THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 139 



contributed his last paper in February, 1888, in which he 

 added seventeen species to the list of Victorian freshwater algae, 

 increasing the total number to 58. During his later years he 

 devoted himself more to microscopic work in zoology, botany, 

 and geology, and accumulated a large quantity of materials, which 

 unfortunately became lost, or dispersed, during his increasing 

 physical weakness. His name has been connected with one of 

 our hydroids, Plumularia wattsii, discovered by him at Queens- 

 cliff, and will thus be handed down to future workers in that 

 department of natural history. 



A WINTER JOURNEY IN THE MOUNTAINS. 



By Henry Thos. Tisdall, 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 1 ^th October, 



1889.) 



The rising generation of Victorians, being native Australians, 

 can hardly understand the feelings which thrilled the bosoms of 

 us older colonists as we stood on deck and gazed for the last time 

 at our native land. 



Melbourne was then but a name to us ; it appeared to be the 

 furthest place on the habitable globe. Twice since have I felt 

 nearly the same emotions — once, nineteen years ago, when I left 

 Melbourne for Port Albert, situated in the then almost unknown 

 province of Gippsland, and again two years later when I left the 

 Port to proceed to Walhalla, or Stringer's, as it was then called. 

 My old Port friends, after trying their best to dissuade me from 

 this apparently insane journey, bade me farewell in such tones of 

 sadness that I almost repented me of my purpose. 



That there could be any place more out of the way seemed 

 impossible, but in a new and thriving colony almost everything is 

 possible, for Walhalla is now considered a centre of civilization by 

 the inhabitants of Toombon, and I have little doubt that some 

 years hence people will leave that place to visit some even more 

 inaccessible region. Situated in the very heart of the mountains 

 east of Baw Baw lies the small but thriving township of Toombon. 

 It is built on the side of a steep hill rising up from the River 

 Aberfeldy, and owes its existence to a reef of quartz which has 

 been worked off and on for many years, and which has at length 

 proved payable. For the last two years the yield has been 

 gradually increasing, and in October it produced 1,000 ozs. out of 

 700 tons crushed. 



The banks have not yet made a settlement therein, but the 

 managers make monthly visits from Walhalla. As I was anxious 

 to see the place I took advantage of one of these escorts a few 

 months since, and accompanied my friend R., who was then 

 manager of the local branch in Walhalla. The bridle track 



