Pe ett de pB2 es whee HARVARD UNIVERSITY. LIBRARY OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. Piet] 5B ruokt 3 /], IGIs- f t Tr h haalirw died - . SS VICTORIAN NATURALIST: THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE | Field Naturalists’ Chub of Victoria VOL. II. MAY 1885 TO APRIL 1886. The Author of each Article is responsible for the fwets and opinions he records. Sonth Melbourne: MITCHHLL & HENDERSON, PRINTERS, CLARENDON ST. 1886. INDEX TO VICTORIAN NATURALIST. VOL Ii. _—_———— PAGE Australia, Darwin on - 20 Australian Birds, Oology of 126 Ballarat Field Club - 48 Basalt-Vitrophyr, Notes on a 67 Birds, Notes on Habits of Native 90, 104, 140, 154 Botany, Worma Macdonaldi - - 146 Chudleigh Caves, Trip to the - - =) Coccide, Remarks on Victorian Gall-Making 99 Cockatoos and Magpies Habits of = - - d4 Collector’s Trip to North Queensland 109, 130, 139 Correspondence - 63, 92 Anecdote of Duckling 64 Attempt to rear Cuckoo 63 Preserving Mixture - 92 Crows, Notes on Habits of 90, 104, 140 Darwin on Australia - 20 Errata - - 28, 40, 92 Eucalypts, Sanitary Properties of - - 84 Field Naturalists’ Club Annual Conyersazione 2 Exhibits - - = 15 Lecturette, Extinct Animals - - 13 Insects - - =A: President’s Address - 3 Excursions - - 31, 33, 94 Brighton - - =) | Hk Lal Lal - - - 94 Lilydale - - - 33 Exhibition of Wild Flowers 82 PAGE Proceedings, Monthly Meetings, 1, 17, 29, 41, 53, 65, 81, 98, 105, 125, le yace Flora, Additions to Queensland - - 74 Fungi of North Gippsland 106 Fungi, Victorian 76, 139 Geological Sketch of S. W. Victoria 70, 102, 114 New Guinea Plants, Notes on - Notes Catalogue of Australian Hydroid Zoophytes 148 19, 146 Foraminifera = 28 Micro-Fungi - 40 National Museum - 40 Petrel Family - 28 Select Extra-Tropical Plemtsis 52, 147 Oology of Australian Birds = = 126 Orchids of Victoria 48, 142 Corysanthes - 144 Microtis = - 142 Prasophyllum - 48 Pterostylis - - 145 Plants, New Guinea 19, 146 Plants of Studley Park 24, 36 Queensland Flora, Additions to - 74 Queensland North, Trip to - 109,130, 189 Studley Park, Plants of 24, 36 Tortoises, Note on Imbedded - - 103 Victoria, Geological Sketch of SW. 70. 102, 114 Victorian Fungi 76, 106, 139 Wild Flowers, Exhibition of 82 Wilson’s Promontory, Over- land Trip to 43, 54, 87, 150 ERBATA. Page 27, line 19—for “Flowers September to January” read “ Flowers nearly all the year round.” Page 27, line 43—after “ Casuarina, Rumphius, Etym. read “ Supposed to allude to the leaves resembling the feathers of the Cassowary.” Page 69, line 29—insert “of the” after ‘felspar.” Page 69, last line—for “‘ Weannie” read “ volcanic.” Page 93, last line-—after “ lizard” add “ Grammatophora muricata.” Page 94, line 22—after ‘‘lizard” add “ Pygopus lepidopus.” Page 137, last line—after “and” insert “ some of.” NOTICE TO BINDER. No. 11, March 1886, is wrongly paged. Should read 137 to 148, instead of 125 to 136. a a ~ AY 927 | ; Venue.’ Nov. | Mae 1885; THE Dictorian Vaturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE OF THE Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria. The Author. of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. CONTENTS: , . PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria Pe en 1% Annual Conyersaxione. cat ae a be. vas 2 President’s Address. ... Ee Res ae tas Soh 3 PRICE — SIXPENCE Emerald Bill ; J.C, MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST, — 1885. “ee ai Wield Katoralists’ Cheb of ie foe OFFICERS 1884-85. aa President : Rey. J. JOALLEY. Dee: Advesidents : Mr. T. A. FORBES-LEITH | Mz. A. H. “s) LUCAS, Treasurer : Mr. J. H. MATTHIAS. | Secretary: Mr. F. G. A. BARNARD, Kew. Assistant Secretary: Mr. G. COGHILL. Librarian : Mr. C. FRENCH, Waniniittee : Mu D. BEST? & Ma. Jo EL. GATREBR, J. E. DIXON, 5 Ce AY TORR Mr, H. WATTS, Time of Ordinary Meetings—The Second Monday in Caan Month, at 8 pan., Roy al Society’s Hall, Melbourne, Subscription = ~ = Ten Shillings, per annum. For the “ Victorian Naturalist,” Six Shillings per annum, or Non-Members Seven Shillings. Post Free. Be et ; - ee nee ae, oot ee re: *, tiene se pt + a rae Lid : Rr) eS ee ERTS Rea Ea ER of) AER Le nh THE Dictaorian Maturalist: Moreen INo: 1 MAY. 1885. THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue morthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 13th April, 1885. The president, Rev. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and about forty-five members and visitors were present. The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following additions to the Club’s library :—“ Science Record,’ No..8; “ Report of Ballarat School of Mines,” 1883 ; ‘‘ Proceedings of Ornithological Society of Vienna ;” “Supplement to Victorian Oology,” Part 1, by A. J. Campbell. The hon. sec. read the report of the sub-committee appointed to re-consider the list of Victorian birds proposed to be protected. It recommended that the following birds be struck out of the proposed list :—Hawks, bee-eaters, crow shrikes (except magpie, at present protected), finches, bower-birds, orioles, wattle-birds, leather-heads, and parrots (except swamp or ground parrakeet.) On the motion of Mr. Gregory, the consideration of the report was postponed till next meeting, pending replies from other societies, &c. The hon. sec. read a short account of the excursion to Gipsy Village, Brighton, held on the previous Saturday, which had been well attended, and the members present were fairly successful in their finds. ‘The rare orchids, Hriochilus fimbriatus and Pterostylis apyhila, being obtained in bloom. The following ladies and gentlemen were elected members of the Club:—Mrs. Beal, Mis. C. W. Simson, Miss E. C. Simson, Messrs A. Campbell, J. P. Chirnside, R. A. Poole, and J. Russell, and Masters S. and D. Coghill, as junior members. Thirteen nomin- ations were received for next meeting. Messrs A. J. Campbell and J. E, Prince were elected to audit the accounts of the Club previous to the annual meeting. bo THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Nominations for office-bearers for the year 1885-6 were then received, in each case the retiring office-bearers being the only persons nominated, except for hon. treasurer, for which Mr. Bage was nominated instead of Mr. Matthias. Three ladies and eight gentlemen were proposed as members of committee, being, Mrs. Dobson, Mrs. J. Simson, Miss Campbell, and Messrs Best, Gatliff, Hill, Le Sotief, Prince, Topp, Watts, and Wisewould. Mr. Best gaye notice that he would move at the annual meeting that the number of members of committee be increased from five to eight. Mr. J. E_ Prince, on behalf of Messrs Field and Son, of Birmingham, presented the Club with a valuable microscope for the use of the members, for which a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to him. The hon, sec. announced that at the annual conyersazione to take place on the 29th inst, lecturettes would be delivered by the Rev. A. W. Cresswell, M. A., on “The Extinct Animals of Australia;” and by himself on “ Forms and Metamorphoses of Insects.” Papers read:—By Messrs Gregory and Lucas ‘“ Notes of an overland trip to Wilson’s Promontory,” Part I. Mr. Gregory read the descriptive part and Mr. Lucas the Natural History notes of the journey between the Trafalgar Railway Station and Mr. Mille’s station at Yanakie, about two thirds of the distance travelled The following were the principal exhibits of the evening:—By Mr. G. Coghill, five orchids in bloom, obtained on excursion to Gipsy Village, viz., Eriochilus autumnalis, E. fimbriatus, Pterostylis aphylla, P. nana, and Prasophyllum Archert; by Mr. C. French, 260 species of Australian Coleoptera, family Buprestide, also orchids in bloom Eriochilus fimbriatus and Pterostylis aphylla; by Master C, French, carved gourd, from New Guinea; by Mr. G. R. Hill and Masters Hill, Victorian lepidoptera; by Mr. D. Le Soiief, living slow-worm; by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, five British Birds, Rook, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Curlew, and Oyster- catchers, also pair of Opossum mice ; and by Mr. F. Reader, plants from Studley Park, (orders Apocynee, Solanacee). After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. Tan Fifth Annual Conversazione of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall on Wednesday evening, 29th April, 1885, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 3 when there was a very large attendance of the members and their friends, it being estimated that over 350 ladies and gentlemen were present. On their arrival the visitors rambled through the lower rooms of the building, which contained a very fine display of objects of natural history both living and dead The tables were arranged on a much better plan than last year, and allowed greater facilities for studying the many excellent and beautiful exhibits, which will be fully detailed further on. Prominent among these may be noticed the magnificent collection of Australian parrots, shown by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, the case containing representatives of 65 species; the many rare beetles, butterflies, and moths exhibited by Mr. C. French; the fine collections of shells by Messrs Gatliff and Worcester; the lepidoptera of Mr. Kershaw; the Australian coleoptera of Mr. Best; the Victorian sponges by Mr. Lucas; the live snakes by Mr. D. Le Souéf; the rare plants by Baron von Mueller; and the growing Victorian ferns by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. After a pleasant half-hour among the birds, insects, ete., the visitors assembled in the upper hall to hear the Rey. J. J. Halley deliver the presidential address, which was as follows:— Lavizs anp GentLemeN, Mempers or THe Fistp Natura.ist Crus or Victoria, In the address, which custom assigns to the President of a society jike ours, at its annual gathering an opportunity is given for a deliverance on any great subject that may have agitated intellectual society, or work done may be reviewed, or suggestions for future operations may be advanced. But before I attempt to do my poor part in any one of these directions it must be mine to thank my fellow-members for the very high honour they have conferred upon me in unanimously and cordially electing me to be their President —an honour alike unsought and unwished for. ladies and gentlemen, while I thank you for this honour, I think that you have made a mistake. Your President should be one who, in the arena of science, has won his knightly spurs like my learned prede- cessors, Professor M‘Coy and Dr. Dobson, rather than one who pretends to be but an esquire, achieving uo conquests for himself, but merely bearing arms after nobler combatants. I may, at any rate, congratulate our Club on the pleasant and prosperous year that now draws to a close. Our meetings have been always interesting and instructive, and sometimes specially so. Rare and costly specimens in all departments of natural history have graced our exhibitions. Papers not unworthy of more ambitious societies have been read, honest work in the field has been done, and we number in our guild 160 ladies and gentlemen. 4 THE VIOTORIAN NATURALIST. Nor need we fail to congratulate ourselves that, of the learned societies of Victoria, we have been the first to recognise that there are priestesses worshipping in the temple of Nature. Other societies have invited ladies to grace and add _ sweet- ness and lustre to annual gatherings, or occasionally, in a kind of superior patronising way, have arranged special evenings when more serious work was dispensed with, and curious or pretty things were shown or said, fitted to what was evidently deemed the taste of weaker intellects, but not only thus we meet on gala days in festive dress, but to share with us in honourable toil, side by side to delve in intellectual mines—to make common explorations into undiscovered lands of science—to strive to make nature give up her secrets, recognising in the fullest sense a common inheritance and a common right. The roll of our member- ship bears the names of 20 sisters of science. With the higher education of women an accomplished fact, with a girls’ college in this city distancing in matriculation honours all the boys’ grammar schools and colleges, I am sure of this, that whether we men will or will not, sooner or later we shall have to open, without distinction of sex, the doors of all our intellectual and scientific societies, and I trust that it will be our privilege, before many years have passed, to listen to this annual address delivered by one of the sisterhood of our guild. It is evident that this action of ours looks far beyond the mere admission of ladies to our meetings, and it is for this that I dwell upon it, for we cannot but recognise that it must play no unim- portant part in what may be called “ the domestication of science.” We may be thankful that at last, however inadequately, natural science forms a part of the curriculum of most of our higher schools. The more common phenomena of nature are, at any rate, investigated and explained, and principles are more or less dis- cussed. Collections of fauna and flora are common in our homes. Microscopes are found in nearly all studies. The happy home is certainly the intelligent home—the home where each member is able to add something to the common stock of thought and know- ledge, and, as has been said, ‘‘ where the family does not consist of an ill-assorted aggregation of babies, great and small, dependent for their amusement upon some rattle of frivolity, or the chance of a stranger tickling them with a fashionable