170 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



beautiful form, a minute alga, was very plentiful. It consisted of 

 a somewhat oval disc of open network, composed of four-pointed 

 stellate cells, with setce at the extremities of the peripheral points 

 of the outer border of cells. Internally the cells were so placed 

 as to bring the points of the rays of one cell in contact with the 

 corresponding ones of another cell, thus forming the open net- 

 work. Mr. W. Stickland found a number of desmids belonging 

 to the genera Euastrum, Cosmarium, Micrasterias, Staurastrum, 

 Hyalotheca, and Desmidium in the material from this locality. 



Botany. — Mr. H. T. Tisdall reports that, considering the time 

 of year, a fair number of plants were noticed in bloom. During 

 the three days over forty were collected, and at least ten others 

 were seen which had just passed into the fruiting stage, amongst 

 which was Tetratheca ericifolia, a rather rare and local plant. A 

 few plants, such as Tetratheca ciliata and Coniesjjerma ericmum, 

 were still in flower, which in lower country would have passed 

 that stage. Some remarkably fine specimens of the Trigger-plant, 

 Candollea serrulata were seen, the flower-stalk of one measuring 

 51 inches in height. The most noticeable shrubs and plants 

 seen in bloom were Prostanthera lasiantha, Lomatia ilici/olia, 

 Seigesheckia orientalis, Acacia spinescens, Bauera ricbioides, Bceckia 

 diffusa, Leptosfermwin lanigerum, Senecio vagtcs, Cassinia aculeata, 

 Veronica derwentia, Drosera binata, Erythrcea australis, Thysano- 

 tus tuberosus, Viola hederacea, var. Sieberi (white flowers), Lobelia 

 simplicicaulis, Ejjilobium glabelluin, var. grandijlora, Gratiola 

 peruviana, Mentha laxiflora, and Dipodium punctatum, the only 

 orchid seen. Twelve species of ferns were collected, the most 

 noticeable being Lomaria patersoni, Hymenophyllum iiitens, 

 Gleichenia Jiabellata, and G. circinata. Many other plants were 

 seen, indicating that in the spring or early summer good collections 

 of flowering plants could be made in the district. 



On the whole the party, though spending a most enjoyable 

 outing, were to some extent disappointed at the results of the 

 trip, for, considering we were within the boundaries of some 

 thirty square miles of almost uninhabited country, we certainly 

 expected to see more objects of interest than we did, but 

 it must be remembered that it was the hottest part of the 

 year, and though away from Melbourne nearly three days only 

 one could be thoroughly devoted to collecting. The general 

 opinion, however, is that the northern side of the Dividing 

 Range is not equal to the southern, and that if at some future 

 time we can get permission to make a similar trip to the Plenty 

 watershed^i.e., between Toorourrong and Mt. Disappointment — 

 much better results may be anticipated. In conclusion, we have 

 to thank Mr. J. Wilson, the resident inspector, for granting every 

 facility for prosecuting our researches, and to the caretaker and 

 his wife at Wallaby Creek for their attention to our domestic wants. 



F. G. A. Barnard. 



