100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



injured lady, but in the language of the novelist, we suspect that all 

 ended in a satisfactory and amicable manner. This is, however, no 

 time to soliloquize, so we must proceed. 



Frankston was reached about 10.30, and the whole party assembled, 

 and after some slight refreshment were soon ready for a start, all 

 fully armed with the requisite materials for securing the specimens 

 they hoped to meet with. Unfortunately, however, a great tlisappoint- 

 ment was experienced at the non-appearance of Mr. Caire, the 

 pliotographer, a member of the Club, who had promised to be present 

 to take the photographs of the Field Naturalists at work. Sickness 

 however unfortunately prevented him carrying out his intention, and 

 those who expected to be thus immortalized as Field Naturalists, 

 must rest content until another, and let us hoj^e, a more successful 

 opportunity occurs. One of the party having heard of the existence 

 of a Giant Cactus growing in the district, it was unanimously decided 

 that this should be the first object to receive our attention. Accord- 

 ingly, Mr. French having been selected as leader, speed was put on 

 at the rate of several miles per hour, until the place which is between 

 2 or 3 miles from the township was reached, the distance being 

 covered at high pressure speed, and finally the party were amply 

 rewarded for their extra walk, the Cactus in question being a 

 magnificent s^Decimen of Cereus giganteiis, the Tuwarrow or Tagnaro 

 of the Mexicans, whose beautifully ribbed or fluted stems, 5 in 

 number, reaches the height of between 16 and 17 feet. The plant 

 had been growing for a number of years in its present position, and 

 doubtless had its origin from seeds sent by Professors Asa Gray 

 andEngelmann to Baron von Mueller, by whom it was first distributed 

 in the colony, more than 25 years sime. We were fortunate to 

 include in our company an artist, Mr. P. Dattari, who has made a 

 very excellent sketch of the plant and its surroundings, which he will 

 show you this evening. It may be mentioned that the fact of this 

 plant thriving in such close proximity to the sea-beach, was not 

 generally known. The owner is Mr. Davey, one of the oldest 

 residents in the district, and who was unfortunately ill at the time of 

 our visit. In its native haliitat, this species of Cactus is said to 

 attain a height of 60 feet, with a diameter of 2 feet. Leaving the 

 giant Cactus and its obliging owners, we hastened to retrace our 

 steps towards the township, striking across the country in an 

 easterly direction. We had not proceeded far, when one of our 

 party who has the reputation of having an "eagle eye" for anything 

 in the shape of a plant, discovered a few solitary specimens of 

 Ophioglossum vulgatum, the curious little " Adder's tongue" fern of 

 pteridologists, and close by the sportsman of the party "brought 

 down" a specimen of the Scarlet-breasted Uohhi, Petroica multicolor, 

 and also a White-eared Honey-eater, Ptilotis le.ucotis. 



(To he continued.) 