straw.” The increase of our intelligent and happy homes has been brought about by the increase of our intelligent mothers and sisters. Cynics will, doubt- less, say that the majority of our young men care far more for sport than science, for cricket than for conchology, for football than for floriculture, for rifles than for reflection; and that mothers must bring up girls to suit the taste of the market, what- ever it may be—if the demand be for frivolity, frivolity must be THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ) produced ; if for stupidity, stupidity must be forthcoming. We may hope that the cynic’s sneer is fast losing its sting—that the demand for frivolity, ignorance, or stupidity is getting to be at a ‘discount ; and to the women of our own day, members of our Club or not, we will quote the words of that great master of science, Sir Humphrey Davy, in an appeal to women made seventy-four years ago: ‘ Let them make it disgraceful for men to be ignorant, and ignorance will perish; and that part of their empire founded upon mental improvement will be strengthened and exalted by time, will be untouched by age, will be immortal in its youth.” Of all schools of knowledge alter those »f music, painting, and sculpture, natural science is the best adapted for domestication. Some departments of intellectual investigation seem to adapt themselves more to the study than the parlour—to invite their devotees to solitude rather than to company ; but the pleasure of a discovery in the world of nature is more than doubled by being shared; and the pathway to its mountain heights is made easy when travelled in company. In- this colony of ours, with all its exuberance of youth, with all its free, wild life, with all its deifica- tion of manly sports, the domestication of science will help to teach That life is not an idle ore, But iron dug from central gloom, And heated hot with burning fears, And dipt in baths of burning tears, And batter’d with the shocks of doom. We have fallen on utilitarian days. Societies have to show that they have a right to existence ; a razson d’étre is demanded from all. Our answer to the challenge thrown down then is, that we exist for the purpose of popularising science—of fostering a love for nature—not by the mere study of what other men have seen or the examination of theories propounded by the giants of our race—but by examination for ourselves in the field. Not that the study of books is to be neglected—none of us can afford to do that—but to use our book knowledge as a guide to our field investigation, and by actual observation for ourselves to verify or otherwise what books have taught us. In this learning we must be content to be patient, reverant, childlike, not too hasty, from imperfect data, to jump to conclusions—nor yet, when we get undoubted facts, too conserva- tive to give up any pre-conceived opinions or theories. Starting from our books, going into the field, observing, arranging, theoris- ing, we shall need to understand how, on the one hand, to avoid the Scylla of wild speculation, and on the other hand the Charybdis of mere antiquated and worn out belief. The more we learn the more modest we shall doubtless become ; itis the tyros, not the veterans, who are sure about everything—the many times that we have to 6 THE VIOTORIAN NATURALIST. modify our opinions will teach as modesty of expression. But if we are true students of nature we shall never tire of listening to her teachings, for she will lead us into a veritable fairyland, and she will tell us wondrous tales. To her children nature is as Longfellow makes her in his poem on the birthday of Agassiz—an old nurse— and she sings to her children thus— Come, wander with me, she said, Into regions yet untrod, And read what is still unread In the manuscript of God. And he wandered away, away, With Nature, the dear old nurse, Who sang to him night and day The rhymes of the universe. And whenever the way seemed long, Or his heart began to fail, She would sing a more wonderful song, Or tell a more wonderful tale. The study of nature is no longer a hidden mystery, to be unveiled only to a few initiated ones. The days when the goddess was carefully hidden from the gaze of the common people, guarded by priests, jealous lest any save themselves should behold the Deity, have passed away. Isis has been unveiled, and all who will may, by living study, enter into the most secret recesses of the fane. Again, then, we affirm the aim of our Club is the popularisation and domestication of science. I ask, next, what are the facilities afforded for the study of natural science in this colony of ours? The wisdom of the founders of institutions in this young land has been shown by the liberality with which provision has been made for the study of art and science. Our public library, our picture gallery, our botanical gardens, zoological gardens, and museums are the pride of our city, and a wonder to those who remember that not a century has passed since one was ‘‘first to sail into a silent sea,” and barely fifty years since white men made a home where our stately city now stands. That these liberal provisions were made none too soon is evidenced by the fact that there is hardly a literary or a scientific society of the old land that does not find its counterpart here, and it is indeed to be hoped that Australia’s children may not only hold their own in the cricket field, not only fight side by side on Africa’s sands with England’s sturdiest, fired by a noble, if, perchance, a somewhat wild ambition, but also win their laurels in the arena of literature, science, and art. As I have already intimated, the first need of a student is books —books to guide him in the way he wants to travel. Of manuals ~l THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. dealing generally with scientific subjects or treating of great principles our private and public libraries are well supplied. Botanical and zoological text books are not difficult to obtain, but what we do need is books dealing specifically with the various departments of fauna and flora as they are found in this colony. This need was pointed out by my learned predecessor in this chair, Dr. Dobson, who last year pleaded for a “ \Jichotomous Key to the Plants of the Colony,” and so well did Dr. Dobson plead, and so wisely did he act, that the Government Botanist, the Baron von Mueller, readily undertook the preparation of such a key, and has, during the past ye:r, given to it much attention, and hopes ere long to have it r.ady for publication. I understand that this key is to be made as useful as possible in that it will be illustrated. Those of our members who make botany their study are to be congratu- lated on the prospect of so soon having their labours lightened. But what Baron von Mueller is doing for plants is much needed in all departments. Our students find it very difficult to learn what objects have or what have not been described. A strange shell, or mollusc, or zoophyte is found, and there is nothing to tell if it be new to science or not; often even its generic place is hard to discover. What we need are monographs or catalogues. So far as one family is concerned, this want has been, during the past year, ably supplied by the publication of a catalogue of ** Australian Hydroid Zoophytes.”” We are indebted for this immense help in the study of forms familiar on all our sea coasts to Mr. W. M. Bale, Secretary of the Microscopical Society of Victoria, and a member of our Club. Mr. Bale has described and figured nearly 200 forms, diligently searching previous records, and so presenting to us a catalogue made up to date. The illustrations, so carefully and accurately lined, will enable, in connection with the descriptions, the observer to identify and name any of the forms that may come under his notice. An introduction of 4U pages gives a sketch of the most important features of the structure and life history of the Hydroid Zoophytes. We cannot, however, while congratulating the author on the useful and important work he has produced, but express our regret that the book is headed “ Australian Museum,” rather than that of the National Museum of Victoria, and the imprint of Thomas Richards, Government Printer of Sydney, rather than that of John Ferres, Government Printer of Melbourne. It is hardly creditable that the bringing out of an important work on Natural History by a Victorian student should have been undertaken by the Government of another colony. Nor must I pass without notice a catalogue of the eggs of Victorian birds, by Mr. Campbell, together with a supplement. While Gould left little to do, so far as the birds of Australia are concerned, he was not able, from the comparatively short time he 8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. was in the colonies, to tell us much of the oology of our Aves. Now that students are directing their attention to life histories, a knowledge of embryology has become a matter of great importance, and, in connection with embryology, oology is likely to assist in the elucidation of many mysteries. During the year Prof. M‘Coy has been enabled to publish the ninth decade of the “‘ Natural History of Victoria.” The first of these decades bears date the 24th June, 1878, so that at the present rate we get the.description on an average of fifteen forms a year. Our mathematical friends will be able to calculate at what distant period the memoirs of our museum will be complete, and geologists may perchance uream as to what will be the geological state of our earth when the last plate shall be issued, and how many of the present living forms will then more fitly find a place in a paleontological record. As to the pro- dromus of the paleontology of Victoria, the last decade bears date 1st of September, 1881. Since that date many collectors of organic remains have been anxiously and patiently waiting for their description. It is much to be regretted that the able and learned professor, whose accurate knowledge none can doubt, is unable, from his numerous and important engagements, more frequently to issue these helpful and beautifully illustrated papers, for it can hardly be that the Government of so wealthy a colony grudges the sum required for their production. True students will, however, battle on with or without aid, and doubtless difficulties will only incite to noble effort. In this connection I cannot but mention the ‘“ Forest Flora ot South Australia,” by Mr. J. E. Brown, Conservator of Forests in that colony. The size and beauty of the plates will charm all the lovers of our native woodlands. Nor must we forget our own modest manual of the Club’s proceedings, ‘‘ The Victorian Naturalist,” of which our first volume has been published, and in which will be found many papers of interest—a baby yet among such like productions, but promising to grow bigger and stronger as members of the Club enrich its pages by their observations, and increase its circulation by their efforts. Passing from the literature of our subject, we come to collections of specimens alive or dead. The student of animal life can spend many pleasant hours in the zoological collection at the Royal Park, and if he has the good fortune to secure Mr. Le Souef as his guide, philosopher, and friend, his pleasure will be doubled. Whatever blame may possibly, and only possibly, rest on the shoulders of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria in respect to some of their introductions into the colony, nothing but praise can be awarded to them for the care and enterprise that has been shown in the collection and management of their gardens—gardens that will surely induce a love of natural history in the minds of young THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9 Victorians, but which also prove of great value to the student who wants to study the habits of beasts, birds, and reptiles. However skilful a taxidermist may be, he can never give to his skins the subtle and mysterious quiver of life, so that the student who wants to understand life and its history seeks to learn from living objects, and the gardens of the Acclimatisation Society meet a felt need. The wealth of our city in this direction has been added to by the opening of the aquarium in the Exhibition Building. It is true that at present but few species have been secured, and that whole classes of marine fauna, such as the Actinozoa, that make some of the tanks at Brighton, England, gay as tulip-beds, are conspicuous by their absence, yet enough has been done, and well done, to show what the possibilities are, and doubtless the management, which has made so good a beginning, will not rest till the icthyologist finds, not only something to amuse, but oppor- tunity for grave study. The names of the inhabitants are well and conveniently set out on the tanks ; but, for the sake of the many who have no knowledge at all of fish, it would be well, in cases where more than one species are in the same tank, to give a description, brief but clear, so as clearly to indicate which is which. It is amusing to listen for a little while at one of such tanks, and note the strange guesses made, and the stranger reasons given for the belief entertained. We have four museums, all of which demand attention, and render aid to the student of natural history, and should enable the collector to name most of his finds, and so to put him in the way of studyiug correctly life histories. In this way home collections will be more than pretty toys, and the aim of our club and the subject of our paper will begin to be realised—the