Mar.,1 Audas, A Trip to Mount Beenak. 171 



1916 J ' r 



Clematis aristata festooned many of the smaller trees with its 

 handsome white flowers. On the summit of the mount a saw- 

 mill is situated, and is working upon the huge forest of Mountain 

 Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, which is the principal timber tree. 

 One particularly fine specimen measured sixty feet in circum- 

 ference at six feet from the ground. A timber tramway, 

 having some steep gradients and passing over the side of Mount 

 Misery, has been constructed from the mill to Yarra Junction 

 railway station for the purpose of conveying the timber to 

 market. It is interesting to note that there are upwards of 

 two hundred trees in Victoria, from twenty to over three hundred 

 feet in height, and with diameters varying from twelve inches 

 to twenty feet, which may be used for sawmill purposes. The 

 eucalypts are, however, the most useful, and of these there are 

 sixty-three species which are recorded as indigenous to Victoria. 

 Lyre-Birds, often called Pheasants. Menura victories, are fairly 

 numerous in this part of the forest, and the bushmen say that 

 towards the end of September — the nesting period — these birds 

 whistle beautifully, and imitate the Derwent Jackass to perfec- 

 tion, also imitating the sounds of the woodcutter's axe, saw, 

 and wedges. At times the bush resounds with the sharp notes 

 of the Coachwhip-bird, Psophodes crepitans. 



Descending from Mount Misery, cleared country is met with, 

 and the fine country residence of Mr. F. E. Thonemann is seen, 

 beautifully situated on a commanding elevation. It is sur- 

 rounded by a well-laid-out garden of about four acres, and an 

 additional four acres is devoted to the culture of ornamental 

 shrubs. Water is laid on by means of an hydraulic ram from 

 Hoddle's Creek, about a mile distant, and is lifted five hundred 

 feet. Nestling in the valley is the small settlement of Hazeldene. 

 Here the nursery of Messrs. Errey Bros., the well-known iris 

 growers, is situated. The settlers here suffer somewhat from 

 the depredations of opossums, kangaroos, wallabies, and 

 wombats — the latter being so numerous and destructive thai 

 the Upper Yarra Shire Council pays a bonus of two shillings 

 and sixpence for every wombat scalp secured. 



Leaving Hazeldene, some wealth of colour was given the 

 scene by the porcelain-blue flowers of Dampiera striata, which 

 were exceptionally fine throughout. Some young plants were 

 secured for home cultivation, and I presented them to the 

 curators of the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Burnley Horti- 

 cultural Gardens, and Alexandra-avenue Gardens. On the 

 wayside some nice specimens of the Potato Orchid, Gastrodia 

 sesamoides, with their dull brown head of flowers, were obtained, 

 and the bright Mowers of the showy Lobelia rhombifolia were 

 vyin^ with those of Gontpholobium Huegelii in glowing yellow 

 and red, while Asterolasia Mueller i {Eriostcmon correifolius), 



