THE VICTORIA^ KATUKALIST. 101 



and being in full flower, not only presented a handsome appear- 

 ance, but scented the air for many yards round with their 

 delightful perfume. On these a couple of species of beetles of 

 the genus Liparetrus (Scarabeidas) were obtained, in one of which 

 the elytra were light brown, edged with a darker band of brown. 

 Keeping along the side of the spur, thickets of Prostanthera 

 nivea, a. labiate shrub, possessing pretty white and lilac flowers, 

 were passed through, and, as it was in full bloom, it excited 

 universal admiration. On these plants a rather local buprestid 

 beetle of the genus Stigmodera had been obtained on our previous 

 trip, but now only a couple of specimens were taken. Presently 

 the vanguard of the party was discovered down in the valley 

 below making ready to satisfy the wants of the hungry 

 excursionists. Scrambling down the hillside, the rendezvous was 

 soon reached. 



Here were to be seen several prominent members of the Club 

 hard at work laying the table (on the grass), carving, making tea, 

 &c., having for the present deserted natural history. Presently, all 

 being ready, ample justice was done to the good things provided, 

 the only drawback being, perhaps, that water was very scarce, and 

 what there was was not particularly inviting. We would, there- 

 fore, advise future picnic parties at this season to bring a 

 sufficient supply from the township. On our previous visits 

 sufficient water had been obtained in a little creek higher up the 

 valley, but now it was quite dry, another evidence of the very 

 dry winter and spring we have just passed through. 



After luncheon the members separated in various directions, 

 some botanising, others shaking the bushes into their umbrellas 

 with the hope of capturing a few beetles, whilst another tried the 

 metal of his geological hammer, and another the hammer of his 



Working our way up the side of Station Peak, as the highest 

 point of the range is named, splendid patches of the pretty 

 *' rock or parsley fern," Cheilanthes tenuifolia, were met with, and 

 in the crevices between the boulders the little creeping fein, 

 Aspknium Jlabelli/ol'um, trailed its slender fronds. Little success 

 attended the entomologists, a Zoedia and a few other small 

 beetles being the only captures. On previous trips several larvse 

 of a handsome longicorn beetle of the genus Uracanthus were 

 obtained in the branches of a composite shrub, Aster glandulosus, 

 which is very common here, but on careful search, however, only 

 one was obtained. 



To reach the top of Station Peak was now the object in view, 

 and, after a rough climb over the stones and through scrub, the 

 wooden trigonometrical survey mark, perched on the top of ihe 