domestication of natural science. Of our National Museum, for its large collection and the admir- able way in which the taxidermist has arranged many of the groups of birds and animals, we have a just right to be proud. Having visited many of the natural history museums both at home and on the Continent, our own, I ean safely say, in many respects, contrasts most favourably with these, in some, carries off the palm for excellency. But there is here yet much to be desired, and a deputation from our Club waited on the trustees of the Library and Museums for the purpose of pointing out to them some require. meuts. I may mention them here :— Ist. The first great need is more room. ‘Treasures are there, but they cannot be found. Entomolgy isa favourite department of science in this colony, and the collections of insects are numerous. Some enthusiast, proud of his gatherings, makes his way to the National Museum to identity his species. He looks, and often looks in vain. A few cases—many obsolete names—and yet the museum is rich 10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. in such gatherings, only they are stowed away. By the courtesy, indeed, of Mr. Kershaw they may be seen, but the many, I am afraid, do not know the amiability of our fellow-member. The same complaint may be made as to oology. It is believed there is a good oological collection somewhere, but where that somewhere is no ordinary visitor can find out. The Sawropsida of Australia form an interesting study, and our museum ought to contain a fairly complete series. But here, too, we look in vain. How beautifully reptilia may be preserved and mounted, and made, instead of repulsive, almost fit for drawing-room ornaments, visitors to the newly established museum at Adelaide can testify. Without further illustration, what is sorely needed at our National Museum is room—room for the arrangement especially of the fauna of Australia—that our museum may not be simply a lounging place for the nursemaids of Carlton, or a show for passing visitors, but a place where our students of nature can find the real helps they need. It has also been pointed out that in many cases the nomen- clature is antiquated, and in some cases inconsistent. 2nd. We ask that the overworked learned professor at the head of the museum should have yiven to him a staff of scientific assist- aunts. Our idea is that, under Professor M‘Coy, there should be a number of gentlemen, each one with the care of a department. We coul{ not expect such a list of world-known men as form the staff of the British Museum, nor would it be necessary. There are plenty of young scientists who would be willing to be working heads, and who, under the direction of the professor, would be able to collect, classify, arrange, name, and, in addition, be able—not to waste time by chatting with idle dilettant? or answering foolish questions—but to put enquirers into the way of finding solutions to their seekings. No one man can do or ought to try to do everything. Our colony is rich enough, and the students of nature are many enough, to warrant such an arrangement. It would be ungenerous to blame an overworked man, yet it is intolerable that specimens should, in the last two or three years (to my own knowledge), have over and over again been sent to Europe for identification ; of such specimens not a few proved new to science. We ought to be able in this colony, at any rate, to classify and name our own natural produc- tions. With increase of room and increase of men the other needs mentioned by our deputation to the museum trustees could easily be met. Our second museum is the technological one at the Public Library, of which little need be said; it is very useful, so far as it goes. The ethnographical department bids fair to be of much use to those who desire to study Polynesian races—a department that should be much increased by the acquisition of specimens of the dress, arms, iwplements, and works of art of the aboriginal people THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. I of Australia and Austral Polynesia. Many races seem doomed to extinction ; before it is too late let us preserve all we can that may tzach us and those who come after us what sort of men they were. The last born of our natural collections is the Economic Museum at the Exhibition Building. The danger of this new undertaking is that it should overlap on the one hand the Nationl, and, on the other, the Technological Museums. To a certain extent this has already been the case. Conchological and paleontological collections should certainly find no place there, that is if our museums are to be helps to study and not mere show places. To be valuable, collections should be complete. The authorities of our various institutions should work together in harmony and with common purpose. Public money should certainly not be spent in gathering a few specimens at the Exhibition Building of shells, or fossils, or the like, and even presentations of such should be handed in to the National Museum. MELBOURNE, Se (Established 1862), BRISTOL, ENGLAND, (Established 1762, Ae Oo aa Students Compound Achromatic Microscopes and Accessories tn Stock. Mathematical, Philosophical, Meterological, Nawtical, Optical, Surveying and Mining Instruments, Invporter, §e. The Metfords Theodolites and Level Combined The Improved: Dumping Leyels Ball Motion. ) Ie i ee | EEN Se ee ae y Hes fe 3 Vou. Ul. No. 2. June 1885. THE — —Mictorian Waturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE OF THE ‘Field WNaturalists’ Club of Victeria. he Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. Ow Bee SS: he ok : PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria ah 17 Succinet Notes on some Plants from New Guinea. By Baron Frerp. von Musume, K.C.M.G. his ae 18 Charles Darwin on Australia. By A. H. S. Lucas, M.A. 20. The Phanerogamous Plants of Studley Park, Kew, near Melbourne. By F. Reapger. ... ee sh en 24 & Notes, we oe eee me ic oh ay 28 a ee ~ PRICKH— SIXPENCE oe Z Emerald Dill; J. C, MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST. 1885, woos fa kee turalists’ sb af ‘islora, He OF PICE-BEARERS 1885- 86. = . Wresident : — ee Rev, J. J. HALLEY. ee 3) ite-49 residents : Me. T. A FORBES- -LEITH | Mz. AES. LUCAS, MLA. * Bon, Treasurer : on. Librarian : Mr. E. BAGE. — | ~ Ma. C. FRENOH. Hon. Secretary: Asst. Mon. Secretary: Mr. F. G. A. BARNARD, Mr. G. COGHILL. Kew. Committee : eee = | ; Mrs. DOBSON. - Mr. J. H. GATLIFF, ee » J. SIMSON. es BPR SE ise : ‘Mr. D. BEST. jo Ds ame S OU Ra ears a Mn. C. A. TOPP, M.A. | ios Tuis Cius was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers _ aes and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for & ; discussing those special subjects in ‘which they are mutually interested; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around tte Metropclis. No Entrance Fee, Annual Subscription, including copy ef proceedings a 15s., dating from May 1st. pate tree The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers, and exhibition of Ses ; specimens, with a short conversazione. are held on the second Monday in fo each month at the Royal Society’s Hall, Viztoria Street, Melbourne, at. 8 p.m. The proceeding es of the Club are recorded inits journal—the “ Victorian ay Naturalist.’ Annval Subscription, 6s. 6d.. post free (to members free). Sp The first Volume, comprising sixteen numbers, with title page and index, eee just completed. Priee—Hight shillings (post free). er THE Wictorian Maturalist: Mou. LH. JUNE 1885. No. bo THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue fifth annual meeting of this Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 11th May, 1885. The president, the Rev. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and about seventy members and visitors were present. Letters were read from Mr. Joseph Mack, Lismore; Mr. Jno. Box, Malvern; and Mr. M. Herdman, Experimental Farm, Cashel; in favor of the Club’s suggestions re Native Birds. The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following additions to the library:—‘“‘ Prodromus of Zoology of Victoria,” Decade X ; “« Bulletin of the Imperial Society of Naturalists, Moscow,” 1884 ; «Annual Report, Ballarat School of Mines,” 1884; ‘“ Annual Report, Bendigo School of Mines,” 1884; “Southern Science Record,” No. 4. The hon. see. reported that the monthly excursion held on the previous Saturday at Red Bluff was well attended, considering the threatening state of the weather, the most interesting item noted was the occurrence of the orchid Pterostylis vittata in bloom. The following were elected members of the Club—Miss Smith, Messrs Jno. Curtayne, H. W. Hunt, D. McAlpine, E. Nicolson, J. H. Sherrard, J. Sims, Wm. Strachan, Alex. Wilson, Jno. Wilson, Alfd. Wyatt, and Masters W. H. and G. E. Hill. Mr. F. R. Godfrey promised a paper on ‘“‘ Surface Shells” for a future meeting. ; Mr. D. Best, in accordance with notice, moved that the number of members of Committee be increased to seven, seconded by Mr. A. H. 8. Lucas, and carried. The hon. secretary read the annual report and balance sheet, whieh showed the Club to be in a flourishing condition. Amongst other suggestions made, was that of holding a wild flower show during the coming spring, which found much favor among those present. 18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. The following office-bearers were elected without opposition:— President, Rev. J. J. Halley, Vice-Presidents, Mr. T. A. Forbes- Leith and Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A.; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. E. Bage; Hon. Librarian, Mr. C. French; Hon. Secretary, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard; and Assistant Hon. Secretary, Mr. G. Coghill. The ballot for members of Committee resulted as follows— Mrs. Dobson, Mrs. J. Simson, Messrs D. Best, J. H. Gathif, G. R. Hill, D. LeSouef, and C. A. Topp, M.A. A vote of thanks to the retiring office-bearers was carried unanimously. Mr. C. A. Topp mentioned that two mosses recently found by Mr. Tisdall, of Walhalla, had proved to be new to science, and had been named after the finder and the locality respectively. The following were the principal exhibits:—By Mr. D. Best, a box of Fijian insects; by Mr. G. Coghill, orchids in bloom, Pterostylis vittata, and P. precox ; by Mr. P. Dattari, orchids in bloom, P. nana and P. scabrida, from Brighton, also Mexican ferns, Cheilanthes farinosa and Pteris nemoralis; by Mr. H. A. Dombrain, nests of weaver-bird, from Elephanta Island, also two snake-skins ; by Mr. C. French, exotic Coleoptera, section Cetonide ; by Master C. French, land shells; by Master R. Hall, Victorian birds’ eggs, and South Australian insects ; by Masters W. H. and G. E. Hill, each a case of moths collected since last meeting: by Mr. T. Hyland, eggs collected around Colac last season ; by Mr. H. Kennon, Nautilus Shells from Brighton, said by Professor MeCoy to be the most perfect specimens yet found ; by Mr. T. A. Forbes- Leith, podargus, P. strigoides, from N. W. Victoria, also from Yan Yean, boo-book owl, Stria ninox, from Werribee, and banded stilt, Cladorynchus pectoralis, from Murray River; by Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, silver-fish, having abnormal caudal fin, with bifid inferior lobe; by Mr. H. W. Milligan, three squirrels, and twenty species of birds from Lillydale; by Mr. F. Reader, plants from Studley Park, Asperifolee-Epacride@; by Mr. J. F. Roberts, new exotic orchid, Phalenopsis Robertsiana. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated, SUCCINCT NOTES ON SOME PLANTS FROM NEW GUINEA. ; By Baron Ferp. von Muetunr, K.C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S ( Continued.) Cycas Scratchleyana.—Leaves glabrous ; their segments charta- ceous, flat, rather broad, shining on both sides, hardly or not paler THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19 beneath, slightly decurrent at the gralually narrowel base; antheri- ferous seales rather large, almost chartaceous, broadly cuneate, glabrous above, tomentose beneath, truncate or but slightly convex in front, without any acumen, not even distinctly apiculated, the antheriferous area extending nearly to the summit, the narrow space above it more tomentose and sometimes thickened there towards the middle. On Mount Bedford, Jala-River, Dedouri-Country ; W. Armit. This species of fern-pine, though well marked, can in its charac- teristics here only as yet be defined very partially, mere fragments of leaves and some detached staminate scales only being available for examination. In leaflets it comes much nearer to C. circinalis and C. Rumphii, than to C. media and C. Papuana ; the leaflets attain about half an inch in width, and are less rigid than those of most other congeners. The male scales are 14-2 inches long, and near the summit about one inch broad ; all the specimens gathered of these scales are destitute of any puvgent prolongation, the usual acumen being perhaps replaced by the short repressed but not free turgescence underneath. This characteristic of the androphylls is quite unique in the genus. It is with particular pleasure, that I dedicate this new form of a very stately class of plants to the distinguished first ruler of British New Guinea, his Excellency General Scratchley. Mr. Armit’s sendings contain also the following plants as hitherto unrecorded from New Guinea :— Pittosporum ferrugineum ; Astrolabe-Range. Erythrina Indica ; base of Astrolabe-Range. Pholidota imbricata ; on Cycas-stems, Mount Astrolabe. Habenaria sp.; Astrolabe-Range. Iphigenia Indica ; Astrolabe-Range. Panicum plicatum ; Laloki-River. Panicum semialatum ; Astrolabe-Range. Panicum brevifolium ; Mt. Bedford. Lygodium scandens ; Jala-River. Trichomanes Javanicum ; Mount Bedford, up to 3600 feet. Trichomanes pallidum ; Lochiyaga, Jala-River. Cyathea sp. and Alsophila 2 sp.; Jala-River ; these or allied species of fern-trees have with some others been also found by Mr. Kidelfelt on Astrolabe-Range. TLaenitis blechnoides ; Mount Bedford up to 3600 feet; with the normal state also a diminutive form ip fruit. Lindsaya concinna ; Mount Bedford. Polypodium adnascens ; Laloke. Hypolepis sp.; Jala-River. Acrostichum spicatum ; Mount Bedford, 3600 ft. Also a tall moss, resembling Dawsonia superba, but without fruit. 