86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



to town by the next train ; while the others of us determined to 

 take the tram to Sandringham. 



At first our environment was certainly gloomy, but at Beaumaris 

 the rain entirely ceased and allowed a little botanizing, though 

 walking in the heath scrub was very like taking a foot-bath. It 

 is needless to say that we obtained many beautiful flowers, but 

 none were of much scientific interest. The Coast Tea Tree 

 (Lefitosfiermum laevigatuni) was at its best, and, quite on the shore, 

 the Native Currant {Styphelia richet) was also covered with its 

 beautifully soft flowers. Amongst the heath, which was still 

 flowering freely, were Ricinocarpus pinifolins and the small Tea 

 Tree (Leptospermum myrsinoides), the latter not yet well in bloom. 

 The common orchid, Glossodia major, was very abundant and of 

 large size, and with it we found Diuris longifclia, D maculata, 

 Thelymitra antennifera, Caladenia latifolia, and C. deformis. 

 Species of other orders, and worth mentioning as just beginning 

 their flowering season, were Stylidium graminifolium, Caesia 

 vittata, and Bulbine bulbosa. 



After some time spent in finding these and numerous other flowers 

 we entered a passing tramcar bound for Sandringham. The sun 

 was now shining brightly, making the Tea Tree on either side less 

 dull and its blossoms even more brilliantly white than usual. The 

 drive along the winding coast road was thus a very pretty one, 

 and made a satisfactory end to an excursion that was certainly 

 not entirely spoiled in spite of its gloomy beginning. 



J. STEPHEN HART. 



MELTON EXCURSION. 



At the appointed time, 1 1.30, on Saturday, October 11, three mem- 

 bers of the Field Naturalists' Club met at the Spencer-street station, 

 and having congratulated themselves that, if the company was not 

 numerous, it was, at all events, select, tickets were obtained, and 

 on approaching the train a cheery voice announced two more 

 members already seated, whilst in an adjoining carriage was a 

 friend who has determined to join our ranks and had been asked 

 to accompany us. A threatening sky and high wind forebode an 

 unpleasant afternoon, but by the time Rockbank was reached all 

 fears on the score of weather were dispelled. Along the train route 

 we frequently saw the pretty Nankeen Kestrel, Crow Shrikes, 

 Ephthianura, and Black-breasted Plover. The latter birds are 

 already through their hatching, and a flock of great size was seen 

 just before reaching Melton. As soon as the train stopped at the 

 latter place a start was made in a south-westerly direction for 

 about half-a-mile, during which Pallid Cuckoos, Rosella Parrakeets, 

 Sordid Wood Swallows, Spotted-sided Finches, Ephthianura, and 

 other well-known birds were met with. During a northerly course 

 of another half-mile our attention was called to the peculiar con- 



