THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 147 



Having had a few hours in the Mallee, we had lunch, and 

 rested the horses ; and here, in a shallow pool, I found a few 

 specimens of two species of fresh-water shells, which belongs 

 probably to the genus Physa (?), or near to it. 



On our way home, we started clouds of ducks, also a few 

 cranes; and the pretty little native hen (Tribonyx) were very 

 common indeed, and had time permitted we might, I think, have 

 found several of their nests. 



We arrived at the township about dark, so I resolved to go on 

 to Border Town the next morning, and work back towards 

 Albacutya. I found, however, that I had a couple of hours to 

 spare before starting, so I went out to a large piece of land 

 fenced off for a water reserve, expecting to find something of 

 interest ; but in this I was disappointed, nothing but the 

 wretched weeds and long coarse grass everywhere, so, having 

 waded about through the mud for some time, I got back, and 

 started for Border Town. I had intended to have stayed for a 

 day at the VVolseley station, about seven or eight miles from 

 Serviceton, but the district is, I was informed, an agricultural 

 one, and as it did not look particularly inviting, I pushed on, 

 arriving at Border Town about noon. 



The old settlement of Border Town is one of the prettiest 

 places I have visited, being beautifully situated on the banks of 

 a creek, which is very picturesque, tall specimens of the red-gum 

 (Eucalyptus rostrata) lining its banks on both sides. This creek 

 is however, I believe, dry in the summer. 



Being anxious to stay here for some days I " put up " at the 

 Woolshed Hotel, the proprietor of which, Mr. Ward, very kindly 

 gave me much valuable information about the district, also as to 

 the most likely places for plants. 



The country around Border Town is to the N.W. mallee, 

 interspersed with box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) flats, on which 

 grew many of the little terrestrial orchids which are to be found 

 so common in our Cheltenham and Brighton districts. 



The Mallee, which extends for an immense distance right into 

 and through the Ninety-mile Desert, is not nearly of such a 

 dreary and sterile nature as that near Serviceton. Many very 

 beautiful shrubs, as Baeckea crassifolia, B. Eehrii, Styphelia 

 Sonderi, S. costata, &c., being found growing there in consider- 

 able numbers. The scrub is, however, swarming with rabbits, 

 which burrow in the sand, and otherwise do much damage to the 

 crops and grass in the neighbourhood. 



I have said that I reached Border Town at noon, so I spent 

 the afternoon in the Mallee with some young people whom Mr. 

 Ward had kindly sent out with me, and who knew the best 

 places for collecting. I did very well, and got a number of good 



