THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 185 



underclay and the shaly roof above. In this shaly roof we found some 

 fair specimens of Zamia {Z. BarkJyi) and one containing a nut or 

 fruit of the Zamia wliich I gave to Pi-ofessor M'Coy, but we found 

 no examples of Toeniopteris or other genus, though they occur in 

 plenty at Cape Paterson. 



I should have mentioned that my entomological friend, who, I 

 think, had never been down a mine before, was somewhat astonished 

 to hear the buzzing of a blow-fly in the drives 100 feet below the 

 surface, but I suppose it is generally known, that not only flies but 

 other creatures higher in the scale of animal life constantly find their 

 way down mines of all kinds^ and that to much greater depths than 

 100 feet. 



But to return to Kilcunda and thence to Griffith's Point, but 

 through the bush this time, the way the crow flies, and our first 

 day's tour was over. 



In a day or two afterwards we fountl ourselves en route for Cape 

 Woollamai, the south-east point of Phillip Island, so crossing the 

 channel in a boat, after walking some distance down the inner 

 ■coast we struck across the sand hummocks to tlie outer or south 

 coast of the island. On the way we were much interested in 

 observing the numerous lime pipes, as they are called, lying about 

 or rather sticking out above the surface of the sand in all directions, 

 and sometimes assuming the most fantastic shapes. They would 

 appear to have been caused by the rain water, which, of course, con- 

 tains some Carbonic Acid or Carbon dioxide, falling on the Calcareous 

 sand (for it abounds in comminuted shells), dissolving the lime, 

 and holding it in solution as Bi-carbonate, and then depositing it on 

 the surface of the r(Jots of trees and shrubs, along whi?h, of course, the 

 water would trickle most, on the principle of a French drain. I noticed 

 what I took to be the decayed remains of a root in almost every 

 pipe I sav.'; the wood of course rotting away in time, leaves the 

 lime pipes hollow, and as the surface of the sand is constantly 

 shifting, as it is blown away by gales of wind, the lime pipes are 

 left exposed and sticking up in all directions. 



On the other side of the island we found the older or miocene 

 Basalt, exposed in goi>d sections, full of little nodules of Steatite, 

 (Kydrated Silicate of Magnesia), and also containing here and 

 there veins and patches of Vivianite, (Hyilrated Phosphate of Iron), 

 decomposing into what is conmionly called Blue Earth. As we 

 went on our ramble, we lialted for luncheon at a most tempting 

 looking spring of water, as clear and limpid as rock-crystal, oozing 

 out of the up[)<T surface of the low cliffs, and trickling down by a 

 succession of little miniature cascades into the sea below, and being 

 ■excessively thirsty after our heavy and wearisome tramp over the 

 sand hummocks, we drank with more zest than caution. We felt no 

 ill effects from it at the time, and proc 'edod on our course to Cape 



