1 ^ Ia i r g , l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. I 57 



By Mr. P. R. H. St. John.— Oils distilled at Melbourne Botanic 

 Gardens, as mentioned in remarks on exhibits. 



By Mr. J. Stickland. — Under microscope, rotifer, Limnias 

 ceratophylla, from Botanic Gardens lake. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



EXCURSION TO THE DEE VALLEY AND BEN CAIRN. 



This excursion, arranged so as to include the Foundation Day 

 holiday, was unfortunately marred by inclement weather — an 

 unusual occurrence for the end of January. Another dis- 

 appointing circumstance was that the leader, Mr. F. G. A. 

 Barnard, owing to business matters, was unable to take part in 

 the trip, but he made up for his absence by providing us with 

 sketch maps of the district and a suggested programme, and 

 also arranged for accommodation at West Warburton. Steady 

 rain set in on Friday, 28th January, and continued next day, 

 with the result that only three members left town by the early 

 afternoon train. On arrival at West Warburton the few 

 remaining hours of daylight were spent along the banks of the 

 Yarra, where the creamy flowers of the Prickly Box, Bursaria 

 spinosa, provided a pretty sight. Steady rain still continued 

 on Sunday morning, and, though close at hand, Ben Cairn was 

 quite blotted out from view. It was therefore determined to 

 follow up Yankee Jim's Creek towards Old Warburton. Along 

 the road many familiar plants and shrubs were met with, but 

 none of them was in bloom. On the way a Spine-billed Honey- 

 eater, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, was captured, benumbed by 

 the cold and dripping with rain. Following down Backstairs 

 Creek towards Warburton, it was noticeable that, notwith- 

 standing the rain, there was less water in the stream than when 

 visited twelve months before, in the midst of a dry spell. A 

 link along the Yarra was taken for a little way, and then 11k- 

 road through Millgrove was followed to our starting-place, 

 West Warburton. In the afternoon a visit was paid to the 

 Britannia Falls. On the way back Mr. Cuming was kind enough 

 to show us over the wood distillation works, and explain tin 

 methods adopted in obtaining numerous useful products from 

 condemned eucalyptus timber from the clearings on the hill- 

 sides, which would otherwise be wasted. The practice is. 

 instead oi selecting only the trees suitable for saw-milling, to 

 entirely clear the ground of all the timber, the best trees being 

 senl to the sawmill and the rest to the chemical works. By 

 tins plan it has been found that the forest has a better chance 

 of reproducing itself, and there is less litter. On Monday 

 morning (31st) Ben Cairn stood out boldly, and, though rain 