20 THE VICLORIAN NATURALIST. The highly experienced Pteridographer, J. G. Baker, records in Britten’s ‘‘ Journal of Botany for 1885,” p. 19, Selaginella Wallichi from New Guinea, and at p. 46 Selaginella latifolia. Strange, as it may appear, Mr. Armit brought already Manzhot utilissima from remote places of New Guinea, where hardly any previous intercourse with Europeans took place. CHARLES DARWIN ON AUSTRALIA. By A. H. 8. Lucas, M.A. Read before the Field Club, 5th March, 1885. In that perhaps most interesting volume of travels ever written, Darwin’s “ Naturalist’s Voyage Round the World,” there is a chapter on Australia. In 1836, Darwin visited Port Jackson, Hobart Town and King George's Sound, spending 18, 10, and 8 days in their neighbourhoods respectively. The great naturalist had thus oppor- tunities of studying nature in New South Wales, in Tasmania, and in Western Australia. To Australian naturalists the im- pressions of the great thinker must be interesting; and I have thought that a critical study of this chapter may be not without value. Briefly then, Darwin may be said to have been terribly bored from the time when this land first rose before his eyes till it faded from their vision. The entrance to Port Jackson disappointed him. “Instead of beholding a verdant country interspersed with fine houses, a straight line of yellowish cliff brought to our minds the coast of Patagonia.” Even inside the harbour he notices “the thin scrubby trees, bespeaking the curse of sterility.” ‘‘ Proceeding further inland,” z.e., to the inmost shrine of Sydney Harbour, nuw looked upon as a very Bay of Naples, he coldly, says, “the country improves.” At Sydney itself his first feelings are those of intense admiration, of self-congratulation that he is an Englishman, but, “upon seeing more of the town afterwards, perhaps my admiration fell a little.’ It struck him, though Melbourne men may not agree with the observation, that the streets of Sydney “ are regular, broad, clean. and kept in excellent order.” After three days in Sydney, Darwin started for Bathurst. Speaking of the woodland as it appeared in January, he says freely, ‘T cannot imagine a more complete contrast, in every respect, than between the forests of Valdivia or Chiloe, and the woods of Australia.” This is a magnificent generalisation, it must be admitted, after a day’s ride through the open timber of the lowlands of New South Wales. To those who are now familiar with the tropical forests of Queensland and the grand high woods of our ranges, it may seem THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21 to be based on too slender a foundation. With quick eye he gathers together the general features of the vegetation, the vertically-placed leaves with consequent absence of shade and presence of grass, and the “desolate and untidy appearance of some Euealypts with bark hanging in long shreds and swinging about in the wind.” He then enters upon an argument on the relative beauty of evergreen and deciduous foliage. He considers that the appetite for the exquisite greenery of the Northern Spring compensates for having to gaze on “‘the land covered for so many months with mere naked skeletons of trees.’ The inhabitant of the Tropics gazes with sated eyes on uninterrupted gorgeousness. The rest of the argument is suppressed, but it would seem to have been an a fortiori. If the people in the Tropics are worse off than the English, how much more the people in this gum-clad Australia. Darwin could have known nothing personally of the outburst of beauty we too enjoy in Spring. In this up-country journey, Darwin met two parties of aborigines. He naturally comments on their already scant numbers, and discusses the causes of destruction. It is interesting to find him pondering over the mystery of infection in days long before the germ-theory of zymotie diseases had been broached. He comes to the conclusion that ‘the effluvium of one set of men shut up together for a time may be poisonous when inhaled by others, especially perhaps if of different races.” Contact alone, he indicates, may be enough to introduce most virulent disease in the weaker race, while the stronger does not even show symptoms of the disorder. He quotes Dr. Macculloch, who says, “it is asserted that on the arrival of a stranger (at St. Kilda), all the inhabitants in the common phraseology catch a cold.” And though Macculloch considers all this as ludicrous, Darwin thinks it impossible that such a belief, (found to exist also at Tahiti and the Chatham Islands), should have become universal without some good foundation. It would be, I think, a novel and a valuable application of our recently acquired knowledge, to consider the many strange results of the mere contact of different races in the past, in the light of the modern theories of germ-dispersion. Darwin is as hard on the scenery as on the capital of the sister colony. He says, “from so grand a title as Blue Mountains, and from their absolute altitude, I expected to have seen a bold chain of mountains crossing the country, but instead of this, a sloping plain presents merely an inconsiderable front to the lowland near the coast.” And “once on the sandstone platform, the scenery becomes exceedingly monotonous.” He is, however, able to find food for speculation in the great cliff-bordered valleys, almost as famous a geological puzzle as the parallel roads of Glenroy. Darwin assigns to them after much deliberation a marine origin. In fact, a Port Phillip—though of oy 2a THE VICTORIAN NAYVULALIST. course he had not se.n this—is a Weatherboard or Govett’s Leap , alley in process of formation: the waves of the inland harbour are wearing vertical cliffs as at Cheltenham say, and the currents carry out débris through the narrow heads. How far this is the view held by Sydney geologists I cannot say ; but the modern tendency is rather to call in the aid of subaerial denudation in the explanation of contour phenomena. Thus the Chalk and Limestone escarpments in England and France have long ceased to be considered as old lines of cliff. And the cirques of Norway and the Alps, great amphitheatrical valleys, apparently very similar to those of New South Wales, are respectively attributed by Amand Hellund and Prof. Bonney, to the action of glaciers and the action of multi- tudinous waterfalls. As traces of glacial action have been detected by Mr. Stirling in the Australian Alps, we may be on the look-out for evidences of more extensive erosion in the past. Darwin spent a short time at a station manned by some forty convicts, and comments on the awful convict atmosphere. He went for a day’s shooting, but had poor sport; no kangaroo, no wild-dog even, no emu; but the party secured a kangaroo rat by the aid of the dogs, ‘‘ an animal,” as he says, ‘‘as large as a rabbit, but with the figure of a kangaroo.” He did not see many birds, only “‘ some large flocks of white cockatoos feeding in a cornfield,” and a few most beautiful parrots, crows and maypies. In the evening he saw several Platypuses “along a chain of ponds, which in this dry country represented the course of a river.” On the ride to Bathurst, he experienced ‘“ the sirocco-like wind of Australia, which comes from the parched deserts of the interior.” This untoward experience may perhaps account for the caustic reflection which presently follows. ‘I was told at Sydney not to form too bad an opinion of Australia by judging of the country from the roadside, nor too good a one sa Bathurst; in this latter respect I did not feel myself in the least danger of being prejudiced.” Darwin’s views on the then state of society in New Sowa Wales, the condition of the convicts, and the attractions the country possessed for emigrants, are hardly matter for discussion here, though they are extremely interesting and fully as flatterimg as his observations on the country itself. On landing at Hobart, on 5th February, Darwin is as little pleased with the favourite summer resort of Australians of to-day as he is with the monotony of the Mainland. ‘Those who during the recent vacation, Premier or Primate or private individual, have found health and enjoyment amid the glorious scenery of the Lower Derwent, will be disappointed in the great Naturalist’s estimate of its beauties. He begins, ‘“‘Mount;Wellington is a mountain 3100 feet high, but of little picturesque beauty.” I need hardly say that the mountain is nowadays readily accessible, and the climb an easy THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23 one, when you drive half-way up, and find a carriage waiting for you when you have come half-way back again. But it was a severe excursion in Darwin’s time. He failed indeed in his first attempt, and only succeeded after much hard work in his second, for “the guide, a stupid fellow, conducted us to the southern and damp side of the mountain.” ‘The ascent on this side would be a big climb even to-day. He says nothing of the brilliant flowers or of the brightly-colored berries which at this time of year so abound on Mount Wellington, He has no word for the Organ-Pipes or the Ploughed Fields, really magnificient examples of Basaltic bedding and Basaltic weathering. At the very summit, he says again, the elevation is 3100 feet above sea level, whereas it reaches rather more than another thousand feet, #.¢., is about as high and as prominent as Vesuvius. He is indeed constrained to admit that ‘in many parts the Kucalypti composed a noble forest.” But the fronds of the tree-ferns, though elegant, “ produced a gloomy shade.” In noticing the Sandy Point travertin with fossil leaf impressions and land-shells, he makes a generalisation which, as uncalled for and refuted by facts since collected, calls for remark. He says, “It is not improbable that this one small quarry includes the only remaining record of the vegetation of Van Diemen’s Land during some former epoch.” ‘Tasmania was notoriously unexplored —nay is so at the present time to an extent one does not realize till one tries to work away from the alienated lands. However, already tertiary plant beds of similar age have been discovered by Mr. R. M. Johnston, at three places in the Tamar Basin, N. Esk, Stevenson's Bend and Breadalbane, and probably also by Mr. Charles Gould, at Macquarie Harbour. The last point of our continent Darwin touched at was King George’s Sound; “ we stayed there eight days,” he writes, “ and did ' not during our yoyage pass a more dull and uninteresting time.’’ Not even the corroboree of the White Cockatoo tribe could remove the ennui. He scoffs at the grasg trees, which are surely to a naturalist most curious varieties of the lily type, and which do not in any way affect to rival the palms with which they are of course ignominiously compared. Singularly enough, an old pupil of mine, also a young student from Christ's College with a Cambridge training in natural science, who on coming out made a stay at Albany, was much struck by the abundance of marine forms, sponges, &c., strewn upon the coast. The chapter closes with this formal adieu, ‘‘ Farewell, Australia! you are a rising child, and doubtless some day will reign a great princess in the South; but you are too great and too ambitious for affection, yet not great enough for respect. I leave your shores without sorrow or regret.” To Australian naturalists all this must be extremely disappointing. 4 THE VICTORIAN NALULALIST. Our fauna and flora are unique. They are probably the oldest in the world, and so furnish multitudes of facts most important in their bearing on all theories of evolution. In mere numbers the forms of life are imposing. Yet there is no enthusiasm in Darwin, on the contrary, only regret that he had spent so much time so drearily. It may be that Darwin was worn out by the hardships of the voyage when he reached Australia. It is well-known that the chronic suffering he endured go patiently in the course of his devoted life was probably attributable to his exertions and exposures during the long five years on the “‘ Beagle.” At all events, he seems to have found as much to charm him in the Cape Verde Islands or Patagonia, or almost the little cluster of the St. Paul’s rocks, as in the whole of Australia. Whatever was the cause of the spleen, Australian natural history has suffered—been hindered in its development probably for several years—by the publication of this chapter by the great authority. Had Darwin pointed out, on the contrary, what a field was here for observation and for work, we can only conjecture how much more rapil might have been the progress of Australian biology. We are somewhat sensitive to the accounts which travellers publish of our colonies. And it is to me, and I think will be to you, a sad reflection that perhaps the most rep:llent dessription of this strange southern land should have been penned by Charles Darwin, the most eminent naturalist of the century. THE PHANEROGAMOUS PLANTS OF STUDLEY PARK, KEW, NEAR MELBOURNE. By F. Reaper. Read before the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, Jan. 12, 1885. (Parr IT.) Order. Elatinee Cambessédes. Properties.