^ p "''] Audas, Nature in the Serra Range. 175 



sometimes vary to white, rendering the plant a valuable 

 acquisition in gardens, where it flourishes without any par- 

 ticular attention. Boronia polygali folia, Scczvola czmula, Correct 

 cemula, and Hakea ulicina also grew in considerable quantities 

 along the banks of the stream. It is worthy of mention that 

 in this particular locality several shrubs grew larger and more 

 luxuriantly than as usually met with. For instance, Dillwynia 

 ericifolia attained a height of fully ten feet, whereas in many 

 districts its usual height is not more than three to four feet. 

 It was quite surprising to see Micromyrtus microphylla grown 

 into a large shrub about eight feet in height, this shrub, as a 

 rule, attaining only a couple of feet. Calythrix Sullivani, which 

 is a very ornamental shrub, was unusually large and robust, 

 being about twelve feet in height ; this shrub is peculiar to 

 the Grampians, and grows readily under cultivation. 

 Leucopogon thymifolius , also peculiar to the Grampians, had 

 attained a large size, some plants noted being fully six feet in 

 height, while on Mount William, where it grows abundantly, 

 the average height is about eighteen inches. 



As the creek emerged into flat country, nice specimens of 

 Prostanthera denticulata were found in different colours — 

 namely, bluish-purple and lilac. Here Restio tetraphyllus made 

 its appearance. The scrub hereabouts was almost a tangle, 

 caused by the twiner Marianthus bignoniaceus connecting all 

 forms of vegetation. From a spectacular point of view it was 

 most picturesque, with its pretty, bell-shaped, orange flowers 

 showing up well amid the different shades of green. Veronica 

 Derwentia, a very graceful shrub, was in full bloom, and its 

 racemes of pure white flowers, a foot in length, were beautiful 

 to behold. Here we left the creek and followed the Serra 

 Range in a northerly direction, travelling through rough 

 country which has seldom been trodden by the foot of man. 

 On the lower stretches of the hills a fine forest of Acacia 

 mollissima was passed through, the majority of the trees 

 reaching a height of eighty feet, and in some instances having 

 a diameter of two feet. Travelling was slow here on account 

 of the dense and tall growth of Banksia marginata, Callitris 

 rhombifolia, Cassinia aculeata, and Acacia verticillata, while 

 further on Acacia verniciflna and Kunzea parvifolia occupied 

 acres in extent, the crimson flowers of the latter making a 

 gorgeous sight. Amid this crimson mass it was remarkable 

 to find one bearing white flowers. Advancing into more open 

 country we passed through fine patches of the following heaths, 

 viz. : — Styphelia adscendens, Astroloma conostephioides , A. 

 humifusum, and A. pinifolium, in fruit. Several emus were 

 observed feeding on the berries. A little further on we came 

 upon shrubs which had just recently been rooted up (evidently 

 by wild pigs), as the foliage was not at all withered. 



