^^1*^'] Excursion to Cockatoo Creek. 



EXCURSION TO COCKATOO CREEK. 



145 



Fine weather favoured the excursion party to Cockatoo Creek 

 on Saturday, nth January. Twenty-two members and 

 friends, including several visiting members of the Australasian 

 Association for the Advancement of Science from other States, 

 were present. Cockatoo Creek station, situated in the recesses 

 of the Gembrook Ranges, on the narrow-gauge line from 

 Ferntree (luUy, some 3'') miles from town, was reached about 

 one o'clock, when a shady spot alongside the creek was chosen 

 for lunch. As Mr. J. (xabriel had thoughtfully provided a 

 couple of " billies," tea was soon ready, and proved very 

 acceptable after the long train journey, more especially as the 

 day had turned out rather warm. After luncheon we walked 

 down stream towards the railway bridge, meeting with a 

 number of interesting specimens by the way. Logs were 

 turned by the entomologists in search of ground beetles, and 

 a member eager for planarian worms was rewarded by the 

 capture of half a dozen species. The forest country yielded 

 many interesting plants, especially to the botanists from other 

 States. The Banyalla, Pittosporum bicolor, was noticed growing 

 from tree-fern trunks, as also were several other plants, in- 

 cluding the orchid Chiloglotiis gimnii. Mr. J. R. Tovey, of 

 the National Herbarium, who was one of the party, collected 

 about thirty-five species of plants in bloom or in fruit. Among 

 these may be mentioned the Christmas-bush, Prostanthera 

 lasianthos, which was at its best, the Musk Aster, Olearia 

 argophylla, and the Saw Senecio, Senecio vagus. Birds 

 to the number of about thirty-two species were noticed, 

 among which were the somewhat rare Pilot-bird, PycnoptiUis 

 ftoccostis, the handsome little Rufous Flycatcher, and the 

 Lunulated Honey-eater. The nest of the Pilot-bird, rarely 

 seen, was found in a secluded spot. After a ramble of a couple 

 of miles we retraced our steps to the camping-ground, where 

 Mr. Gabriel again made tea for the party. After tea Dr. J. A. 

 Leach, president of the Club, expressed the pleasure members 

 had in having the Science Congress visitors present at the 

 outing, which was typical of many made by the Club every 

 season, the visitors, in reply, stating that they had spent a 

 very pleasant and profitable day. The return journey seemed 

 to pass quickly, town being reached soon after q.30 p.m. 

 Insects were rather scarce, only a few of the commonest 

 butterflies being seen ; but of Coleoptera some thirty species 

 were taken, the following being the most noteworthy : — LissotKS 

 furcicornis, Apasis bipiegenoides, A. howitiii, Coripera occllata, 

 Notonomus peroni, Diphticephali frenchi, Pseudoceneus, sji., and 

 Siagonyx, sp. — C. French, jun. 



