102 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 



higliest boulder, WIS reached It is singular that a stunted form 

 the blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus, grows on the tops of these 

 ranges, and, among other shrubs, was the kangaroo acacia, A. 

 armala. A little AdXiy-X'^k^t \i\zx\X., Brachycotie exilis, was rather 

 plentiful on the top of the mount, and fluttering about out of 

 reach were several of the white butterflies, probably Pieris 

 aganippe. 



Here presently more of the party arrived, and spent some little 

 time in enjoying the extensive view from the peak. Geelong, 

 some fifteen miles due south, was plainly visible, and across Corio 

 Bay the hills of Port Arlington. Further round westward were 

 the outlines of the Ca"e Otway Ranges, and away to the north- 

 west Mounts Buninyong and Warrenheip. distant some forty miles 

 as the crow flies Following round, the Blackwood Mountains, 

 Mount Macedon and the Dandenongs helped lo complete the 

 circle. Melbourne was scarcely visible, owing to the haze. 



On the whole, this mount is well worthy of a visit by tourists, 

 as there are no intervening trees or hills to intercept the view 

 from the summit. The height is given on the maps as 1154 feet, 

 and it is jusc about a thousand feet above the plains on which it 

 stands. Having feasted sufficiently upon the extensive panorama 

 presented to the eye, tracks were made for the valley, taking a 

 different route to that of the ascent This proved much easier, 

 and led to the head of a small valley, which was followed down 

 to the main valley In these were noted Polypodium punctatum, 

 Clematis microphylla, a splendid sight, with its beautiful feathery 

 festoons, Myoponwi viscosum, Nicotiana suaveolens, Pultenaea 

 ohcordata, &c. 



On reaching the camping ground refreshments were indulged 

 in, and an hour whiled a^vay talking on various topics. By half- 

 past four all the members had returned and reported their luck, 

 when it was found that fewer specimens had been obtained than 

 on either of the former excursions, which was, doubtless, owing to 

 the extreme dryness of the district. 



Several members having volunteered as water carriers, on their 

 return tea was prei:)ared and duly dispose<i of, after which our 

 President, the Rev. J. J. H alley, proposed success to the Ballarat 

 Field Club, and thanked the members who represented it for 

 their attendance, which was responded to by Messrs. Chalmers 

 and Phillips. Votes of thanks were afterwards carried to the 

 ladies for theii" efforts to promote the comfort of the party, and 

 to Messrs. Best and Coghill for the refreshments kindly provided 

 by them. 



Camp was then struck and we were soon on the road to the 

 station, which was reached in ample time for the 7.15 p.m. train, 



