146 NatHraiist/ Notchook [ v (?*j *£*- 



at present There is a tree orchid in bud which still has last year's withered 

 [fewer stein hanging from U. Away at the top o» the & filly there are many 

 banks of the tiny helmet orchids with their maroon Capi, yellow centre-,, and 

 striped Sideboards'*. The nodding greenhoods dance on a -.tinny blopc : with 

 a few tinier ones with several heads to each stem, quite nearby. In «unie 

 patches ol tlm very rich countryside il k impossible to walk through die bush 

 without standing upon orchids ol some kind. 



A few yards below in the creek there are beautiful little tern borers; — 

 tree ferns wish moss oi many kinds minted with kangaroo fern upon their 

 irunks. There arc other tree ferns with fiddia and young musks growing 

 upon them. In places there are huge canopies of clematis over the tree tops, 

 with — woe to the unwary explorer — masses of vicious nettles below tbem. 

 The gully is so damp that it is quite unsafe to grasp a sapling to help pull 

 oneself up the crumbling sides of earth and leaves — as likely as not the tree 

 itself will come down upon you. 



There ifi a lyrebird calling down the tfully now, and the thrush i> warbling 

 above. From the top end of the gulTy there is a view to the north of miles oi 

 green cultivated country— flats and rises, with an industrial centre in trick 

 midst, stretching away to the bluenusy oi the Baw Baws, where snow is 

 gleaming. 



Ein.At.rF. P. BfticwstEh, "N'erreman", via Leon&acha 



WHAT, WMIJtE ANO WHEN 

 F.N C V. Mcehngi; 



Monday, January 14-~M embers' Night, with Mr. and Mrs Colliver. 

 Moivlay, February II— Members' Picture Night 



F.N.C.V. excursions: 



Sunday, December 16 — Botany Group excursion 10 Sherbrnoke, Take S-53 

 a.m. train to Upper Feruflree Gully, iheii Olinda bu\ to Sherbrooke Junc- 

 tion, Bring one meal and a snack. 



Saturday, January 5— Trerncm 1o Boronia. Leaders: Mr. and Mrs. D. Lewie* 

 Take 9.1H a.m. train to Upper Ferntree Gully, then bus. to Trcmont. Bring 

 I wo meal*. 



Sunday, January 20 — Botany Group excursion lo Sherbrookc. Subject: 

 Continuation of Botany census. Take 8.55 a.m. tram to Uppe? Ferntree 

 Gully, then bus to EC&ilista. Bring one meal ami a snack. 



Sunday, February \6— Geology Group exeuisioth Details at Group meeting. 



Group Meetings, 



{8 p.m., at National Herbarium) 

 Wednesday. January 16 — Microscopical Group. Subject : Entowosirtfa't. 4* 



the common water flea. Speakers \ Mt. Mel ones aod Mr Evans. 

 Wednesday, January 30 — Bntanv Group. Subject Acaciaa. Speaker: Miss 



V. Balaam. 

 Wednesday, February 6 — Geology Group- 

 Preliminary Nnlices; 



Sunday, February 24 — Parlour-coach excursion to Sorrento. Leader Mr. 

 Strong. Subjects: Marine Biology and General. Coach Icavo Batman 

 Avenue at ° a.m., returns approximately 8.30 p m. tare 17/-, Bring* two 

 meals. Bookings with Excursions Secretary. 

 Thursday. April 18, to Monday, April 22 (Faster)— DimbooU, under the 

 leadership of the Winmiera Field Naturalists Club. Hotel accommo- 

 dation is available and bookings, with £2 deposit, should be made with 

 the Excursion Secretary by February 25. Further details in February 

 Nattiralut, 



Marie Au.FtfotR. Excursions Secretary. 



19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulhcld, S.E.7. 



