THE VIOTOEIAN NATURALIST. 103 



time, resounding with bird-songs, and alive with insect life during 

 the riper summer months. 



But it is not necessary to go so far as the Dandenong Creek to 

 find good hunting grounds. The whole of the country to the 

 eastward of Burwood and Glen Iris is, comparatively speaking, 

 sparsely settled. Along the Damper Creek are many secluded 

 nooks, thickly timbered with the varieties of trees and shrubs 

 which love those damp places. Between there and the foot-hills 

 of the Dandenong Ranges, a distance of only seven or eight miles, 

 are creeks and gullies innumerable, affording endless fields of 

 work in all branches to students of *' the manuscripts of God." 



A specially favourite haunt of mine is a paddock, or rather 

 several paddocks, on the Ferntree Gully road, some four miles 

 from Oakleigh. There I have done much work, and learned 

 many lessons ; and would strongly advise others to go that way. 



Then as to that narrow strip along the bank of the Yarra. Its 

 interest is wide, whatever its breadth may be. Past Kew, away 

 through Heidelberg and Eltham onwards, are miles upon miles 

 of country where the naturalist may roam amongst, and revel in, 

 those wonders for the study of which this club was formed. 



I would also point out to members who do not know the 

 country well that the new railway line about being opened through 

 Hastings to Crib Point passes through many miles of heavily 

 timbered forest land, which, for the whole distance, is teeming 

 with objects of interest. Nor is this all; but time forbids their 

 mention. 



In conclusion, I trust that I have proved that we are yet well 

 off for spots wherein to gather Nature's harvest ; and though 

 it may be presumptuous for a young member to express such an 

 opinion, I may remark that it has sometimes struck me that our 

 nearer collecting grounds are deemed exhausted before they really 

 are, and that our searchers have been somewhat hasty. No 

 hour's ramble anywhere can tell that place's story thoroughly, nor 

 yet reveal, to even those who best know where to look, all Nature's 

 secrets it may hold. I also have had doubts as to whether the 

 "largest bag" will necessarily produce the best results and throw 

 most light on what we fain would know — the true life-history of 

 bird and beast, of insect, plant, and sod ; and sometimes fancy 

 that knowledge may be gathered up where specimens are not 

 procurable— more valuable far. 



In one of his charming essays John Burroughs has well said, 

 "We cannot read Nature's book at the run;" and we, who desire 

 to study the Victorian edition thereof, will not do ill to bear these 

 words in mind. Then, the tale of species and variety complete, 

 the oft-reaped fields near home will bear an aftermath, and 

 interesting chapters will be penned on all the wondrous detail 

 which makes up their life. 



