 numerous representatives of the feathered tribe had congregated, 

 and were enlivening the woodland with their varied calls. 



Directly in our course some fifty Sulphur-crested Cockatoos 

 were observed feeding amongst a growth of Cape-weed, Cryptos- 

 temma calendulaceum. We succeeded in approaching within 

 two chains before being detected by the birds, which took wing 

 with loud screeches of alarm ; the sentinel, who had evidently 

 been asleep at his post in the Yellow Box tree under which we 

 passed, making up for his neglect of duty by pronounced 

 vociferousness. An inspection of the spot where the birds were 

 foraging revealed the fact that they had been feeding on the bulb 

 of the Victorian Crocus, Hypoxis glabella. Another, but smaller, 

 flock met with at the foot of the Brisbane Range on the return 

 journey on Sunday was also found to be levying heavy toll on 

 that small yellow-flowered plant. The ground over which the 

 birds had operated appeared as if it had been scarified. 



The foothills were gained about 1 1 a.m., the prevailing timber 

 on this portion of the basalt area being Eucalyptus hemiphloia, 

 E. melliodora, E. sideroxylon, E. jyolyanthemos, Casuarina stricta, 

 and Acacia melanoxylon. About noon a fine sheet of water 

 known as the sheep-wash dam was reached. Here, as previously 

 determined, a halt was made for lunch, and whilst the water in 

 the billy was attaining boiling point we turned our attention to 

 bird-life in the neighbourhood, and in a very small area noted the 

 White-fronted Heron, Pied Cormorant, Spotted-sided Finch, 

 White-throated and Brown Tree-creepers, Black-faced Graucalus, 

 Pipit, Restless Flycatcher, Mistletoe-bird, and several species of 

 honey-eaters. Whilst lunching, a Grebe paddled up from the 

 embankment of the dam, against a stiff breeze and choppy water, 

 to gaze inquiringly at us, but as a portion of one of the Melbourne 

 daily papers, with suggestions therein to combat " our greatest 

 peril," started on a frolic, the bird left for home very hurriedly, 

 most of the way under water. 



Our journey was resumed an hour later, and shortly after the 

 limit of the basalt was reached, and the Silurian formation, with 

 its distinctive vegetation, entered upon. A few chains sufficed to 

 reveal a wealth of flowers and flowering shrubs. Orchids were 

 particularly in evidence. The purple Glossodia major occurred in 

 countless thousands, and, with Pterostylis curta and P. mitaiis, 

 Diuris maculata, and the composite Microseris Forsieri, margined 



