THS VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 135 



one of, if not the oldest on the New South Wales Murray border, but 

 we saw little of it, and what we did see, did not prepossess us greatly 

 in its favour; certainly we are not anxious to take up our permanent 

 residence there, the society being altogether too limited, although we 

 believe it boasts of a customs officer, and two policemen, and in con- 

 sequence we should suppose the generally accompanying lock-up. 



The climate at this season of the year is simply charming, the 

 a,tniosphere being dry and clear, and although when the sun rises, the 

 appearance seems to indicate a hot day, a beautiful cool breeze soon 

 springs up, and so tempers the heat that its effect is not felt to be more 

 than just sufficient to be thoroughly enjoyable. Two months later, a 

 very different state of things exists, the heat we wei'e told being almost 

 unbearable, and those of the residents who are in the position to 

 spend the few hottest months in a cooler atmosphere generally do so, 

 the country at this time presenting a most parched up appearance. 

 Of Mr. bloane's family two are members of our club, and it was 

 through their invitation that our visit was paid, a visit not 

 likely to be soon forgotten by us, for not only were we most 

 hospitably entertained, but what from a collector's point of view was 

 of more importance, we succeeded in securing some remarkably good 

 specimens, more especially those appertaining to botany. 



Leaving Melbourne on Friday morning, the 3rd of October, by 

 ■the G.15 train, there was little to attract our attention until after 

 passing Seymour, when we were gladdened by the sight of a number 

 of beautiful wild flowers, growing in the railway enclosures, but the 

 rate of speed at wliich we were travelling, prevented us recognising 

 them, which was the more to be regretted, as they were not afterwards 

 seen. Our journey was continued past Euroa, the scene of the 

 exploits of the once famous Kelly gang of bushrangers, for it was 

 here, if we mistake not, that these ruffians stuck up the bank, and 

 carted away the local policemen. Benalla, and on to the comparatively 

 new township of St James, which is the furthest point we could 

 reach by rail. As we had to stay here for about an hour before the 

 coach started for Yarrawonga, distant about 19 miles, we took 

 advantage of the opportunity to see what the district produced in 

 the way of natural history, but our researches were very poorly 

 rewarded. In crossing a paddock, close to the railway line, we 

 found quantities of a small but pretty composite, the name of which, 

 with those of the other plants collected, have been identified and 

 named by the kindness of Baron von Mueller. Some of the plants 

 here collected, as also portion of those from Mulwala, he found to be 

 of interest, and a complete list of all our specimens appears as an 

 addendum to this paper. Turning over some logs, we were fortunate 

 in finding a few specimens of a very handsome beetle, Carenum 

 sp. which were the first of the kind taken by us. Taking our 

 seats in Cobb and Co.'s coach, the fare by which, owing to competition, 



