20/1 Excursion to Baw Baiv. Fvorxx^x 



Thomson Valley looking like an inland sea, and of the Can- 

 dolleas and Asters, &c. Then we breakfasted and packed up, 

 and were off on our fifteen-mile walk to Walhalla by 7.30 a.m. 

 The morning was now beautifully fine, the sun shining brightly, 

 and everything augured for a pleasant walk. 



In addition to the plants already mentioned, the following 

 were more or less abundant on the plateau : — Drmiys aromatica 

 (stunted forms), Orites lancifolia, Aster stellulatus, A. myrsin- 

 oides, Senecio pectinahcs, Micromyrtus microphylla, Epacris 

 brevifiora, Gentiana saxosa, a delicate flower with fragrant 

 perfume ; Herpolirion novcB-zealandicE, the Sky Lily, a practically 

 stemless plant, with flowers of a delicate blue almost hidden 

 in grass-like leaves ; Lihertia paniculata, the Branching Grass- 

 iris ; Helichrysum cuneifolium ; Drosera binata, very plentiful 

 on the edges of the pools ; Podolepis longipedata, and Lyco- 

 podium clavatum. Common Club-moss. Near the camping- 

 place at " The Myrtles " the eucalypts E. nitens and E. 

 Delegatensis were collected ; among the others noticed during 

 the excursion were E. capitellata, E. obliqua, and E. goniocalyx. 

 For many of these determinations I am indebted to Mr. J. R. 

 Tovey, of the National Herbarium. 



I have said little about the birds of the trip, as I hope one of 

 the bird men will add some notes on that subject, but soon after 

 leaving I noticed some parrots feeding on the ground, and on 

 going to the spot found they had been eating the seeds of the 

 False Dandelion, Hypochceris radicata. The two miles to " The 

 Rocks " were accomplished in better time than on the previous 

 day. A few photographs were taken here. In the crevices 

 of the granite the little Rat-tailed Fern, Asplenium fiahelli- 

 folmm, found a home. Then down through the ferns to the 

 myrtles. It was noticeable that, with the exception of the 

 Cat-head Fern, Aspidium aculeaUtm, which occurs all over the 

 plateau, and the Lomaria and Asplenium already mentioned, 

 Pteris incisa was the first fern met with on our descent, then 

 Lomaria capense, var. procera, next the tree-fern, Dicksonia 

 Billardiera. At " The Myrtles " I secured a number of very 

 small seedling beeches, which, when they become accustomed 

 to the change of environment, I will be glad to hand over to 

 members desirous of trying to grow an interesting souvenir 

 of the mountains, and an excellent pot plant. 



Then commenced about two miles of as fine fern and tall 

 timber scenery as it has been my lot to see. Fern fronds 10 to 

 12 feet long, and 2 feet wide, were plentiful. Fine gums, 10 to 

 15 feet through and 200 to 250 feet high, abounded on either 

 side. The usual fern gully vegetation prevailed — musk, hazel, 

 blanket-wood, panax (native ash) ; the Christmas tree, 

 Prostanthera lasianthos, was still in bloom, also the tea-tree, 



