156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



showers. The acacias along our route were greatly in evidence, 

 and among them A. aspera, A. myrtifolia, A. Mitchelli, A. oxy- 

 cedrus, A. acinacea, A. tenuifolia, and A. armata were noted. 

 Pulieruea dapknoides, Platylohium Jormosum, Styphelia virgata, 

 S. glacialis, and Grevillea aquifolium were also conspicuous 

 amid the heath and grass-trees. About ri o'clock we reached 

 one of the highest points on the range, where years ago consider- 

 able effort had been expended in testing one or more auriferous 

 lodes. The view hereabouts, seawards and to the north-east, on 

 a clear day should be an extensive one. 



Descending the northern slope of this point, we ascended the 

 acclivity opposite, and,, crossing a saddle, again descended into a 

 small valley embouching on to the plain. In the final descent 

 the uncommon Phyllanthus thymoides was gathered. The trend 

 of the valley was east and west, and presented a series of 

 charming views. On its southern slope Xanthorrhcea australis, 

 EtLcalyptus polyanthemos, and Pteris aquilina flourished, to the 

 exclusion of other species of vegetation, whilst the northern 

 declivity supported the Xanthorrhcea, Acacia pycnantha, the fern 

 Chilianthes tenuifolia, and eucalypts E. polyanthemos, E. hemi- 

 folia, E. leucoxylon, and E. elceophora. The banks of the small 

 gully which meandered through the valley were margined by 

 Correa speciosa and extensive growths of Helichrysum sernipap- 

 posum. Here, amongst the dwarf specimens of eucalypts. Glycine 

 clandestina was found twining in profusion, and also, as is usual 

 in such situations. Clematis microphylla. Here, too, numerous 

 representatives of the feathered tribe were noted. Quilting the 

 interesting country at the foot of the range, we headed east across 

 the plain, traversing many patches of Eutaxia empetrifolia, whose 

 orange-red inflorescence enlivened the green sward. At noon we 

 halted for lunch beside a waterhole in which was a family of Wood- 

 Duck, male and female and twelve young. 



A striking topographical feature, which the wayfarer will not 

 fail to observe, is the numerous shallow depressions of varying 

 area on the basaltic plain hereabouts. They are invariably 

 margined by angular flakes of bog-iron ore, the oxide being 

 derived probably from the disintegration of the basalt, and 

 nourish to a lesser or greater extent sturdy specimens of Poly- 

 gonum Cunninghamii or " Lignum." In several of these swamps 

 we found the Nardoo plant, Marsilea quadrifolia, the spores of 

 which the ill-fated Burke and Wills were compelled to use for 

 food. 



During the remainder of our journey the usual plants found on 

 the plains were met with, chief amongst these being Gnaphalodes 

 uliginosa. The Geelong-Bacchus Marsh road was reached in 

 the neighbourhood of Mr. Dan Green's residence, about three 

 miles south of Parwan railway station. 



Hereabouts on either side of the road are two large depressions. 



