developed. 
zt 
A THE GEELONG NATURALIST 
tree ferns in every stage of growth, with their graceful fronds 
waving about the undergrowth, and reminding one of a fairy 
land. Passing from Traralgon, the traveller emerges on | 
through broad plains, where sheep and cattle are depastured, 
till at length Sale is reached; here the steamer is embarked, 
which proceeds through the canal to the Thompson, and in a 
short time the junction is reached of the three rivers, viz., 
Thompson, Glengarrie, and Latrobe. Another hour of steam- 
ing and Lake Wellington is reached; its entire length of 
16 miles is crossed, when a stream of eight miles of water is 
entered, which connects Lake Wellington with Victoria ; 
about 20 miles’ steaming over that, and Paynesville is reached. 
Here, the tourist for Lake Tyfb4 or the Tambo changes boats, 
while the Sale steamer proceeds across Lake King to the 
River Mitchell. This river for some miles flows down a 
tongue of land, in some parts not one-fourth of a mile wide, 
so that from the deck of the steamer the waters of the lake 
can be seen across the slip of land on either side. For some 
miles up the Mitchell there are steep banks, and beyond this 
rich flats of country, extensively cultivated with maize, hops, 
and orchard fruit trees. The picturesque town of Bairnsdale 
is situated on the banks of this river. The country around is 
of comparatively recent formation, abounding with fossils 
belonging to the miocene, period; here the geologist has a 
fine sphere both for spade and hammer. 
The trip from Bairnsdale to Lake Tyfi: is a most interest- 
ing one, as it possesses some exquisite scenery, and it only 
requires some old castles, and modern villas with their 
environments, to give it a place with Loch Awe or Katrine 
of Scotland. Here, too, the ornithologist as well as the 
geologist will find an interesting sphere. The trip to Omeo 
isalong and rough one, and in some parts not a very safe 
one; the writer has twice undertaken it, going some 30 miles 
beyond the town into the mountains, one of which, 6,500 
feet high, was capped with snow at a depth of several feet. 
It was here I met Mr. Stirling, who is now one of the leading 
geological authorities of the colonies, and from him I pro- 
cured some interesting geological specimens of the miocene, 
Devonian, and carboniferous ages, as well as specimens of 
the primitive rocks. In these mountains, gold, silver, copper, 
tin, lead, antimony, and other minerals are found, and when 
mining is carried out here with spirit a great future will be 
The trip to Walhalla is a romantic and interesting one. 
The distance from Toongabbie is 22 miles, but a coach re- 
quires five hours for the journey. At one point we were on 
