34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Sittella chrysoptera 

 Plictolophus galeritus 

 Callocephalon galeatum 

 Aprosmictus scapulatus 

 Platycercus pennantii 



Leucoscarcia picata 

 Phaps chalcoptera 

 Nycticorax caledonicus 

 Turnix varius. 



Botany. 



Exclusive of introduced forms and lower cryptogams, the 

 total number of species collected was over 300. The great 

 majority are the common forms met with on the Dandenong 

 Ranges, in Gippsland, and elsewhere, and the list which follows 

 only contains tlie names of the rarer and more interesting forms. 



The most striking features in the flora are perhaps the occur- 

 rence of the cabbage tree palm {Livistona austrcdis), and of the 

 waratah (Telopea oreades). The existence of this latter species, 

 peculiar to Victoria, was first of all discovered by Baron von 

 Mueller, during his journeying through the Genoa district in East 

 Croajingolong. As first described by Mr. Stirling, it grows to a still 

 greater height in the western part of the country, forming a tree 

 which may reach the height of 50 ft. The same fact was noticed 

 by our party, the tree being exceedingly plentiful, and growing 

 with equal profusion and strength in the deepest valleys and on the 

 tops of the highest hills, as Mounts Goon Murk and Ellery. The 

 lithograph which accompanies this article gives put a poor idea of 

 the tree, but it is the first time it has been figured ; there is the usual 

 difficulty of the density of the surrounding vegetation, which 

 hinders a good view being obtained, and to get this rough sketch 

 it was necessary- to clear away, with considerable work, the trees 

 around. 



Another point of interest is the existence of large examples of 

 the graceful plant, Humea elegans, which, in full bloom, we found 

 growing to a height of 20 ft. and upwards. These, in black and 

 white illustrations, such as the one accompanying this article, look 

 rather like white funeral plumes, but in reality the delicate cream- 

 coloured heads tinged with a shade of salmon-pink and darker 

 streaks of umber, are beautiful objects when seen standing out in 

 front of a dense background of ferns, waratahs, and Acacias. 

 Another point of interest is the existence of a species of Erechthites 

 {E. mixta) found on Goon Murk, and new to Victoria, whilst the 

 Nageia cdpina, found by the party at an elevation of some 3,000 

 feet, is the lowest habitat yet recorded for this, which is, strictly 

 speaking, an alpine conifer. Of other forms perhaps the most 

 interesting is the Prostanthera walteri, a species peculiar to this 

 part of Croajingolong, and only seen on the tops of two of the 

 highest peaks — Mounts Ellery and Goon Murk. On the latter is 

 a great growth also of the snow grass (Poa hookeriana). In both 



