XR THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
take the road again, and as the weather has now cleared up and the 
sun is shining brightly, we begin to enjoy the drive. Birds which 
have heretofore been conspicuous by their absence begin to appear, 
and give life to the scene. 
The country is very flat and uninteresting til we approacb 
Dean's Marsh, where it becomes rougher as the ranges come into 
view. After leaving Dean's Marsh the hills rapidly increase in 
height, and the road winds about on the spurs continually ascend- 
ing. Every here and there we get beautiful views of fern gullies 
on either hand as the road takes a sharp turn round a bend of a 
hill. After winding in and out in this way for about four miles, we 
reach Mr Mulder's place at Bambra about five o'clock. We are now 
at a height of 1200 feet, the highest point of the road. Mr Mulder 
kindly makes us free of the place, and after unpacking our rugs, 
etc., with a few provisions we wander round on a tour of inspection. 
Some of the party start down a gully looking for ferns, but they 
soon join the others in the orchard, and find it much easier study- 
ing botany among the raspberries. 
As it grows dark we adjourn to tea, and then after a little 
music, (our vice-president being a notable musician) we make a 
move to bed. 
Dec. 26th.—After a good sleep we are aroused at what seems 
an abnormally early hour by our driver. We go fora short stroll, and 
by a curious coincidence all of us visit the same spot, 7.c., the garden. 
We return to breakfast where each of us eats a man’s share, and 
then proceed to pack'up again. After photographs of Mr Mulder’s 
house and of the coach with the party, we are off once more. The 
Lorne track has been much improved during the past two years, 
and there is now no part which can be called a bad road in dry 
weather. The old tracks, however, show that things were not 
always so. Bird life and insect life are both rather scarce, though 
no doubt there are plenty in the valleys. About Benwerrin (the 
Half-way House) we get a view of Split Point lighthouse in the 
distance, and as we approach Lorne we get many and unexpected 
views of the sea. An occasional red lory (Platycerus Pennantii) 
shoots: past, while honey-eaters of various kinds ffit about the 
bushes. About half-past eleven we reach the bridge over the 
Erskine and rattle along into the township without having ex~ 
perienced any mishap save the loss of the lid of our biggest billy. 
We inquire about the track further on from Mr Mountjoy, who. 
informs us that it is out of the question to reach the Cumberland, 
and that nothing larger than a spring cart can reach the first creek, 
the St. George. However, we determine to try, but in about half 
af} 
