4 Excursion to Riversdale. j voi."^xxxVv. 



original vegetation in the shape of eucalypts of several species, 

 which, though not large trees, are very picturesque. The 

 highest portion of the land, which, according to the military 

 survey map (Ringwood), is slightly over 300 feet above sea- 

 level, has been cleared and put under crop at some earlier date. 

 The gums met with on first entering the park were chiefly 

 E- amygdalina. Common Peppermint Gum, but as the soil 

 changed from loam to a more sandy character on the eastern 

 slope of the hill, E. viminalis. Manna Gum, became the pre- 

 dominant species. Here and there odd specimens of E.melli- 

 odora. Yellow Box, E. macrorrhyncha. Red Stringybark, E. 

 cimrea var. multiflora, Silver-leaved Stringybark, and E. ovata 

 (£. paiudosa). Swamp Gum, were met with. Acacias were 

 represented by A . armata, Kangaroo Thorn, probably spread by 

 birds from an originally planted hedge ; A . mollissima. Soft-leaved 

 Black Wattle, of which young seedlings were coming up in many 

 places; and an odd plant or two of A. oxycedrus. A singl(.' 

 specimen of Casuarina, and two or three small Exocarpos 

 cupressiformis were also noted. Of other shrubs, Bursaria 

 spinosa and Lepiospermum scoparium were the most prcmincnt. 

 Of course, it was not the season for a display of wild-flowers, 

 still a few plants were found in bloom, among them the first 

 orchid of the season, Eriochilus autumnalis, which occurred in 

 considerable numbers near the Elgar-road (eastern) boundary. 

 The other plants noticed in bloom were Convolvulus eruhcsccns, 

 Minuria, sp., Bursaria spinosa, and Erythrcea ausiralis. A few 

 plants of the Maiden-hair Fern were seen in a small gully 

 near Elgar-road. The eastern portion of the land should prove 

 a good sanctuary for numbers of our smaller birds, and on 

 Saturday last the following species were noted : — Rosehill 

 Parrakeet, Kookaburra, White -shafted Fantail, Black-and-White 

 Fantail, Superb Warbler, Yellow tailed Tit-Warbler, Sordid 

 Wood-Swallow, Magpie Lark, White-backed Magpie, Yellow- 

 breasted Shrike-Tit, White-plumed Honey-eatur. For the names 

 of the eucalypts noted, and the birds seen, I am indebted to Mr. 

 St. John. From the highest part of the land a fine view is 

 afforded of the Dandenong Ranges, and on Saturday the positions 

 of Olinda and Sassafras could be easily made out, but southerly 

 and westerly the view was somewhat obscured by haze ; however, 

 Arthur's Seat, near Dromana, and, due west, the Icng, level ridge 

 of the Brisbane Range, were just discernible. Through a break 

 in the trees Mt. .Monda, near Healesville, and, further round, the 

 Warburton ranges, were visible. Those members desirous of 

 securing pond-life specimens and microscopic material went 

 further afieUl, as there is at present little water in the park 

 suitable for their requirements. Unforttmatcly, the party got 

 separated, and thus returned from Burwood at different times. 



