^g] Excursion to Marysville. 159 



sweet-scented Stackhousia linarifolia, Veronica Derwentia, and 

 the ubiquitous Goodenia ovata were blooming freely. Beautiful 

 cloud effects were seen as the sun set, masses of vapour 

 appearing as if entangled among the trees on the hillsides. 

 During the evening we made up plans for the ensuing days, 

 embracing the different trips detailed in the paper contributed 

 to the Club's meeting in March, 1916, by Mr. F. Pitcher and 

 myself, entitled " An October Week at Marysville" (Vict. Nat., 

 xxxiii., p. 32), and it will be needless to repeat in detail the 

 descriptions of the places visited on that occasion. 



On Thursday morning most of the party made a before- 

 breakfast visit to the " Beauty Spot " — a group of tree-ferns, 

 &c, at the head of a small stream running into the Steavenson. 

 A visit to the Steavenson Falls had been chosen as the first 

 outing of the excursion, and after breakfast all made their 

 way thither by the easy track which gradually ascends the 

 narrow valley until stopped by the rocky wall forming 

 the falls. Owing to the dryness of the season we had not 

 expected to find much water coming down the falls, so were 

 agreeably surprised at the volume descending. High up 

 among the rocks a flowering shrub attracted attention, and 

 on specimens being secured it was found to be Callistemon 

 salignus, var. viridifiorus. The Native Elder, Sambiicus 

 Gaudichaudiana and the Blanket-wood, Senecio Bedfordii, were 

 also in bloom. Perhaps the most noticeable feature along the 

 track was the robust growth of Daviesia latifolia, often known 

 as the " Native Hop," from the bitter taste of its leaves. 

 Many of the bushes had a height of at least eight feet, with 

 stem diameters of an inch and a half. Only a few flowers 

 remained, but when in full bloom it must have presented a 

 fine sight. In the afternoon a visit was paid to Keppel's 

 Look-out, on Mount Bismarck, about two or three miles south of 

 the township, with an altitude of 3,000 feet, as indicated by Mr. 

 Barnard's aneroid. This instrument, presented to its owner 

 at the last annual meeting of the Club, it may be remarked, 

 was fully availed of during the different outings, and, in 

 such hilly country, added not a little to their interest. All 

 admired the fine view down the Acheron Valley from this 

 elevated spot, and, though rain compelled us to get such 

 shelter as we could, it did not last long, and the after effects on 

 the distant hills fully made up for any discomfort we had 

 experienced. The large Shrubby Pimelea, P. ligustrina, with 

 Helichrysum scorpioides and Stellaria flaccida, were met with 

 during the afternoon. Of course, tree-ferns and smaller 

 species abounded everywhere here, as elsewhere throughout 

 the various trips. 



Friday, 27th December, had been set apart for a whole-day 

 trip to the Taggerty Valley and Keppel's Falls. The day 



