Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 129 



insect life. Among the Casuarinas, Native Cherries, and wattle 

 trees flourishing on the southern slopes of the Mount, the Black 

 and White Fantail, the Harmonious Thrush, the Yellow-rumped 

 Tit, and the Mountain Thrush were noted. In a slight depression 

 on the western slope a company of Scarlet-breasted Robins 

 comprising eight individuals, was observed amongst a growth 

 of Senecio. In the neighbourhood of the large rock basin which 

 is a prominent feature in the landscape of the western slope, the 

 Yellow-rumped Tit, Mountain Thrush, White-backed Magpie, 

 White-shafted Fantail, Babbler, and Warty-faced Honey-eater 

 were met with. The White-shafted and Black-and-White Fantails 

 were often encountered amid the Snowy Mint-bush which thickly 

 clothes this portion of the Mount. Although the Red Wattle- 

 bird was not seen, its harsh note was repeatedly heard. The 

 presence of this bird and the Warty-faced Honey-eater was 

 undoubtedly due to the number of flowering Eucalyptus and 

 wattle trees, and to the Snowy Mint-bush, acres of which were 

 thickly invested with blossom. To the north-west the country 

 is park-like for the most part, free from boulders, and timbered 

 by Casuarina quadrivalvis and Eucalyptus pohjanihema. Here 

 the White-backed Magpie, Blue-faced Honey-eater, Rosehill 

 Parrakeet, Yellow-rumped Tit, White-fronted Chat, Garrulous 

 Minah, Ground-Lark, and Black-and-White Fantail were noted. 

 A nest of the last-mentioned was discovered in a Casuarina. 

 Several pairs of what were assumed to be White-shouldered 

 Caterpillar-eaters were seen, but, owing to the excessive shyness 

 evidenced by the birds, a close inspection was rendered im- 

 possible. They may have been Hooded Robins. Their bulk 

 only influenced me to assume otherwise. In the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the hills to the north-west of the peak, the 

 Ground-Lark, the Grallina, the Crow, and the Flame-breasted 

 Robin were met with. A pair of Yellow-tufted Honey-eaters was 

 observed in a flowering Eucalyptus, E. polyantliema, situate on the 

 margin of the plain. On being disturbed they directed their 

 flight towards a stunted but dense growth of Melaleuca ericifolia, 

 through which the party a short time previously were obliged to 

 force a passage. The Melaleuca was in bloom, but no birds 

 were seen or heard in it or its vicinity. At different times during 

 the journey to Little River numbers of Crows and Magpies were 

 discerned on the plain to the west of the line. Stubble Quail and 

 Brown Song-Larks were often flushed by the approaching train 

 from the long grass within the railway reserve.^' 



The granite of the ranges seems to offer a great variety of 

 composition, details of which will be found in the paper by 

 Professor Skeats previously mentioned. On the whole, we 

 enjoyed the outing thoroughly, and though the You Yangs 

 cannot be considered a good collecting ground, still, as I have 



