r- ■ J T-> ^ 1 1 y Vict. Nat. 



26 Excnrsiiiii to hnschiKl. | v,.i. \xx\ II. 



prevalence i»f Grass-trees, Xanllun-rhnd tuislrahs. ni.iiiy of tlie 

 flowering spikes of wliifh were fniin Im to loiule(Mi f( I'l in 

 height. One grass-tree had a l)il"urcattcl stem. lAvo or thiee 

 early flowers of the. common Epacris, K. iiiiprcssa, were found, 

 also a few late blooms of the Shrubby Everlasting, Hclichrysuni 

 ferrngineum. The only other plant in flower was the little 

 autumnal orchid, Eriochilns aiiiiimnaiis. An early return had 

 to be made to speed the departure homewards of two of our 

 company. On Tuesday morning another attempt was made 

 to find Waterfall Gulfy, and with success. Along the creek 

 we found several species of ferns fairly abundant. The 

 Prickly Tree-fern, Alsophila aitstralis, and the Eishbone-fcrn, 

 Lomaria discolor, were growing well despite the dryness of the 

 season, whilst the Rat-tail Spleenwort, Asplcnium ftabelli- 

 foliiim, the Common Maiden-hair, Adiantum (vthiopiciim, the 

 Rock-fern, Cheilanthes tenuifolia, and the rarer Rasp-fern, 

 Woodwardia {Doodia) aspera, grew up the vAUey. The little 

 stream was followed to the foot of the fall, but there was little 

 water coming over the rocks. A speedy return had to be 

 made in order to get lunch, pack our luggage, and get to 

 Dromana to catch the steamer for home. Altogether, some 

 175 species of plants were noticed during our rambles. Of 

 birds the following were listed : — White-backed Magpie, Kooka- 

 burra, Bronze-winged Pigeon, Pied (irallina, Dcrwent Jackass, 

 White-shafted Eantail, Rufous L^mtail, Diamond-bird, Boobook 

 Owl, Wattle-bird, Yellow-breasted Robin, Scarlet-breasted 

 Robin, Fairy Martin, Brown Swamp-Hawk, Rosella Parrot, 

 Blue Wren, Sih-er Gull, Pacific Gull, Wliiti'-fronted Heron, 

 Yellow-rumped Tit, White-eye, Bass Strait Tern, Harmonious 

 Thrush, Crescent Honey-eater, White-throated Tree-creeper. 

 Regarding mammals, we heard that wallabies are numerous 

 in the thickest scrub on the range, and that koalas and 'possums 

 are occasionally seen. Though rabbits are known in the 

 district, we saw none. The only reptiles seen were a few 

 lizards. Insects, too, except ants, were somewhat scarce. 

 Mr. L. Thorn has given me the following notes regarding the 

 butterflies noticed : — " During the Easter excursion to Rosebud 

 the following butterflies were taken : — Painted Lady, Wood 

 Brown {Tisa photic (ihcona), Silvery Xenica, and the Wanderer 

 {Danaida arcliippus), while- the Common Brown, Small Blue, 

 and the Imjjcrial White were seen on the wing, the last named, 

 as usual, flying about the tops of the gum-trees." 



To my co-leader, Mr. J. (iabriel, I am ind(;l)t(Hl for the 

 following notes regarding the i^ryozoa (often called Polyzoa), 

 a group to which he devoted his attentif>n. He says : — " The 

 beach at Rosebud afforded a very poor field for the gathering 

 of Bryozoa, being tf)o sandy : for this grouj-) of animal life a 



