250 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIII. 



crossed, but time was too precious to allow of further investigation 

 than could be made as we passed along. All the usual ferns 

 seemed to be there, though the King Fern, Osmunda barbara, and 

 the Batswing, Pteris incisa, appeared to be the most uncommon. 

 A senecio, S. vagus, was in full bloom along the track, and with 

 its large, bright yellow flowers enlivened the scene. 



We were now right among hills running up perhaps 1,500 feet 

 or so from the river, fairly steep and well wooded. Presently 

 the country opened out a little to the north, where a rather larger 

 tributary than usual came in from the main divide. Then turning 

 more southerly along a fine creek coming down from Mt. 

 Horsfall we passed through a belt of tea-tree, Leptospermum 

 lanigerum, and saw the first Beeches, Fagus cunninghami, or 

 Myrtles, as they are more usually called in the country. Stellaria 

 Jlaccida formed dense masses along the sides of the track, and 

 seemed particularly gratifying to the horses. Numerous minor 

 obstacles had been disposed of during the day, but a little further 

 on a larger tree trunk than usual caused some delay, and, as it 

 was getting dark, and there was a nice creek close at hand, we 

 decided to camp on the track for the night, instead of pushing 

 on to the junction, some three miles further, as we had intended. 



The day had been dull, and as evening closed in signs of rain 

 were apparent. We therefore turned in without much undressing, 

 so as to be prepared for emergencies. However, the unexpected 

 usually happens. About midnight a crash was heard, and 

 presently a voice called for help to get one of the horses out of 

 the creek. Most of us turned out to see what could be done. 

 After half an hour's work by the light of candles and matches, 

 trees and logs were cut away, and the animal got upon its legs, 

 but there was no possibility of getting him up through 50 feet of 

 scrub at that time of night, so he had to be left till morning. At 

 daybreak we surveyed the scene, and v/ondered however he 

 rolled down without being killed. A path was built, and he was 

 once more got up on the track, apparently Httle the worse for his 

 adventure. 



We then breakfasted and loaded up, but had hardly made a 

 start before it was found that another tree was down across the 

 track, and in such an awkward position that the horses could not 

 pass, so there was nothing for it but to unload the horses, and 

 leave them behind in charge of one of the party, and take on what 

 was wanted for lunch. 



After about three miles of rather stony track we came to a fine 

 fern gully, and a glance at a sassafras tree with the initials 

 A.J.C. among others cut upon it told us we had reached Falls 

 Creek. The stream was some seven or eight feet broad, and fully 

 a foot deep, running strongly, and joining the Yarra only a few 

 yards away. The Yarra itself was little larger, but its valley is 



