188 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



usual habit, he was a vegetable feeder, his stomach being filled 

 with Styphelia berries and fungus. Of this same species of lizard 

 we took a live specimen, also one of Cyclodus nigro-lutea, this 

 latter being rather numerous. This was the first day on which we 

 met with any success in orchids, as we took specimens of Thely- 

 mitra fusco-lutea and Galochilus robertsoni. Several kangaroos 

 and wallabies were seen, also traces of emu. Took a few Lepidop- 

 tera, including two Skippers, and from off a few scattered plants 

 of Leptospermum several specimens of the Longicorn beetle 

 Trichomesia newmani; also a few Buprestis, including Stig- 

 modera octospilota. In the evening the Victoria Valley party 

 returned, bringing with them- a Black Duck, which, in company 

 with several parrots and a plentiful supply of rice and onions, 

 was cooked next day, ^nd made a very acceptable addition and 

 change to our usual menu of tinned provisions. They reported 

 having arrived at the forester's hut — a photograph of which 

 was taken — about 5 o'clock ; but there being no one at home 

 they entered through the window, and finding flour, sugar, 

 and some fat, they made themselves at home, afterwards 

 availing themselves of the forester's blankets to sleep in. They 

 left Mr. Perrin's note and an apology for the liberty they 

 had taken with his household goods, and also invited him to visit 

 our camp, when due restitution would be made for our peculations. 

 Whether the forester — Mr. Elliott — did not return in time to pay 

 us a visit we cannot say ; at all events, we saw nothing of him, 

 and we can, therefore, only take this additional opportunity of 

 thanking him for his involuntary hospitality. The party also 

 reported that the valley consisted of scrub and swamps, with 

 occasional patches of grass land and belts of timber, of which a 

 good deal is red gum — now carefully preserved — and wattles. 

 Game — comprising kangaroo, wallaby, and emus — was in great 

 abundance, as also Black Swans, ducks, &c., but the latter were 

 exceedingly difficult to get near. They shot one of the brilliant- 

 coloured Australian Bee-eater, Merops ornatus, and saw large 

 numbers of the smaller variety of birds. 



Sunday, 29TH November. ^Weather fine. During a morning's 

 walk a fine large orange and brown moth (Gastrophora henf-i- 

 caria) was taken. In the afternoon, went up the course of flume 

 of Stawell w^ater supply for about three miles, and found specimens 

 of a couple of orchids (Calei/a major and Caladenia patersonii). 

 One of our party, whose lynx eye has to be credited for many of 

 the orchids we had so far taken, added still further to his repu- 

 tation by discovering, growing in the moist earth on the moss- 

 covered stones close by the flume, several of the small and rare 

 Galeya minor. Saw several kangaroo and a few emus. 



Monday, 30TH November. — Morning very warm. Started with 

 intention of ascending Mt. William, but after passing the sites of 



