THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19 



in escaping from Melbourne together, and we set out joyfully for 

 Heyfield on the 23rd of December, 1890. Two of us, Messrs. 

 Lucas and Dendy, started by the early train, leaving Hawksburn 

 station at 8 a.m., with the bulk of our impedimenta, while our 

 leader, Mr. Howitt, was in this instance to be our follower by a 

 later train and to meet us at Heyfield. 



It was supposed to be the duty of the first arrivals to see the 

 horses all safe in the paddock, and the luggage ready to pack for 

 an early start next morning. We were met at the Heyfield 

 station by Mr. Sewell, the proprietor of the Temperance Hotel, 

 with an open trap. It was raining cats and dogs, and we 

 waited a little while under cover at the station before we got 

 into the buggy, which by this time had been fairly converted 

 into a municipal water-cart. However, we arrived undrowned 

 at the hotel, and were soon comfortably discussing the excellent 

 Christmas dinner which Mrs. Sewell had prepared for us, and 

 which we made the most of, as being the last dinner we expected 

 to see for some days. 



After dinner we had a short ramble by the Thomson River, 

 which flows through the township ; the bridge is close to Mr. 

 Sewell's. We turned over sundry logs in quest of Peripatus and 

 Planarians, but could find none. The ground being dry, we only 

 saw a number of ants, and some females of the Golden Beetle, 

 Lamprima rutilans, which one is more accustomed to meet with 

 in that stage of their existence which is spent up amongst the 

 gum leaves. We noticed a few Rosehill Parrots, and learnt that 

 there are plenty of Long-necked Tortoises and fine trout 

 ( Galaxias ) and blackfish in the river. The rain coming on again, 

 we returned to the hotel to look after the packing. 



It may be of interest to any members of the Club who propose 

 to go on a similar expedition to know what we took with us. 

 The objects we had in view were three — (i) to make a more 

 complete exploration of the lake and its surroundings than had 

 hitherto been made; (2) to take as complete a series of photo- 

 graphs as possible ; and (3) to collect natural history specimens. 

 Our baggage was accordingly somewhat elaborate. For the 

 first object we had to take — (i) horses and horse furniture, 

 (2) tents and clothing, (3) provisions, and for the others 

 appropriate photographic and collecting apparatus. 



We took with us three riding horses and three packers, and 

 also a youth, who provided his own mount. Each of the packers 

 was, of course, provided with a pack saddle, with surcingle, side 

 straps, centre straps, and crupper, leading rope, bell, and hobbles. 

 Each riding horse had, in addition to the ordinary saddle and 

 harness, a bell and hobbles. We also took half a dozen horse- 

 shoes (slippers) and shoeing tools, including " ready-pointed 

 patent nails with countersunk heads," for our leader's abundant 



