4 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV. 



raodera some twelve species were taken, but not including any- 

 thing of note. A few specimens of fine Melobasis, displaying 

 beautiful maroon metallic markings on a green metallic back- 

 ground, were secured. Of longicorns, the most attractive was 

 Amjnrrhce decora, noted for its thickened femurs or thighs. The 

 little black and red Obrida fascialis was fairly common, and, of 

 course, Stenodorus suturalis, well known from its tar-like smell, 

 was abundant. A few wasps and bees were seen, but without 

 a net it was almost impossible to capture them. Another member 

 of this group, the Bulldog Ant, made its presence felt to my com- 

 panion as he carefully scanned a Bursaria for beetles. Botany was 

 represented by the Loose Strife, Ly thrum salicaria, in bloom, and 

 the Wild Raspberry, Ruhus parvifolius, and the Tree Violet, 

 Hymeyianthera Banksii, in fruit, but the most satisfying fruit we 

 got that afternoon was from a stray tree of Prunus pe^^sica, 

 growing in a shady bend of the river in company with tree ferns 

 and giant wattles. On returning to tea our landlady was much dis- 

 appointed at the smallness of the party, considering that a promise 

 of seven or eight had been made, and she had gone to consider- 

 able trouble in planning for that number, in addition to other 

 expected visitors, and it was with some misgiving that we went to 

 meet the afternoon train, which brought two more, but there was 

 yet hope, as now a still later train runs to Warburton on Saturdays, 

 and on meeting that we were gratified to find two more on board, 

 so that at last we were seven. 



During the evening we had arranged for vehicle and pair to 

 take us to the entrance to Malleson's Glen, five miles away, on 

 the following (Sunday) morning, and for an early breakfast, so 

 that we might have a long day there, but notwithstanding that 

 programme several turned out early, and went to a bend of the 

 river, where there is quite a tangle of vegetation, and secured 

 seed-specimens and young plants of one of our few forest 

 climbers, Lyonsia slraminea. The pods and the seeds, with 

 their silky pappus, put me very much in mind of the African 

 Strophanthus, which has come greatly into use of late years as a 

 heart tonic, but this was not to be wondered at, as both belong to 

 the same order of plants, Apocynese. Seme of the stems of 

 Lyonsia were large enough and strong enough to allow one of the 

 party to use them as climbing ropes. The larger Clematis, 

 Clematis aristata, also climbed about, and its feathered seeds 

 were just on tlie point of ripening. The violet fruits of 

 Ilymenanthera Banksii, the little scarlet fruits of the Native 

 Currant, Coprosma Billardieri, and the clear, pale fruits of the 

 Native Elder, Samhucus G audichaudiana, formed pleasing 

 contrasts. The ground was carpeted with a strong growth of the 

 fern Polypodium pu'}tctatmii, with here and there a Cat-head Fern, 

 Aspidium aculeatum. A few specimens of Drimys aromatica, 