—Unknown. Elatine, L. Etym. Alluding to some fancied resemblance of the foliage with that of the Silver-fir, which latter is mentioned as Elate in the * Odyssee.” V.N. Water-Wort. E. Americana, Arnott. American Water-Wort. Flowers Noy., December. Distributed Tasmania, N. Zealand, India, South and North America. Order Hypericine, I. de St. Hilaire. Properties.—Drastic purgative, astringent and aromatic tonics. Resinous. The leaves are mostly marked with pellucid dots. Hypericum, Tournef. Etym. From the greek umepexor, (hypericon), of Dioscorides. V.N. St. John’s-Wort. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 25 H. Japonicum, Thunbe'g. Flowers Sept. to April. Distributed Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and the hilly country of India. Order, Linee, D.C. Properties.—Mucilaginous, oily and diuretic. The Seeds are occasionally purgative. The stem contains the fibre, which con- stitute flax Linum, Tournef. Etym. From the root lin, a thread, the parent of many words in Latin, English and French. L. marginale, All Cunningh. Native Flax. Flowers Sept. to May. Distributed Tasinania. Introduced in New Zealand. Order, Geraniacee, A. L. de Jussien. Properties.—Often astringent, aromatic, and abound in volatile oil. Oxalis abounds in oxalic acid, others have eatable tubers. The root of Geranium maculatum is powerfully astringent. It contains Tannin. G. Robertianum is a remedy in nephritic complaints. The so-called garden Geraniums are VPelargontw, haying zygomorphie flowers, a spurred sepal, perigynous petals, no glands, and few declinate stamens. Pelargonium, L’Heritier. Htym. From the shape of the fruit resembling a stork’s bill. P. australe, Willdenow. Wild Geranium. Flowers':October to February. Distributed Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa, and Tristan d’Acunha. Uses.—A lotion of bruised leaves of this plant is useful for burns and scalds. P. Rodneyanum, Mitchell. Apparently but a large flowered variety of the preceding. Distributed. Confined to Australia. Erodium, L’Heritier. Etym. From the greek épwdioc (erodios), a heron, the fruit resembling somewhat the beak of that bird. Vern. name, Stork’s Bill. E. cicutarium, L’Heéritier, Flowers nearly all the year round. Naturalized. Distributed Europe, North Africa, Siberia, West Asia to North West India. Geranium, Tournefort. Etym. In allusion to the fruit, bearing a slight resemblance to a crane’s bill. Vern. name, Crane’s Bill. G. dissectum, L. Flowers nearly all the year round. Almost universally distributed. The species is subject to great variation. Oxalis, L. Hiym. From ofve (oxus), sharp, acid, Vern. name, Wood Sorrel. Uses.—The genus Oxalis contains binoxalate of potash, prepared by the evaporation of the juice. The salt is the Sal acetosella of 26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Pharmacists, a capital chemical for removing ink stains. On the continent itis made use of as a refrigerant, in very small doses, and is reputed to be effective in some inflammatory conditions of mucous membranes. O. corniculata. L. Flowers all the year round. Distributed, Cosmopolite, except in very cold regions. It is considered to have taken its origin in America. Like the preceding species, very variable. Uses.—May be advantageously employed as a refrigerant, diuretic and deobstruent. O. grandiflora, Jacquin. Flowers May to September. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. Probably escaped from the gardens and a pretty addition to our indigenous Flora. Order Malvacew, Adanson. Properties.—Mucilaginous, especially the seeds. The stems and roots yield textiles. The Marshmallow, Althea officinalis, L., is taken as a demulcent It is more extensively used on the continent than in England, Uéhkra, Okro, Okra, Bendi- Kai, the fruit of Hibiseus esculentus, L., is used in tropical countries as a demulcent, or a8 an emollient poultice. Malva, L. Etym. From pydayn (malache), soft. alluding to the emollient properties. Vern. name, Mallow. M. rotundifolia, L, Flowers September to April. An Alien. Distributed Europe, North Africa, Siberia, West Asia to India, introduced in United States. Uses.—Formerly employed in dysentery, ischuria, nephrites, and strangury. The leaves and also the flowers may be utilized for poultices in abscesses, inflammation, as also for gargles, clysters, &c., combined with other remedies. Modiola, Menth. Etym. From modiolus, nave of a wheel, in reference to the position of the carpels. Some authors derive the name from the Roman measure, modiolus, referring to the depressed fruit M. multifida, Munch. Flowers October to May. Introduced from North America. Plagianthus, R. and P. Forsier. tym. Alluding to the oblique petals. P. pulchellus, A. Gray. Vern. name, Hemp Bush. Flowers September, October. Distributed Tasmania. Order, Euphorbiacew, A. L. DeJuss. Properties.—Acrid, often milky. Too numerous to specify. Cascarilla bark a tonic from Croton Eluteria, Bennett ; Croton Seeds from Croton Tiglium, L., yield the Croton Oil, a powerful cathartic and externally a rubefacient ; Castor Oil seeds, Recinus communis, L., yield Castor Oil, well-known as a mild and safe purgative. Kamala. the ruby-like glands of the fruit or capsules of Rottlera THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ZA tinctoria, Roxb., adminstered for the expulsion of Tape-worm, also as an external application in Herpes circinnatus. In India it is employed for dyeing silk a rich orange-brown. Huphorbcum, from Euphorbia resinifera, Berg, formerly employed as an emetic and purgative ; itis an ingredient of a paint for the preservation of ships’ bottoms. Croton tinctorum yields Tournsol, a valuable dye, but is highly acrid and drastic. Cassava, or Mandioc, or Tapioca, from the stem of gatropha Manihot, a poisonous plant, but is purified by washing and torrefaction. Many are poisonous, as Manchineel, Hyananche, Sapium aucuparium, &c. Poranthera, Rudge. tym. Alluding to the manner in which the anthers open. P. microphylla, Brongn. Flowers August to December. Distri- buted Tasmania. Euphorbia L. Etym. From Euphorbos, physician to Juba, King of Mauritania, who brought the plant into use. Originally applied to a cactus-like species of North Africa. Vern. name, Spurge. HH. Peplus £L. Flowers September to January. Distributed Kurope, North Africa, Siberia, W. Asia to N. W. India. Introduced in North America. Uses.—formerly employed as a purgative. Order, Urticacee, Ventenat Properties,—The inner bark affords a valuable tenacious fibre. in Scotland young tops of nettles are boiled and eaten by the poorer people. Urtica Tournef. Etym. From uro, alluding to the burning pain of the stings. The English name, nettle, is the same word as the Anglo-Saxon netel or noedel, a needle, and was similarly applied. Vern. name, nettle. The séeds serve to fatten fowls. U. wrens, L. Flowers September to January. Introduced. Dis- tributed. By emigration almost universally represented. Uses.—The herb may be employed in spitting of blood, Hemorrhoids, Jaundice. Formerly, paralized limbs were lashed with fresh nettles in order to produce through the burning juice a peculiar eruption. The fresh expressed juice may be used as a deobstruent and diuretic. The irritant effect produced is said to be owing to the presence of free formic acid, Order, Casuarinee, Mirbel. Properties—Valuable for their wood. Contains a crystalline substance similar to bicitrate of lime. Casuarina, Rumphius. Etym. C. quadrivalvis, Lab., Syn., C. stricta, Aiton. She-Oak. Adapted for avenues. Distributed, Tasmania. C. distyla, Ventenat. Stunted She-Oak. Distributed Tasmania 28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Uses.—Valuable for fixing drift sand. C. suberosa, Otto & Dietrich, He-Oak, Swamp or Marsh-Oak. Distributed Tasmania. The flowering time of the casuarimez requires further observation. Erratum.—On Page 186 of Vol. I., the heading Droseracee should pre- cede the paragraph which it follows. NOTES. NOTE BY T. A. FORBES-LEITH CONCERNING HIS PAPER ON THE PETREL FAMILY. In the latter part of the paper I read before the Club in March last, on the Petrel family, I mentioned that when rounding Cape Horn in the barque ‘“‘ Surge,” we were driven far beyond 60° south, and got in amongst the ice, and that on the 12th of August, 1853, I discovered and shot some specimens of what I believed to be a bird new to science, viz., a snow-white petrel, about the size of a pigeon, with pink eyes, and that I had never seen it since in any museum or private collection. But I omitted to mention that I had once heard of it, nearly 25 years after, when the captain of the ship ““George Thompson,” gave me a picture of his ship in a most perilous position in icebergs ; which happened some years before, when the said ship was driven far to the southard, and hemmed in by gigantic icebergs (some over 500 feet high) for over a week, and all hope of being saved givea up. In the foot note it says, “here thousands of pure white petrel were seen.” I believe if the proposed expedition towards the South Pole for scientific research takes place, when the ice is reached my snow- white Petrel will again be seen, and my description of it be found pretty accurate. ASTRORHIZA ANGULOSA, (Brady.) Tus is the name of a Foraminifer which was taken in dredging on the east of Azores, at a thousand :fathoms, by the ‘“‘ Challenger” expedition; a single specimen was also taken by the “ Porcupine” expedition. It has recently been found by Mr. H. Watts, a member of F. N. Club, in miocene deposits at Waurn ponds. It is stated that this is the first time that this foraminifer has been found in a fossil condition. POPOS SOPOPPOSCOCOCPIOOSESOSS SOLE AGENTS FOR VICTORIA— ALEX. JOSKE. & coe 16 Litile Collins Street East. Wn. S. HUSBANDS, Brerscri aes oericray QUEEN STREET, | > eae ee Sr (Established 1862), mS . BRISTOL, ENGLAND, (Established 1762.) ase soso ge | Students Compound Achromatic Reese ae Accessories tn Stock. weed i athenatical Philosophical, Meterological, Wouter Optical, Surveying and Mining Instruments, | Importer, §ce. — Sane ‘The - Metfords Theodolites: and Level Combit The a Dumping - 2 ai Ball Motion. Vou. ag No, 3. ee dee 1885, | Micterian Peaturaliedt: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE OF THE Field Naturalists’ Ciub of Wictoria. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and ; opinions he records. GIN oe NaS 5 : / , PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria Wes 29 Excursion of the Field Naturalists’ Club... ime ses 81 The Queen’s Birthday Excursion to Lilydale. The Phanerogamous Plants of Studley Park, Kew, near Melbourne. By FE. Reaper. ... ss wee “3 36 Notes. ae re seh ee as Be Bh 40 - PRICH — SIXPENCE ne ——. Sonth Melbourne: J. ©, MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST, 1885, 4 S3restvent : Rey. J. J: HALLEY. PiceAsresivents : ee Mn, T.'A. FORGSS-LEIVA | Ma, A. H. 8. LUCAS, MA. = Hon, Creagurer : Bon, Litvartan: "ee Ms. E, BAGH, = | Me. C, FRENOH, PLS. =)" «Bow, Secretary : Asst, Mon. Secretary: Mr. F, G. A. BARNARD, Mr. G. COGHILL. Kew. : Sommitte = Mrs. DOBSON. | Mr. J. H. GATLIBE, » J. SIMSON. Mr. D. BEST. Gr Ribas , D. eSOUEF Mr. C A; TOPP. M.A. se See THis Crus was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular aud frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; 3 and for promoting Observations mm the — Field by means of Hxcursions to various collecting grounds around tie Metropolis. No Entrance Fee, Annual Subscription, including copy of proceedings 1ds., dating from May 1st. The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers. and exhibition of specimens, With a short conversazioné.are held on the second Monday in each month at the Royal Society’s Hall, Victoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. The pr oceedings of the Club ave recorded in its journal—the “ Victorian ~ Naturalist.” Annual Subscription, 6s..6d., post free (to, members free). The first Volume, comprising sixteen numbers, with title page and index, just completed. Price—Seven Shillings and Sixpence (post { free). men as THE Wictorian BHaturalizst: Vou II., No. 8. JULY 1885. No 19. ~ THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Wednesday evening, 10th June, 1885. The president, the Rev. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and about eighty members and visitors were present. - Among the visitors was Dr. J. E. Taylor, F.G.S., who was received most cordially, and on being introduced to the meeting by the president, briefly thanked the members for the reception given him, and in the course of a few remarks on the characteristics of the Australian fauna and flora, pointed out the peculiar oppor- tunities Australian naturalists’ had for finding ‘‘ missing links” Correspondence was read from Mr. I. Batey, Sunbury; Mr. S. S. Crispo, Dromana; and others, mainly in support of the Club’s proposal re Protection of Native Birds. The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following additions to the library:—* Proceedings of the Linnean Society, New South Wales,” Volume X. Part I., from the society; ‘‘ Journal of the New York Microscopical Society” Nos. 2 and 3, from the society; “«Midland Naturalist,” Vols. 1, 2, 8 and 4, from Mr. W. M. Bale; “ Proceedings of Ornithological Society of Vienna,” from the society. The hon. secretary reported that the excursion to Lilydale, on the Queen’s Birthday, 25th May, was well attended, about twenty- five members and friends being present, Specimens in several departments were rather scarce, but fungi were most abundant, about 100 species being noted. Several good fossils were also obtained at the lime-stones quarries. The following were elected members of the Club:—Miss Glenross, Mrs. Gunst, Messrs F. E. Hill, 8. Lamble, A. Miller, Chas. Officer, jun., William Officer, J. D. Pinnock, D. Strong, and Robert Watson. 