I02 



Excursion to Bendigo. [vd'^^xxxv] 



display of pink and white. In the vicinity a shghtly different 

 flora prevails. Acacia Oswaldii (just going off, and showing 

 young pods), Dillwynia ftorihunda (a glorious mass of brown 

 and orange), Grevillea aquifolium, Marianthus procumhens, and 

 Gompholohium peduncular e (not yet flowering), are all found 

 here. Daviesia corymbosa and Correa speciosa (var. normalis) 

 were also seen. Much as we wished to linger, time pressed, and 

 we had to hurry homewards. We took the track leading to 

 Spring Gully Reservoir, but had not gone far when the rain, 

 which had been long threatening, commenced in earnest, and 

 continued to fall steadily throughout our homeward journey. 

 Reaching the reservoir, we made straight for Spring Gully road. 

 Tramping along in the rain and increasing dusk, our position 

 was not very enjoyable, and long before we reached the tram 

 we were completely soaked. As the weather continued un- 

 favourable throughout Saturday evening, it was reluctantly 

 decided to abandon the Whipstick excursion arranged for 

 Sunday. It was decided to visit instead, after lunch, an 

 interesting locality beyond Eaglehawk, where Boronia anemoni- 

 folia and Cryptandra amara grow profusely. Some of the 

 party spent the morning viewing Bendigo and its surroundings, 

 whilst a party of enthusiasts, under Miss M'Kenzie, set out 

 on foot for the appointed place before lunch. The main party 

 followed in the afternoon, taking tram to Eaglehawk, walking 

 thence to Sailor's Gully. From here the party entered the 

 scrub, passing the Moon group of mines. ] uncus communis 

 was here seen to have established itself firmly on the sand- 

 heaps in the vicinity of old mine-workings. The profusion of 

 Acacia pycnantha and A. leprosa (?) was the most notable 

 feature of the bush. The Mallee Gum, Eucalyptus viridis, also 

 occurred here, with E. sideroxylon, E. hemiphloia, and E. 

 leucoxylon. Passing through the bush towards the Sydney 

 Flat road, little was seen beyond Daviesia ulicina and Acacia 

 acinacea. Near the road Pterostylis nana was found. Cassinia 

 arcuata was common. Reaching the road near the old Aus- 

 tralian Hotel, and crossing to the other side, we entered the 

 area which was the object of our excursion, about two miles 

 from Eaglehawk. We found here a complete change in the 

 vegetation. E. viridis was the dominant eucalypt, with its 

 unwelcome guest, Cassytha melantha. Melaleuca decussata was 

 also abundant. Amongst the flowering shrubs which now met 

 our gaze one of the most notable was Cryptandra amara — very 

 effective, with its white blossoms, becoming tinted with pink 

 as the season advances. The violet of Prostanthera hirtula, 

 the gold of Hihhertia acicularis, H. densiflora, and Acacia 

 acinacea, the snowy flower-heads of Olearia teretifolia, but, 

 above all, the rose-pink tints of Boronia anemonifolia, make a 



