188 



taking of Mr. Eoss's hospitality, left at 5.30, the homeward 

 .route being vii Anstey's Hill and through Paradise. 



Setei^th ExcuHsio^f — April 18, 1885. — Second Gully. 



About twenty members and friends proceeded to Burnside, 

 Mr. Gr. Collis, Jun., acting as Secretary, and Mr. J. G-. O. 

 Tepper, F.L.S, and Mr. ^Y. Howchin, F.G.S., being the 

 scientific instructors. Shortly after leaving the tram attention 

 was called to a peculiar hard and coarse conglomerate exposed 

 on the bank of the creek. Mr. Howchin expressed the opinion 

 that it was an ancient remnant of the gravel of the local water- 

 course, when the stream flowed at a considerably higher level. 

 The party then ascended the G-reenhill, where two very distinct 

 varieties of Vittadinia ausfralis ^iveve pointed out. Mr. Tepper 

 directed the attention of the members to the distinct zones of 

 Eucalypts. The relation of the vegetation of the hills to the 

 Tocks of which they were composed was referred to in order to 

 show that from the aspect of vegetation conclusions as to the 

 prevailing but hidden rocks could be drawn, just as from the 

 known existence of certain rocks the character of the plants 

 -could be inferred. 



The view from the top of the hill having been admired, the 

 gully below them, with its steep scrubby declivities and per- 

 pendicular weathered cliffs was the object of attraction. 

 On the steep side of the G-reenhill some bushes of the Soutb 

 African GompJiocarpus fruticosus were found perfectly natu- 

 Talised. The dioecious character of the sheaoak {Casuarina 

 quadrivalvis) was pointed out, and the junction of the two 

 species of gi'asstrees (XanthorrJicea semiplana and X. quadrangu- 

 lata) was well shown at one place, the former extending from 

 the spot downwards and the latter upwards. In the bed of 

 Slape's Gully Mr. Tepper pointed out a native grass (^Ehrliarta 

 ^tipoides) as being eminently suitable for lawns. The Epacris 

 impressa was found to be just in bloom, other plants in flower 

 being Walilenhergia gracilis (bluebell), Oxalis corniculata 

 {yellow), Stgphelia Sonderi and S. Jiumifusa, Sccevola microcarpa. 

 JBuTsaria spinosa had but few flowers, but more fruit. The fol- 

 lowing ferns were noticed : — Cheilantlies tenuifolia, Grammitis 

 Tut(^olia, Lomaria capensis, Asplenium fiabellifolium^ and a few 

 •early specimens of Maidenhair {Adiantum cethiopicicm) . 



Eighth Excl'rsiox — Saturday, May 16, 1885. — Port Creek. 



Owing to the threatening weather only a few members 

 .attended this excursion. On arrival at Alberton the party 