30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. The general business consisted of the consideration of Mr. A. J. Campbell's motion in favor of the protection of native birds. A reply was read from the Zoological Society, which recommended that the bee-eaters, wood-swallows, Banksian and Gang Gang Cockatoos should also be included in the list of protected birds. Dr. Dobson thought the list was too long, and that the club would be more likely to be successful if the number of birds to be protected were curtailed, and on his amendment being carried, the list was again referred to the sub-committee, with a view of getting it shortened. Papers read—1. Mr. A. H. 8. Lucas, M.A., read the second part of the paper by Mr. J. B. Gregory and himself, on ‘‘ An Overland Trip to Wilson’s Promontory,” giving an interesting account of the natural history of the granitic or southern portion of the promontory. He stated that the locality is well worthy of a visit by students of geology, and of nearly every branch of biology, and in the course of a few years would doubtless become a favorite spot with tourists. He characterized the promontory as the Cornwall of Victoria. 2. Mr. C. French, F.L.S., contributed the seventh part of his paper on “The Orchids of Victoria,” in which he described the following species:—Microtis porrifolia, M. parviflora, M. atraea Corysanthes pruinosa, Pterostylis cucullata, P. furcata, P. reflexa, P. precox, P. curta, P. nutans; dried specimens of each of which he exhibited. A short discussion ensued in which Dr. Taylor spoke on the irritability of the labellum in the genus Péerostylis, as concerned in the fertilisation of the plants by insects. Mr. C. A. Topp, and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard remarked that though they had carefully observed these flowers, they had never yet noticed any insects about them, Natural history notes—Mr. C. French, F.L.S., contributed a few remarks and exhibited specimens of the larve, ete., of a lepidopterous insect, allied to Yortricina, which has _ recently done much damage amongst cabbage and cauliflower plants. Mr. D. McAlpine spoke of the great importance of studying the economic entomology of the colony. The following were the principal exhibits:—By Mr. If, Bage, colored plates illustrating ‘“ Select Flowers and Fruits of Jaya” by Madame van Nooten; by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, Victorian coleoptera, living ferns Gleichenia circinata, and Schizea dichotoma; by Miss Campbell, fern new to Victoria, Polypodium phymatodes, from Kast Gippsland, eight dried Victorian ferns including Botrychium ternatum, B. lunarta, Asplencwm nidus, A. flaccidum, Polypodium phymatodes, and P. serpens, new lichens Usnea retipora (Knight) Victoria, and Parmelia Campbellii, (knight) New South Wales, also rough drawings of fungi obtained during Lilydale exeursion; by Mr. A. J. Campbell, twenty species of rare Australian bird eggs; THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ol by Mr. G. Coghill, orchids in bloom, Pterostylis precox, P. nutans and P. concinna; by Mr. A. Coles a very fine Ornithorhynchus tweuty-three inches long, also Victorian game birds; by Rev. A. W. Oresswell, fossils from Lilydale; by Mr. J. E. Dixon, older pliocene fossils from Cheltenham; by Mr. C. French F.L.S., exotic coleoptera, family Cetonide, orchids in illustration of paper, and cabbage moth in various stages; by Master C. French, fossils from Cheltenham; by Mr. J. H. Gatliff, Victorian shells, eighteen species of family Veneride; viz.. Rupellaria (3 sp.), Tapes (1), Venus (6), Oytherea (4), Meroe (1), and Dosinia (2); by Rev. J. J. Halley, specimens of limestone from the Great Pyramid; by Miss Halley, nests of weaver bird, India; by Masters Hill, Victorian lepidoptera; by Mr. H. W. Hunt, Victorian birds’ eggs; by Mr. H. Kennon sea-gulls (living) from Warrnambool; by Mr. W. Kershaw, Australian lepidoptera; by Mr. T. A. Forbes- Leith, eighty-four Victorian birds representing thirty families; by Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., Victorian Asteridg, and plants and shells from Wilson’s Promontory in illustration of paper; by Mr. D. McAlpine, frog in first stage of new process of dry preservation ; by Mr. F. Reader, plants from Studley Park, (Condfere to Amaryllide); by Mrs J. Simson, painting on cobwebfrom Innspruck, and picture in colored sand from Isle of Wight; by Miss Mary Simson, a flying mouse from Langi Kal Kal, Victoria; by Mr. A. Thie, English Ammonites; by Mr. H. Watts, a number of objects under the microscope. After the usual coversazione the meeting terminated. EXCURSION OF THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB. ‘Tae last excursion prior to the annual meeting of this Club took place on Saturday, May 9th, under the leadership of Mr. C. French, the locality chosen being as stated in the annual report, Brighton, because of its convenience and correspondingly superior resources, which in the short autumnal days and the little time a+ the disposal of members leaving by the 2 p.m. train, is of great consideration. Briefly then, the members left Melbourne by the 2 p.m. train, and on its arrival at Brighton, it was found that uotwithstanding the threatening appearance of the weather, there was a fair attendance, including two lady members of the Club. To save time in walking, a conveyance was in readiness, and drove the party to within a few hundred yards of the Red Bluff Hotel, when a start was made inland. Plants in bloom were but few, although we soon came across a patch of damp, heathy country, in which grew quantities of the plants usually to be found in the district. Pterostylis aphylla, and 4 34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Erviochilus fimbriatus, were here in considerable numbers, and were secured for the purpose of either cultivation or herbaria. Proceeding onwards towards the hills, we find our old favorite Styphelia humifusa, in full bloom, its beautiful crimson tubular-shaped flowers rendering it a general favorite. Several specimens of the Prasophyllum found on last trip were also seen, and as this small species may not be either P. archeri, or P. intricatum, a sharp look-out in the early part of April next, should be kept. As we steer towards the flat or swamp known to old colonists as the Hawk’s nest, we pass numerous specimens in flower of Monotoca scoparia, and Epacris impressa, which by the way reminds us that it was only about two miles from this spot, where was found the first specimen known of the beautiful ‘‘ double white” variety of this species, and which now is, or was, in the collection of Mr. Scott, of the Royal Nursery, Hawthorn. Birds hereabouts are few, although we were informed that there were quail to be found not far from us, and a few specimens of the Honey-eaters, Meliphagide, some little Wrens, and a bronze-winged Pigeon, were about the only ‘land birds” seen. As the afternoon wore on, and we were apxious to do what we could, after collecting a few specimens of the common but very curious lichen, Cladonia retipora, which was in fine fruit, and three specimens of Pterostylis nana, (the only ones seen during the trip,) we steer a bee-line for the coast, collecting on our way bouquets of wild flowers, as Epacris, Styphelia, Banksia, Acacia suaveolens, which together with the curious bronzy-coloured Restzaceous Hypolena fastigiata, made a very pretty bunch, in which the Correas and Hibbertias were prominent. The belt of scrub being reached, a search was made for the early orchids, and very soon was found Pterostylis vittata, and Acianthus easertus, The Jungermannie were seen, but as it is too early for fruiting specimens, they were passed, or left for a future occasion. To those interested in spiders, it may be mentioned that a very fair collection might be made in the district, and some of these species are very handsome. As it was now getting dusk a start was made for the Red Bluff Hotel, and although barely able to distinguish one plant from another, several pretty mosses and huge Polypori were seen, in company with numerous other fungi. A specimen of Lastopetalum Bauert, now somewhat rare about Melbourne, was here found growing just above high water mark, near which were specimens of Lobelia anceps, Salicornia, Aster, and other sea coast plants. On reaching the hotel, the conveyance being in waiting, the railway station was reached in good time, and thus a very pleasant afternoon had been passed, It is to be hoped that during the present year of the Club’s existence, these excursions will be better attended as much may be gained thereby physically as well as intellectually. Melbourne was reached at about seven o’clock. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 33 THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY EXCURSION. TO LILYDALE. Taxine advantage of the holiday on Monday, 25th May, a Club excursion was arranged for that day, and after some little discussion at the previous monthly meeting, it was decided to visit Lilydale, as being perhaps the most promising locality at that season of the year. Accordingly at 6.15 a.m., about sixteen members of the Club, including two or three ladies, met at the Prince’s Bridge station, and leaving town a few minutes after, in due course arrived at Lilydale. Several more members were picked up at the suburban stations, and at Lilydale three others appeared, who had gone up on _ the Saturday and Sunday, making altogether a party of about twenty- five. On arrival at Lilydale, it was decided to explore the valley of the Olinda Creek as being the most likely direction to reward the trouble of such early rising. Two parties were now formed, those intent on shooting going on first, the arrangement being made to unite again at a pretty spot on the creek known to the leaders. The rest of the party, consisting principally of botanists and entomologists, after despatching a late breakfast at Lithgow’s, started off towards the creek, keeping in a south-easterly direction, and were soon in scrubby country. The entomologists turned over logs and stripped the bark off trees in vain, nothing of any interest being obtained; flowering plants were also very scarce, but fungi were most abundant, and our mycologist had almost as much as she could do in collecting specimens, or packing away those brought to her by other members of the party. On the way several species of ferns were secured by those wanting them, a fine patch of Gletchenia circinata, being quite despoiled of its starry fronds for making ‘‘bird’s nests.” The sportsmen were now met, but with almost empty bags. For some unaccountable reason, the valley, usually a good collecting ground, was almost devoid of bird life. The only birds seen during the trip being the frontal shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus), yellow robin (Hopsaliria Australis), Tasmanian honey-eater (Meliorms Austracasiana), spine-billed honey-eater (Acantho- rhynchus tenuirosiris), gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon galeatum), and Pennant’s parrakeet (Platycercus Pennantiz.) A cutting at a bend of the creek was now reached, the damp sides of which were clothed with young seedling ferns of different varieties, in many stages of growth, also several beautiful species of fungi. A short distance a-head the camp fire was seen, and on reaching the spot a halt was made, and the luncheon baskets relieved of some of their good things. One of the members having offered his services as cook, tea was soon manufactured in the orthodox Australian style, and a vegetable beef-steak (Fistulina 34 THE VICTQRIAN NATURALIST. hepatica) cooked. However this latter proved uneatable, being too old. Near here some splendid specimens of the larger star-fern (G. flabellata) were obtained, and a log over the creek was found covered with the delicate little Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense. About fifteen™other species of ferns were seen during the excursion, but none of them were particularly rare. After luncheon, the party guided by two members who had been over fhe same ground on the previous day, rambled towards the ranges, on the way obtaining the only orchid found in bloom, Pterostylis parviflora. A little further on the foot-hills were reached. Here the native heath (EHpacris impressu,) principally the pink and crimson varieties, was found in great abundance, and large bunches were gathered for home decoration. A little higher up Grevillea sp. was found in flower. The road leads up on to the top of the range affording several pretty views on the way, and crossing one or two fern gullies. At the back of the range many splendid fern gullies exist, which would repay a search at some future time. In one of these visited on the previous day by the members before referred to, several small specimens of the pretty fern Osmunda barbara were obtained, and a delicate little blue fungus Agaricus (Leptoma) sp. A return was now made, a single specimen of Comesperma ericinum, being noted in flower. Another short halt was made at the creek, after which a different route to that of the morning was taken