48 THE VICTORIAN. NATURALIST. 
conceived a better or pleasanter road to walk upon, so we made good 
progress for the Derby. Here, the mountains coming down to the sea 
made further progress along the beach impossible. A sand-bank 
closed the mouth of the creek, we crossed it, and turning up the left 
bank, again struck the telegraph line which we had left at Yanakie. 
(To be continued.) 
THE ORCHIDEA OF VICTORIA. 
By C. French, Government Botanist’s Department. 
(Part 7.) 
PrasopHyttum AvsTratn, (R. Brown.) 
This pretty sp., approaches in many respects some of the more 
stunted or dwarf forms of P. elatum, differing very much however 
in colour, also by the lighter green stem, and thus seems to be more 
like P. patens, a pretty though a much commoner sp., a description 
of which will be given as we proceed with the paper. In the flat- 
ground about Western Port, I have found several specimens of this 
orchid, In the “ Flora” we find it described as a sp., having flowers 
striped with brown and yellowish green. I have not noticed any 
stripes, although the colour of flowers seems to be of a greenish white 
and brown, ‘The leaf sheath as described by Bentham, being, as he 
says, much longer than in most other sp. In determining many of the 
sp., of this remarkable genus, it will be absolutely necessary to call 
in the aid of a scientific botanist, who could critically examine the 
specimens, and thereby save a deal of guesswork and the consequent 
disappointments in connection therewith. To grow this sp., damp 
loamy soil should be used, plenty of clear water, and a little shade 
from the direct rays of the sun. Height from 1 to 2 ft., flowers 
several in a spike, Bloomsin December and January. P. lutescens 
of Lindley, is identical with this sp, Found also in Tasmania and 
in South Australia. 
P, Brevizasre, (Hooker.) 
This is a sp,, which I never remember having found myself, 
consequently I am obliged to give you briefly, a description in 
accordance with that given by Bentham and Mueller, viz.—Allied 
to R. patens in aspect, in the size of flowers, and in the ovary, stems 
mostly under 1 foot high, the leaf sheath broad and loose, dorsal 
sepal under 4 lines long, petals rather shorter, narrow and acuminate. 
Labellum sessile This sp., has been found in the Moe swamps 
by F. Mueller and others, also in East Gippsland, Tasmania, New 
South Wales, and in Queensland. Time of flowering unknown to 
