98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST 
made up splendid bunches of maiden-hair, and other ferns, while those 
who were uot natives admired the abundance of the old English 
favourite wild flowers, buttercups, and red and blue pimpernels. 
Tea, cocoa and inviting eatables were ready at about five, and after 
being duly appreciated, at the request of Mr. Oddie, Mr. Halley 
asked the assembled guests both from Ballarat and Melbourne to 
signify their acknowledgement to Mrs. Krause and the Misses 
Jones, who had taken much trouble in the preparation of the 
various good things, and to Mr. Cameron and his family, whe 
provided the conveyances to and from the station, and rendered 
other kindly services. Cheers being heartily given by all present. 
As the evening drew on, and the setting sun began to cast long 
shadows, “Auld Lang Syne” was sung, and young and old 
joined in dancing Sir Roger de Coverley. Rounds of huzzahs 
were given for Mr. Oddie, and the party proceeded to tramp, not 
wearily, but gaily back to the Railway Station. The Lal Lal 
falls were once more visited, and the station reached in ample time 
for the half-past seven train, in which Mr. Halley had arranged for 
a special saloon compartment, which was found a great convenience 
by the party, as at the various stations the word “engaged” displayed 
in the window prevented the intrusion of strangers, not even the 
great crowd at Geelong being allowed to invade the scientists’ sanctum. 
Holiday time makes late trains, and the farewells at Spencer Street 
were very hasty, not many minutes being left in which to catch the 
last suburban trains. 
Twenty-five members and visitors from the Melbourne Club, of 
whom seven were ladies, and the total number present of both Clubs 
with friends numbered about seventy. All agreed that if much 
collecting was not done, or the store of knowledge much added to, a 
very enjoyable day, with the grandest of weather, beautiful scenery, and 
genial companionship, combined to make up an outing long to be 
remembered as the first united gathering of amateur naturalists 
held in Victoria; and hopes were expressed that such a union of 
forces might become at least an annual arrangement. 
Owing to the season for wild flowers being almost over, and the 
weather kardly warm enough for insect life, the number of specimens 
collected was not large, but the more noticeable taken in the several 
departments are enumerated below: 
Botany.—Phanerogamous plants.—The following were noted as 
uncommon near Melbourne:—Clematis aristata; Viola betonicifolia; 
Tetiatheca ciliata; Plagianthus pulchellus; Rhagodia nutans; 
Epilobium tetragonum; Discaria Australis, (syn. Colletia pubescens); 
Sambucus sp.; Gratiola Peruviana; Veronica Derwentia; V. gracilis; 
V. peregrina; Euphrasia Brown; and Ajuga prostrata. 
Ferns.—Hight species noted, among them being Grammitis 
rutifolia; and Asplenium flabellifolium. 