over the hills towards Lilydale. On the way several plants of orchids, probably Pterostylis curta were seen, also some large fungi, Agariews sp., which were pronounced edible by our mycologist. After a pleasant ramble Lilydale was reached in ample time to allow of a short stoppage for open air tea, before wending our way to the train. As fungi were the most numerous of the specimens collected, a more detailed list of the species by Miss Campbell may prove interesting. There were over thirty-five Agarics found, these include many edible kinds as well as the common mushroom, the white lady, and the beautiful Cantharellus; gay coloured ones, as the bright red, yellow, and green Russulas, the luminous Panus incandescens, the dainty little gray Agaric, smelling as sweet and strong as violets, the delicate Xerotus, the fast fading Caprinus, tiny exquisite blue Agaric (Leptoma) of Mr. Tisdall’s paper, some whose acrid taste, gave warning of poison, and a large bright violet-coloured Agarie which is edible; the three Boleti did not look or smell so tempting as usual. About ten Polyport, of these P. Cinnabarinus attracting most attention, with ‘its bright red colour; the specimens of Fistulina hepatica, the celebrated beef-steak fungus were too old to be eaten; a purple Trametes; two Hydnums one jelly-like, pale lavender spines, very good eating; three Stereums, one for its elegant form and pretty THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35 markings continually picked up; the small bright yellow, jelly-like Guepinia Spaitularia, was plentiful; many species of Clavaria were plentiful, C. botrytis, C. aurea, etc.; a white jelly-like Tremelia which can be eaten when fresh; the net puff ball, Tleodictyon gracile which is eaten by the New Zealanders; common puff bali, Lycoperdon gemmatum; two bright red and a yellow cup-like Peziza; Leotia lubrica had the most peculiar appearance of any found, bright yellow, semi-transparent stipe, brownish yellow pileus; an uncommon Hypoxylon; also very many micro-fungi brought the number up close to a hundred distinct species for the day. The two members out on the previous day, found a fine patch of the ordinary mushroom, Agaricus campestris, one of which was quite six inches in diameter, growing on a roadside. The geologist of the party, the Rev. A. W. Cresswell, who spent the day at the Cave Hill limestone quarries, furnishes the following account of his experiences:— Went to the limestone quarries, about half a mile S.H. of Lilydale; being only in search of fossils this time, did not make accurate stratigraphical observations. The quarry, however, is well known to be in a limestone, granular, crystalline, marble formation, about 100 feet thick, interstratified with the upper Silurian rocks, (sandstones, schists, &c.,) of the district. It is not thought to be very persistent or to extend any great distance along its strike (which is nearly meridional as usual with the Silurian,) but is believed to be more or less lenticular and to thin out at no great distance north and south. ‘The prevailing colour is cream-coloured, but some of the strata are of a ferruginous red and others of a bluish grey. The dip is about 45 degrees east, but exact statigraphical details will be found in the Geological Survey Report for 1855-56. I had never seen any fossils in it before, except afew Favosites (Millipore corals) here and there where the surface is weathered, but this last time succeeded in getting the following fossils, viz.:—Several specimens of a sub-genus of Turbo, one of them being as large as a good sized recent Turbo undulatus. The form appears to me to be close to Euchelus, there being no umbilicus or the columella showing trace of being toothed, it is very like our common recent Huchelus canaliculatus, but has finer and more numerous lire. The nearest shell toit in Murchison’s “ Siluria” appears to be Cyclonema coralliz of the Upper Ludlow, with which it is perhaps identical. Several specimens of Murchisonia apparently corresponding to M. corallit of the Upper Ludlow as figured in Murchison’s “Siluria.” A Bellerophon, which I do not know the specific name of, and will have to show to Prof. McCoy for exact identification; and several specimens of the common Upper Silurian species of Favosites called Favosites aspera, (one of which is sent herewith); a single joint of Crinoid stem, probably an Actinocrinus. A mammillary stalactite 36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. from the roof of a cavern leading into the quarry was also obtained. It should be mentioned that microscopic sections of this marble show a partly brecciated and partly oolitic structure. THE PHANEROGAMOUS PLANTS OF STUDLEY PARK, KEW, NEAR MELBOURNE. By F. Reaper. Read before the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, Feb. 10, 1885. (Parr [II.) Order, Sapindacee, A. L. de Jussien. Properties.— Various. Root of Cardiospermum Halicacabum is aperient, Sapindus Saponaria yields a detersive and acrid fruit, containing Saponin. The tincture of the berries employed in chlorosis. American Acer species yield maple sugar. Guarana, from the seeds of Pawllinia sorbilis, Mart, the Braz. Cocoa, contains a large amount of Guaranine, an active, bitter principle, said to be identical with Caffeine. Guarana is employed in nervous headache, Dodonea, L. Etym. Named in honor of Dodoneus, a celebrated physician and botanist at the time of the emperors, Maximilian II. and Rudolph IT. D. wscosa, L. Syn. D. viscosa, var. vulgaris, Benth. Vern., name, Switch Sorrel. Flowers March. Distributed New Zealand and Tasmania. In New Zealand it is called Akerautang., ake, and the wood is used for native clubs. Order, Portulacee, A. L. de Jussien. Properties.—Purslane, Portulaca oleracea L, and others are em- ployed as esculents. Claytonia, Gronovius. Htym. In honor of Dr. T. Clayton, a Kentish physician and botanist. C. calyptrata, F. von Mueller. Flowers September to December. Distributed Tasmania. Order, Caryophyllee. Scopolt. Properties—Unimportant. Silene Virginica is said to have an anthelmintic root. Saponaria officinalis, and Gypsophila Struthium were formerly used as aperients in skin diseases; they contain Saponin. Lychnis, Githago, Lam., the Corn Cockle, now introduced with cereals around Melbourne, also contains Saponin in the seeds and Agrostermmin. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. By7 Spergularia, Persoon. Etym. The diminutive of Spergula, from Spargo, alluding to the seeds being widely scattered. S. rubra, Camb. Vern. name, Sand-wort, Spurrey. Flowers September to January. Distributed. Except the Arctic and Tropic zones extends to nearly all countries. Stellaria, L. Etym. from stella, indicating the star-shaped spreading of the corolla. Vern. name, Star-wort, Stitch-wort. S. pungens, Brongn. Flowers September to December, Distributed Tasmania. S. media, Villars, Chiekweed. Flowers nearly all the year round. Distributed, through cultivation dispersed over nearly all temperate and arctic regions. Naturalized. Uses.—Formerly in repute for Phthisis, dysentery, hemorrhage and diseases of the skin, &c. Poultry and small birds are fond of the whole plant, especially the seeds. Cerastium, L. EHtym. From the Greek cépac (keras), alluding to the curved capsules of some species. Vern. name, Mouse-Har Chickweed. €. glomeratum, Thuellier. Syn., C.vulgatum, L. Flowers nearly all the year round. Analien. Distributed all temperate and cold regions. Spergula L. Etym. From spargo, in allusion to the scattering of its seeds. Vern., name, Spurrey. S. arvensis, L Corn or Field Spurrey. Flowers September to March. An alien. Distributed Arctic Europe, North Africa, West Asia, to North West India. Introduced in North America. Uses.—Cattle are fond of this plant. Polycarpon, L. Htym From the Greek, zo4uc (polus) and kapros (karpos), in allusion to the abundant capsules. Vern. name All seed. P. tetraphyllum, L. Flowers November to March. Distributed. Almost universally dispersed within the warm and temperate Zone. Silene, L. Etym. From the Greek eéadoy (sialon), saliva alluding to the viscidity of many species. S. gallica, L. Flowers September to January. An alien. Distributed. Represented in most cultivated regions. There is a variety the Silene quinquevulnera, L., with petals entire and spotted with red. Frequently growing with S. gallica. S. pendula, L. Flowers October, November. Probably escaped from the gardens. Native of Sicily. 58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Order Amarantacee, A. L de Jussien. Properties—Unimportant. On account of their often richly coloured flowers mostly cultivated as pot herbs, &c.. Alternanthera, Forske!. Htym. Alluding to the fertile stamens alternating usually with antherless filaments, A. triandra, Lamarck., Syn., A. sessilis, Br. A. denticulata, A. Cunn. Flowers January to June. Distributed Warmer regions of Asia and America, Africa, Tasmania and New Zealand. Variable. Order, Salsolacee, L. Properties.—Various. Chenopodium Quinoa is widely used as an article of food in Peru. Ch. anthelminticwm yields Wormseed Oil, an effective vermifuge. Spinach, Beet and others are esculents. Salsola and Salicornia furnish Carbonate of Soda, From Beet- roots, a fine sugar is extensively manufactured. Chenopodium olidum and baryosmon act as foetid emmenagogues. Ch. ambrosioides is an aromatic expectorant, &c. Many are known as pot herbs. Rhagodia, R. Br. Etym. From rhax, berry, alluding to the numerous berry-like fruits. Vern. name, Red or Sea-berry. R. nutans, R. Br. Flowers November to January. Distributed Tasmania. Chenopodium Tournef. Etym. From the greek, yi, xnvoe, (chen, chenos,) goose, and zove (pous) foot; the leaves of some species supposed to resemble in shape the foot of a goose. Vern. name, Goosefoot. Ch. murale, L. Vern. name, nettle-leaved Goosefoot. Introduced Distributed Europe, North Africa, W. Asia, to N. W. India; introduced in North America, Tasmania and New Zealand. Ch. album, LZ. Vern. name, white Goosefoot. Introduced, Distributed. Through colonisation dispersed over all zones. Contains Chenopodin. Enchylena, 'R. Br. Htym. Alluding to the succulent calyx. giving the fruit the appearance of a berry. E. tomentosa, R. Br. Flowers September. Distributed through- out Australia. Order Polygonacee, A. L. De Jussien. Properties—Often astringent and purgative; some species yield oxalic and malic acids; the seeds of others are farinaceous and esculent. ‘The all important Rhubarb is the most important in the order. Ooccoloba wvifera, Jacg., contains kino an astringent. Some species of Polygonum yield Indigo. Many species of Rumex contain in the root Chrysophanie acid, employed in Psoriasis, &e. Polygonum, Tournef. Etym. From the greek zo4ve (polus) many, and yorvv (gonu) knee, alluding to the many joints of the stem and brauches. Vern. name, Bistort or Persicaria. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39 P. strigosum, R. Br. Flowers December to March. Distributed Tasmania. P. minus, Hudson. Flowers January to June. Distributed Tasmania and New Zealand. P. aviculare, L. Vern. name, Knotgrass, Wire Weed, Hoggerass. Flowers nearly all the year round. An alien. Distributed almost cosmopolite. Uses.—A mild astringent, Diarrhoea, &e., externally for wounds. Fruit emetic and cathartic. The whole plant yields indigo-blue. P. Hydropiper, L. Vern. name, water pepper or biting Persicaria. Flowers February June. Distributed North Temperate Temisphere and to Australia. Uses.—Contains Polygonie acid of an acrid, bitter taste and a volatile acrid principle. Plant when chewed imparts a hot and pungent taste to the tongue. P. prostratum, R. Br. Flowers March April. Distributed Tasmania and New Zealand. Mucehlenbeckia, Meissner. Etym, In honor of Dr. Muehlenbeck» who closely studied the plants of Alsace. M. adpressa, Meiss. Vern. name, Sarsaparilla, of the colonists. Flowers September November. Uses.—Produces the same effect as the true Smzlax species employed as alteratives and tonics. Rumez, L. Hiym. The old latin name, alluding to some resemblance of the leaves to the Roman war-arms. Vern. - name, Dock and Sorrel. R. crispus, L. Vern. name, Curled Dock. Flowers nearly all the year round. Distributed Europe, North Africa, Temperate Asia to Japan. Introduced in North America, Tasmania and New Zealand. Uses.—Is an alterative, detergent and antiscorbutic remedy, mildly aperient, acting on the colon ; may be given in Scrofula, cutaneous eruptions, and in the form of an ointment. Leaves may be advantageously used as an article of diet in scurvy, in the form of a salad. They are agreeably acid to the taste, owing to binoxalate of potash with tartaric acid, but lose their taste in drying. Juice of the leaves mixed with water affords an agreeable acidulous drink. The cortical part of the root is the most active. In America the concentrated tincture of Rumex is now prepared and used for the complaints above mentioned. R. Acetosella, L. Vern. name, Sheep’s Sorrel. Flowers nearly allthe yearround. Distributed. Widely diffused throughout Temperate and Arctic zones. Uses.—Leaves used as a salad; abound in binoxalate of potash. 100lb. of the leaves yield Slb. of the salt. The decoction of the 40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. root or the powdered root are refrigerants and effectual anthelminties. The seeds are astringent and useful in Hcemorrhage In arid ground and at the end of summer the whole plant assumes a bright red colour, R. Brownti, Campdera. Flowers November to May. Distributed Tasmania. Rk. bidens, R. Br. Flowers December to March. Distributed Tasmania. ERRATA. ON page 27 of Vol. LI., No. 2, line 19, for “ Flowers September to January, read “ nearly all the year round.” 