Vict. Nat. 



58 AuDAS, An Eastertide in the Victorian Pyrenees, [y^j*; 



observations of some bones found near the entrance it was 

 possible there might be more interesting relics hidden in the 

 further recesses. On the rugged escarpments the Coral Fern, 

 Gleichenia cncinata, and the Rat's-tail Fern, Aspleniwn fiahdli- 

 folium, flourished exceedingly. 



The visit to the cave and falls concluded my tour on 

 Mount Cole ; but some reference is due to its many excellent 

 grasses, more principally two of the best. Kangaroo-grass, 

 Anthistifia ciliata, and Wallaby-grass, Danthonia penirillaia, 

 var. robust a, which are amongst the finest grasses found in 

 Australia. The Kangaroo -grass was flourishing near the top 

 of the mount, due probably to the fact that, not being over- 

 stocked (there being only a few strayed cattle upon it), it was 

 enabled to propagate. A peculiarity of this grass, and one 

 which hinders its multiplication seriously, is the fact that it 

 bears in its large ornamental flower-heads very few fertile 

 seeds, and if farmers would only recognize this, and remove 

 stock from their paddocks containing it during the spring and 

 summer months, a valuable fodder grass would be conserved : 

 otherwise, it is in serious danger of being eaten out. The proof 

 of this assertion can be seen by anyone interested who will 

 observe it flourishing along the railway enclosures, while in 

 the adjoining paddocks scarcely a blade is to be seen. Unlike 

 the Kangaroo-grass, the Wallaby-grass bears large quantities 

 of seed, and, in addition, has the virtue of being deep-rooting, 

 thus enabling it to withstand severe drought. One would infer, 

 from its great height (growing often tall enough to hide sheej)), 

 and consequent coarseness, that it would not be favoured by 

 stock ; but they are extremely partial to it. 



It had been my intention to also explore Mount Mistake, 

 lying to the westward, as well as Mount Lonarch, further east : 

 l)ut the predicted wet Easter was suf^ciently \-erified. and I 

 was compelled to postpone their investigation until some more 

 fa\'oural)le time. 



Poi'LLAK X.vh'k.M- History. — The June I'carson's Mw^uzinc 

 had quite a natural history look about it. An article on i)liot()- 

 grai)hing baby birds was very interesting and beautifully 

 illustrated. '• A Flower Quest " descril)ed a competition between 

 two friends as to the greatest number of wild-flowers to l)e 

 gathered on a certain walk, and was well illustrated with 

 miniature outline figures of English wayside flowers, which 

 would probably revive pleasant memories to some of our 

 readers; while two pages were devoted to sixteen illustrations 

 of the life-history of a butterfly, from the cateri)illar to the 

 perfect insect. 



