134 Excursion to Lahertouche. [vc![!'^'xxxi 



is crossed by several creeks, hut apparently there is no ex- 

 posure of any underlying rock surface. A point -of interest 

 about half a mile east of the camp was a dry watercourse with 

 well-defined banks of what had presumably at one time been a 

 fairly large stream, in the old bed of which a small creek has 

 cut its course several feet deep, but seems too small a stream 

 to account for the formation of the ancient cliannel. It is 

 probable, especially as there is ;in intrusion oi the Older 

 Volcanic in th(> range to the nortli-east, that the course of the 

 original stream may have been diverted elsewhere, or a main 

 affluent captured by some other stream, leaving the old bed 

 dry, in which a creek much diminislied in size and volume has 

 carved its narrow channel below the old bed. Time did not 

 permit of much investigation to determine the question. Other 

 than the Boronia the plants noticed call for little comment, 

 and almost all are to be fovmd much nearer Melbourne. The 

 same remark applies to the ferns met with ; in some cases tin- 

 latter wvvv of very luxuriant growth. Before leaving, the 

 opportunity was taken to thank most heartily the Messrs. 

 Currie and other friends for their hospitality and active co- 

 operation in making the excursion sucli an inijovable one. — 

 C. D.\LEY, P. R. 11. St. Joh.x. 



"Journal of Ar.RicrLTLRE, Victori.\." — The December 

 number of this periodical contains at least two articles of interest 

 to naturalists. The first, " Muke in Sheep," is dealt with ])v Dr. 

 (ieorgina Sweet, Mr. H. K. Seddon, B.V.Sc, and Mr. W. A. N. 

 Robertson, B.V.Sc, the first-named taking the structure and life- 

 history of this insidious menace to our flocks. The life-history is, 

 as Weil known, a most intricate one, and there are many steps in 

 it when disaster may overtake the individual, but, seeing that one 

 adult fluke is capable of ])roducing 45,000 eggs or more, there is 

 likely to be always a fair numl)er of individuals on the way to 

 maturity. In a sh(^rt article. Prof. .\. J. I'^wart, (iov(Mnment 

 Botanist, gives some account of the Algaroiia tree, which has 

 been frequently recommended as a valuable stand-by for cattle in 

 dry seasons, but he shows that there are many other trees or 

 plants which would be far more profitable to grow for the 

 puri)ose. Mr. J. W. .\udas, P.L.S., of the National Herbarium, 

 in an instructive article on Victorian grasses, points out the 

 distinctive features of a number of our grasses and their value 

 from the stock-raiser's point of view. He remarks that the well- 

 known Kangaroo (irass, .1 nthisliria irnherbis, produces very few 

 fertile seeds, hence, if too closely eaten down during seeding time, 

 there is a chance of this valuable grass being lost. 



