THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39 



inform us that he is no better, and will never be any good again. 

 Poor horse ! we cannot help being sorry for him, for all his 

 clumsiness ; and to think of the trouble we had to get him down 

 from the mountains to a safe resting place ! Shortly before we 

 arrived at Glen Falloch Mr. Howitt caught a Freshwater Tortoise 

 {Ghelodina longicollis), in the middle of the road. The first thing 

 the creature did was to emit a most foul and pungent smell, 

 strongly resembling garlic, but he (or rather she) was secured and 

 carried down to Melbourne in triumph notwithstanding, and may 

 now be seen in the Aquarium at the Exhibition Buildings. At 

 Glen Falloch we enjoyed the luxury of tea with milk and fresh bread 

 and meat. Mr. Riggall was very anxious for us to stay the night, 

 but it was only 5 o'clock, and Mr. Howitt and Mr. Lucas wanted 

 to hurry on another eight miles and camp. Matters were com- 

 promised by Dr. Dendy's staying for the night for some duck 

 shooting, the others riding on with the pack-horses and camping 

 at Hickey's Creek. There were plenty of ducks about the station, 

 and also some black swan on the river. There were also plenty 

 of kangaroos in the neighbourhood, but we had no time to go and 

 look for them. 



Messrs. Howitt and Lucas rode on at a smart pace, and soon 

 came to the Big Hill. The charm of the evening calm was now 

 felt, and one of them, at least, felt this to be the most enjoyable 

 ride in the trip. From the crest of the hill, the mountains to the 

 east, with the sunlight still on them, were verdant with eucalyptus 

 and acacia foliage, while those to the west were of a deep blue, 

 gradually darkening as the evening advanced. Mr. Howitt told 

 of earlier adventures in mountainous Gippsland, and related 

 legends called up by the objects noted, legends handed down 

 by generations of blackfellows who had lived in this rugged 

 country we were travelling through. 



At Hickey's Creek they turned off and forded the Macallister, 

 camping in one of Mr. Riggall's paddocks. As it was very late 

 only the fly was put up, but with a good fire in front it was not 

 cold. A native bear in a tree close by gave us a musical 

 entertainment in the early part of the night. 



Messrs. Howitt and Lucas rose at about 3 o'clock, determined 

 to get to Melbourne by the New Year. The Macallister at the 

 place where they camped is a broad stream. Going down to 

 wash and get water, they found that the frog met with at the lake 

 abounded here also. They saw also some spiders running on the 

 water after insects, which seemed to be rather a new line of life 

 for spiders. Mr. Howitt took photographs of the camp and of 

 the river. Then they rode back to Heyfield over old ground, 

 and arrived there about i o'clock. 



3 1 ST December. — Dr. Dendy started from Glen Falloch about 

 7 o'clock with Mr. Riggall, who was riding down to Glenmaggie, 



