187 



Tate explained that the higher ground here was composed of 

 grits and friable sandstones, while the hard grits made up the 

 valley bottoms. The " potholes " on the face of the rocky bed 

 forming the rapids were stated to have been caused by stones- 

 being caught and retained by the eddying current until holes 

 were worn into the rock. 



On the return from the waterfall Professor Tate pointed 

 out the curious parasite, Gassy tha puhescens, festooning 

 Acacia retinodes, and drew attention to the sedge Cladium 

 psittacorum, the tallest of its kind in Australia. At five 

 o'clock the Section left Bridgewater, and reached the city 

 shortly after six. 



Sixth Excursion — Apeil 6, 1885 (Easter Moxday).— 



HiGHERCOMBE. 



About thirty-five members and friends proceeded to Higher- 

 combe, the party being led by the Eev. J. McEwin. On ap- 

 proaching the hills the different character of their vegetation, 

 some giving light and others a dark tinge, was pointed out. 

 This was explained to be due to the habitat, chiefi}^ determined 

 by the soil and underlying rocks; the dark hills (on which 

 grew shrubs and sedges) being formed of sandstones and 

 other silicious rocks, while the light-tinted hills, which v^^ere 

 mostly covered with grass, were composed of shales and slates. 

 The superposition of the Tertiary clays and gravels upon the 

 older rocks at the foot of the hills was also pointed out. The 

 Eucalypti were also noticed to differ from those further south. 



On arriving at ffighercombe the party visited the beautiful 

 gardens and grounds of the Hon. E. D. Eoss, who very kindly 

 granted permission to inspect his property, the chief feature 

 of which was the number of English forest trees. After 

 luncheon the Hon. E. D. Eoss led the party to a picturesque 

 gorge, which was about fifteen feet wide, its perpendicular 

 rocks rising some 200 feet above the river. After leaving the 

 gorge and following up the creek back to the gardens, there 

 were found Callistemon saJigna, Zieptos'perinum lanigerum., form- 

 ing dense thickets, among which were found Correa decumhens. 

 A tuft of Androi)ogon lanigerum was also found, and some rare 

 mosses and lichens on the rocks ; the latter consisted of 

 quartzose and talcose schists and shales, inclined at rather 

 high angles. 



The season being so far advanced, very few flowers were ob- 

 served. On the way back from the gorge the party visited the 

 " Echo," a face of rock rising some 300 feet above the river. 



The coach was reached about five, and the party, after par- 



