Vol. XXVII. 



IQII 



] O'DoxoGHUE AND St. John, Alofig the Lerderderg. 195 



breeze so modified the noise of the rushing river that the far- 

 off barking of a dog, the hquid call of the Harmonious Thrush, 

 the plaintive cries of the Bronze and Pallid Cuckoos and 

 White-eared Honey-eaters, came in pleasing sequence to the 

 ear. Striking south-easterly along the crest, we soon reached a 

 locality where the Silurian rock was less metamorphosed, and, 

 consequently, more congenial to vegetation. The eucalypts 

 soon increased in bulk and variety, E. elcEophora being noted 

 for the first time. In the neighbourhood of where portion of a 

 quartz reef, about 3 feet in thickness, had been exposed by 

 some energetic placer-seeker, grew Daviesia latijolia, D. 

 corymbosa^ Craspedia Richea, the orchids Caladenia earned 

 and Dinrus macitlata, Myosotis Australis, Pelargonmm Rodney - 

 annm, P. Australis, Geranium dissectiim, and other plants. 



An interesting and unique discovery was made hereabouts — 

 namely, a variegated form of the epacrid Brachyloma 

 daphnoides, which we believe has not hitherto been recorded. 

 Whilst examining the growth a pair of Black Wallabies were 

 startled from beneath a bush of Dillwynia ericifolia. They 

 started off at a headlong pace, one along the crest of the spur 

 and the other down its slope, stopping occasionally to glance 

 back at the unusual intruders in these solitudes. The slopes 

 here were bright with PuliencBa daphnoides. Acacia acinacea,. 

 and the two forms of Daviesia previously mentioned. Whilst 

 moving about among the timber to command a view of Mount 

 Blackwood, the Spotted Ground-bird and the Brush Bronze- 

 wing Pigeon were flushed. 



Descending a precipitous watercourse, we found the environ- 

 ing slopes green with the Granite Fern, Cheilanthes tenuifolia, 

 and in less precipitous spots Hydrocotyle hirta, Cryptostylis reni- 

 formis, and Stuartiana Miielleri. Cassinia aculeata abounded, and 

 one specimen of the Native Musk-tree, Olearia (Aster) argophylla, 

 was noted. Near the junction of the watercourse with the river 

 the Black-and- White Fantail, White-thro>ated Tree-creeper, 

 Brown Flycatcher, and White-browed Babbler were numerous. 

 Large patches of Stackhousia linarifolia were noted hereabouts, 

 on which the Native Bee, Trigona carbonaria, occurred in large 

 numbers ; and on the bare earth, at the base of several of the 

 gums, large bunches of the larvae of the Gum Saw-fly, Perga 

 dojsalis (?), were observed. 



Having now struck our route on the outward journey, our 

 investigations practically terminated ; so, with but a limited 

 time at our disposal to catch the train, we set a direct course 

 for Bacchus Marsh, feeling loth to leave a locality which, if it 

 were more accessible, would prove an interesting one for a Club 

 excursion. As it is, only comparatively good walkers should 

 attempt to explore the district. 



