no Excursion to Bendigo. \ v ^ 



ict. Nat. 

 XXXV. 



Currant-bush, with its acid fruits. Some interesting and 

 peculiar scrub plants were the pretty Shrub Violet, Hybanthns 

 floribimdus, the rarer Westringia rigida, with its variety 

 Grcvilleana, Crowea axillaris, closely allied to the Wax-flower, 

 also the Star-hair, Asterotricha ledifolia, and Melaleuca decnssata, 

 the Cross Honey-Myrtle. Boronia anemonifolia was found 

 dispersed through the scrub. Orchids were represented by 

 Caladenia carnea, C. ccerulea, C. congesta, Diuris longifolia, 

 Pterostylis longifolia, P. nutans, and P. mutica. Calythrix 

 tetragona, the common Fringe Myrtle or Hair-cup, was 

 beginning to flower. Patches of Loudonia Behrii were just 

 ready to burst into their golden pennants. Exocarpus cupressi- 

 formis, with immature fruits, Casuarina quadrivalvis , C. distyla, 

 and Hakea rugosa were represented. A feature of the scrub 

 was the great prevalence of Cassytha melantha, the large Dodder 

 Laurel, often strangling its host or weighing its victim to the 

 ground. On humbler plants C. glabella, the Tangled Dodder- 

 Laurel, was equally destructive. A few plants of Marianthus 

 procnmbens and Prostanthera hirtula were seen. Hibbertia 

 acicularis, in profuse bloom, was gay with its guinea flowers, 

 whilst three or four species of the Droseras glittered in the sun. 

 We had lunch at the Blue Jacket reservoir, which supplies 

 Raywood with water, and found on our trip that the water- 

 races which we encountered were of great advantage to us 

 and the flora alike. We further explored the scrub as far as 

 Wallace's Reef, spending a very interesting time. Birds were 

 not very numerous at our visit. We heard or saw the Brush 

 Wattle-bird, the Harmonious Thrush, the Pallid and the Bronze- 

 Cuckoos (the latter calling continuously), the Derwent Jackass, 

 and Welcome Swallows. At lunch two New Holland Honey- 

 eaters fluttered trustfully around us. It was interesting to 

 note the differences, not only in time of flowering, but in 

 character and growth, of the many plants common to the ranges 

 and the scrub. The delimitation of species to one area or the 

 other, owing to situation and environment, was also noticeable. 

 One is rather surprised to find in such unpromising places, 

 where the stony ribs of the earth are so scantily covered with 

 soil, that there is such a variety and profusion of flowers. This 

 excursion can be profitably repeated, the Bendigo district 

 offering, within easily accessible distances, three or four types 

 of vegetation worthy of study and interesting for comparison. 

 The party returned to Melbourne early on Monday morning, 

 having thoroughly enjoyed the outing, which our enthusiastic 

 fellow-member, Mr. D. J. Paton, and Miss Paton did everything 

 in their power to make pleasant. — C. Daley. 



