98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



home after a hard day's outing, but much pleased with the various 

 objects of natural history noticed. 



The last week was spent mostly near Mr. Morton's house, in 

 the "lignum," and in this scrub was found several nests and 

 eggs of Red-capped Robin, Chestnut-eared Finch, White-faced 

 Xerophila, Superb Warbler, &c. Several White-winged Superb 

 Warblers were noticed, but I was unable to find any nests. 



Benjeroop is rather a bad place for snakes, one being killed by 

 Mrs. Morton, close to the house, while I was there. When Mr. 

 Morton and I were out we often saw several, they being nearly 

 always the Copper-headed species. 



There are a great many blackfellows' ovens about Benjeroop ; 

 and I was informed by Mr. Morton that skeletons of aboriginals 

 are often found when one digs for them. 



A phenomenon that is very striking to a person who has never 

 seen one before is the mirage, and on several occasions, when 

 driving widi Mr. Morton we noticed them, and, thinking we were 

 coming to a lake, I was much surprised to see the mirage 

 suddenly disappear. 



In conclusion, I have to thank Mr. A. J. Campbell for my intro- 

 duction to Mr. Morton ; and I take this opportunity of thanking 

 the latter gentleman and his wife for their kindness and attention 

 to me during my stay at Benjeroop ; and also Baron von 

 Mueller for his kindness in naming the plants, and otherwise 

 assisting me. I returned to Melbourne by the same route as that 

 by which I came, and reached home after an absence of three 

 weeks. 



COLLECTING NEAR HOME. 



By E. M. Cornwall. 



( Read before the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria., Zth July, 1889.J 



Of the many difficulties which a young naturalist may have to 

 contend with, more especially in or near a large city, the scarcity 

 of collecting grounds is perhaps the most prominent. And yet 

 in many cases this dearth of localities in which to search is more 

 a matter of imagination than of fact, for it is simply wonderful 

 what marvels can be brought to light by an enthusiast in a spot 

 which a casual observer would pronounce to be utterly barren. 



We very often hear members of this club complaining of the 

 lack of good collecting grounds near home, and a short time ago 

 a paper in which the following passage occurs was read before 

 the club : — " Our collecting grounds are now restricted to the 

 sadly diminishing moors of Cheltenham and Brighton, and to a 

 narrow strip on the banks of the Yarra." Now, were this so we 

 might well feel disheartened, but I am thankful to be able to 



