May, 1908.J THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



which shows that we must have covered from three to four miles. 

 After a final snack and cup of tea, we started on the drive home, 

 as one of the party wanted to catch the evening train. A dip in 

 the Yarra was found to be very refreshing, after the hot and dusty 

 drive, as a termination to the day's work. 



On Monday we determined to visit a part of the district not 

 yet explored by our Club parties. We started off along the road 

 towards Hoddle's Creek, and in about two miles came to the 

 creek itself, a very small stream, quite a contrast to the sparkling 

 waters of the Don, for its purity was sullied by the sluicing carried 

 on higher up. The vegetation was poor as we went along. The 

 Umbrella or Palm Fern, Gleichenia flahellata, grew alongside the 

 bridge, while the Coral or Star Fern, G. ci7xinata, grew in quanti- 

 ties further along on the hillsides. A look-out was kept for 

 G. dicarpa, but it could not be detected. The large yellow pea 

 flower, Go7npholobium Huegelii, was found both in flower and in 

 fruit. Persoonia juniperina, a small proteaceous shrub, was also 

 in bloom, with Styphelia scoparia just in bud. The most attractive 

 object along the road was the stems bearing the splendid turquoise- 

 blue fruits of Dianella longifolia, which were rather numerous. 

 After about four miles of walking the road left the valley, and, 

 reaching higher ground, we found ourselves on a different 

 formation, the silurian having been replaced by granite. Close 

 by was Hoddle's Creek P.O., which we made our terminus, and 

 as one of the party knew the proprietor, we were invited into 

 lunch, for, notwithstanding that the leader had provided a bottle 

 of " forced march tabloids," and was anxious to give them a trial, 

 the others thought something more bulky would be acceptable, 

 and he too gave way. For dessert we were told to go down in to 

 the raspberry garden and help ourselves, which we did, and the 

 fruit was very refreshing on the hot day. But signs of a coming 

 change were increasing, so we determined to return homewards, 

 and had almost reached the hotel when rain started ; however, it 

 was not very serious. After an early tea, we left by the extra 

 train, and were back in town by 8 p.m., after a very enjoyable 

 outing. 



In response to ray request, Dr. Sutton has kindly given me a 

 few additional notes on the botany of the trip to Malleson's Glen. 

 He says : — 



" Many flowers are not to be expected at the end of January, 

 but from the train Leptorrhynchos tenuifolius was observed in 

 abundance in the railway reserve, and Bursaria spinosa was 

 frequently seen. The latter, however, was really in its fruiting 

 time, for its flowers were scentless, and would soon be past. 

 About the river Geranium pilosum, Oxalis corniculata, Viola 

 hederacea, Epilobium glahellum, Lythrum salicaria, Cynoglossum 

 latifolium, Brunella vulgaris, Gratiola PeruviauQf^ Mentha Aus-. 



