86 Field Naturalists' Club— Proceedings. [vl^xxxv. 



was reached at about 6 p.m., after an interesting walk of about 

 four miles. 



The botanical excursion to Clayton on Saturday, 31st August, 

 was reported by the leader, Mr. H. B. Williamson. Fifteen 

 members, including the president and assistant secretary, spent 

 a pleasant and profitable time in the afternoon around Clayton, 

 and were favoured by fine weather. Although rather early 

 for most of the spring flowers, the number of species recorded 

 was very fair. From Clayton railway station the party walked 

 in a north-westerly direction for half a mile into a patch of 

 Manna Gums growing on a sandy rise, and sheltering tea-tree, 

 heaths, and various scrub plants. The form of Eucalyptus 

 viminalis growing here and elsewhere on this coastal region is 

 rather puzzling to one accustomed to the smooth-barked form 

 which grows to such a fine tree, and it takes a good deal of 

 inspection to distinguish it from E. Stuartiana. Among the 

 scrub, Silky Tea-tree, Leptospermum myrsinoides, Wedding 

 Bush, Ricinocarpus pinifolius, and Common Heath, Epacris 

 impressa, were most conspicuous, the first not yet blooming, 

 the second just coming out, and the last rather past its best. 

 Three Hibbertias — " Guinea-flowers ." — made a good show, 

 especially H. densiflora and H. fasciculata. Grey Bossea, 

 Bossicea cinerea, Gorse Bitter Pea, Daviesia itlicina, Common 

 Hovea, Common Flat Pea, Platylobium obtusangitlum, and 

 Scarlet Coral Pea, Kennedya prostrata, were the only leguminous 

 plants found in bloom, except the Acacias, the Bossea being 

 by far the most attractive. Of Acacias in bloom, A. oxycedrus, 

 A. stricta, A. juniperina, and A. armata were the only ones 

 noted, the first-named being the most abundant, and the last 

 chiefly along the fences as a hedge plant. One tree of Light- 

 wood, Acacia implexa, was seen badly infested with galls, but 

 not in bloom. The search for orchids was re- warded by the 

 finding of Pterostylis nutans, Nodding Greenhood, P. concinna, 

 Trim Greenhood, the little Acianthus exsertus, Common Gnat 

 Orchid, and the larger Glossodia. Of lilies only one was noted 

 in bloom — Chamascilla corynibosa, Blue Squill. This patch of 

 timber and scrub is near the Clayton school, and the leader 

 stated that it formed a favourite collecting-ground for his 

 pupils, who had brought to school and pressed about 360 specie's 

 since October last, probably 200 of which were gathered in this 

 scrub. With the help of his pupils he intends to make a census 

 of the locality, which comprises about 80 acres. Leaving this 

 area, the party proceeded along the North-road to the railway 

 crossing, and there made a detour to the south into the heath 

 scrub, which was found to contain small areas of depression 

 where water lodges, and which are difficult of access at this 

 time of the year. These areas are worth searching in the late 