7 On same page after. “ Casuarina, Rumphius. Etym.,” read :“ Supposed to allude to the leaves resembling the feathers of the Cassowary.”’ NOTES. MICRO-FUNGT. Av the last meeting of the Microscopical Society, one of the Vice- Presidents, Mr. F. Barnard, of Kew, also a member of the F.N. Club, read some notes on Micro-fungi recently forwarded to England by him for naming. Several of these have proved to be new, and one Phragmidium Barnardi (Plow.), found on a species of Rubus in Studley Park, has been named after him. We understand Mr. Barnard will be glad to receive specimens of Micro-fungi from our country friends, in exchange for other microscopic objects. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tr will be remembered that in February last a deputation waited upon the Trustees of the National Museum, with reference to affording greater facilities to students at that institution, and were promised that the Director, Professor McCoy, should report upon the suggestions then made. His report, which is too long for publication here, appeared in the Argus of June Ist, but as it seemed the ideas of the deputation had been somewhat misunderstood, the Committee of the Club felt themselves called upon to make a further representation of the matter, and have forwarded a letter to the Trustees in reply, which will be found at length in the Argus of June 19th, ads MUMM & CO., CHAM fas the Largest Sale of any Champagne. PS SSOSCSSSSOSCBHSSCSSOSCESIEOOSCS SCLE AGENTS FOR VICTORIA— ALEX. JOSKE & CO.,, 16 Little Coliins Street Fast. See en Wm. S. HUSBANDS, MoANURACTURING OPTICEAN 81 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, . (Established 1862), BRISTOL, SBNCLAND, (seals 1762.) Hn27e oso8k RZ2wn2y Students Compound Achromatic Microscopes and Accessories im Stock. Mathematical, Philosophical, Meterological, Nawtical, Optical, Surveying and Mining Instr LEC Importer, § ec: The Metfords Theodolites and Level Combined The Improved Dumping Levels Ball Motion. ACNE Oe ak, oe ee SF, i Set aS Sa ARIE 1 ates hg ein, one Oa ae Te cee NS EL eH ae + SENT ede OC EILO Vou. Il. No. 4. q Aveust 1885, Victorian Raturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE OF THE Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria. The Author of each article is responsible for be facts and opinions he records. GOIN gas: PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria M0 41 Ballarat Field Club and Science Society. ... a “5 43 To Wilson’s Promontory Overland. By J. B. Grucory. .., 43 The Orchidee of Victoria. (Part7.) By C.Fruncnh. ... 48 Note, | bes a A fess ea a oe 62 PRICE—SIXPENCE South Melbourne ; J. C. MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST, 1885. Meld Maturalisis’ Gleb of Wetora OFFICH-BEARERS 1885-86. Presivent : Rev. J. J. HALLEY. Vice-Presivents : Mr, T. A. FORBES-LEITH | Me. A. H. 8. LUCAS, M.A Hon, Treasurer : Hon. Librarian: Mr. E. BAGE. | Me. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. Hon. Secretary: Asst, Hon, Secretary: Mr. F. G. A. BARNARD, Mr. G. COGHILL. . Kew. | Ganmittes : Mrs. DOBSON. | Mr. J. H. GATLIBF. , J. SIMSON, 2) GR Ea Mr. D. BEST. , D. LeSOUEF. Mr. C. A. TOPP, M.A. Tats Cuus was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Hxhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. . No Hutrance Fee, Annual Subscription, including copy of proceedings 15s., dating from May Ist. The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers, and exhibition of - specimens, with a short conversazione, are held on the second Monday in each month at the Royal Society’s Hall, Victoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. The proceedings of the Club are recorded in its journal—the “ Victorian Naturalist.” Annual Subscription, 6s. 6d.. post free (to members. free). The first Volume, comprising sixteen numbers, with title page and index, just completed. Price—Seven Shillings and Sixpence (post free). Copies of the Annual Report and List of Members for 1884-5, with Rules, ete., can be obtained on application to the Hon. Sec. THE Pictorian Haturalist: Worle» No.4. AUGUST 1885. No 20. THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 13th July, 1085. The president, the Rey. J. J. Halley, occupied the, chair, and about seventy members and visitors were present. The following persons were elected members of the club :—Dr. H. C. Wigg, Messrs. C. Casimir and J. Searle, and Master Coles. Dr. J. E. Taylor, F.G.S., was unanimously elected a honorary member of the Club. The sub-committee on the protection of Native Birds’ question, reported that in order to curtail the list of birds proposed to be pro- tected, several groups of the smaller birds, such as larks, wrens, honey-eaters, had been struck out. Mr. A. J. Campbell, moved as an amendment, which was adopted, ‘‘ That as the close season is at hand, it is too late for action this year, and that the matter be post- poned for six months, in the meantime the sub-committee to endeavour to obtain further information on the subject.” Papers read—1. Mr. F. Wisewould read a paper, “ Notes of a visit to the Chudleigh Caves, Tasmania.” These caves are near Deloraine; they extend for more than a mile, and contain many large and beautiful chambers, intersected and traversed by a running stream. Mr, Watts contrasted these caves with those near Warrnambool. ou An avcount of a tortoise found in solid rock, in a cutting on the great Northern Railway, New South Wales, was brought before 42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. the meeting by Mrs. J. Simson, compiled from papers left by the late Mr. William Keene, F.G.S The tortoise, which was found in 1859, and lived until the beginning of the present year, was apparently different to any known local species, and much resembled one found fossil near Armidale. This note gave rise to some discussion respecting the finding of frogs, etc., in mines and rocks. Mr. P. Dattari exhibited a convenient tabular form for a Botanical key, taking for his illustration the order Ferns, as given in the late Rev. W. W. Spicer’s Dichotomous Key to Tasmanian Plants. Mr. ©. A. Topp, M.A, explained at some length the advantages claimed by Mr. Dattari for his plan as a help to beginners, and stated that in the classification and the use of terms, the compiler had simply followed Mr. Spicer. Mr. D. M‘Alpine, in the course of his remarks, condemned the use of botanical keys, and urged students to adopt such a work as Hooker’s British Flora for their guide. Mr. Dattari distributed lithographed copies of his table amongst those present. Some remarks were made by Messrs. French, Lucas, and M‘Alpine as to the desirability of taking up the subject of economic entomology in a systematic manner, and which will probably lead to practical results. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening:—By Mr. EK. Bage, living specimens of Volvo globator, under the microscope; by Mr. A. J. Campbell, a Gang Gang cockatoo, which had been purchased in the market that day as ‘‘game”; by Master 8S. B. Coghill, stalactites from the Chudleigh Caves, Tasmania; by Mr. A. Coles, an Indian pheasant, (mounted); by Mr. P. Dattari, fossils from near mouth of the Gellibrand River, Victoria, collected by Rev. W. T. Whan; by Mr. E. Dombrain, eggs of pink eye-browed duck, and fronted Ephthianura, ete., from New South Wales; also a white snipe shot in County Cork, Ireland; by Mr. C. French, F.L.8., specimens of branches of shrubs, etc., affected by injurious insects; by Mr. J. T. Gillespie, Victorian birds’ eggs; by Master R. Hall, twelve species of Victorian birds, also (in spirits) a young emu with two heads and one body; by Mr. W. Hatton, twenty species of Tasmanian birds’ eggs; by Masters W. and G. Hill, Lepidoptera ; by Master Hatch, geological specimens from Ararat ; by Mr. W. Kershaw. Australian Lepidoptera ; by Mr, BR. Kennon, ring-tailed opossum (alive) ; by Mr. J. M‘Kibbin, orchids in bloom, Pterostylis vittata, P. concinna, Corysanthes pruinosa, Cyrtostylis reniformis ; by Mr. D. M‘Alpine, lizard showing internal anatomy; by Mr. J. E. Prince, photographs of Orbost, Snowy River. and of several aboriginal ceremonies ; by Mr. G. Renner, map of moon ; by Mr. F. Reader, plants from Studley Park, order Liliaceee ; by Mr. O. A. Sayee, specimens of Vivianite from Hamilton, Tourmaline, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 43 Orthoclase, Pholerite, Manganese, &c., from Maldon; by Mr. A. Watts, a young Octopus; by Mr. F. Wisewould, mineral specimens from Chudleigh Caves, Tasmania. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. BALLARAT FIELD CLUB AND SCIENCE SOCIETY. Tue annual conversazione of the above Society was held in the large hall of the School of Mines, Lydiard-street, Ballarat, on Friday evening, 3rd July, 1885. The president, Mr. Jas. Oddie, J.P., occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of the members and their friends, some 200 persons, being present. The president, in the course of his remarks, drew attention to the many advantages to be derived from the study of natural science in general; the Rev. W. Williams gave a lecturette on ‘‘ Spiders as Modern Balloonists,’”’ and referred to the flight of spiders recently observed in many parts of the Western District; and Mr. W. H. Wooster gave a popular account of the “ Natural History of the Bryozoa.” The exhibits consisted in most instances of microscopic objects, and twenty instruments were in use by the different exhibitors. The following were the principal exhibits :—By Mr. W. Burbidge, scales on insects’ wings; by Mr. W. Corbould, the crystallization of metals; by Mr. A. Doepel, parasites and cheese mites; by Mr. Grayson, vegetable physiology and diatoms ; by Mr. F. M. Krausé, F.G.S. (hon. sec.,) specimens of dolerite, diabase, felsite-porphyry, and porphyrite, with sections of same under polarized light ; by Mr. F. J. Martell, circulation of blood in frog, and vinegar eels ; by Dr. Ochiltree, tissues of internal organs of man ; by Mr. A, Mica-Smith, B.A., micre-photographs ; by Mr. H. Sutton, micro-photograph of sections of diatoms, polyzoa, under high powers ; by Dr. Usher, human physiology ; by Rev. W. Williams, anatomy and physiology of Arachnide ; by Miss Wooster, Victorian mosses and sea-weeds ; by Mr. W. H. Wooster, Victorian bryozoa. TO WILSON’S PROMONTORY OVERLAND. By J. B. Greaory. Our party was to consist of three, and our objects were not altogether in accord or altogether different. We were all off for a 44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. holiday in search of health and recreation. Mr, Lucas, in addition, had definite intentions of making collections botanical, entomologieal, and conchological. As Mr. Robinson is not one of the joint authors of this paper, we may be excused from unfolding what his special aims may have been. Mr. Gregory, in addition to a liking for fresh air and exercise, has a fancy for natural scenery and perhaps a little for topography. We proposed to take train from Melbourne as far as Trafalgar on the main Gippsland line, and thence walk by the direct route through Mirboo and Forster to the end of Wilson’s Promontory, and to return by whatever route circumstances might suggest. Careful inquiries were made before starting as to the road, and many con- tradictory reports obtained. One man, for instance, said that there were seventeen miles of glue-pot between Trafalgar and Mirboo, but the road from Mirboo to Forster would be better. Another described the road to Mirboo as good. A third said that the difficulties of the journey would commence when we crossed the Derby, thirty miles the other side of Forster. There was one reason that operated in the choice of the route, and was sufficient to stifle the warnings as to swamps and glue-pots, and that was a desire to see the great forest of South Gippsland. It was now possible to see it in its primeval grandeur. But the passing of the new Land Act and commencement of the Great Southern Railway would soon be followed by a rush of selectors ; in another year even it might be no more. Mr. Lucas and Mr. Gregory, accordingly, on the Saturday in Christmas week, started by the early train for Trafalgar. It rained heavily during the journey and after their arrival at Trafalgar, where they had to wait a conple of hours for the luggage train which brought on their pack-horse. ‘Trafalgar is a small village at the foot of wooded ranges, which rise to the south of it say 1000 or 1200 feet. The people said there had been much rain lately, and it was likely to continue so long as the wind was from the north. Ags soon as the horse arrived, we loaded up and started. Our pack consisted of a tent 6 feet by 8 feet with a fly, about ten days’ provisions, a change of clothes each, rugs, billies, &c., and Mr. Lueas’s collecting apparatus. The road at once began to ascend. As it got higher and steeper, the mud got deeper, being knee-deep in places. Most of the land had been taken up on each side of the road, and much of it had been cleared and the timber ringed, giving an extensive look-out. We passed a dray drawn by fourteen bullocks. It did not appear heavily loaded, but it sank in up to the axles. On reaching the top of the ridge, the road became drier, and about five miles from Trafalgar descended to Narracan Creek, a fine stream which crossed our path from left to right. There was a rich THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 45 patch of clover here, which our horse was very loath to pass. In fact he seemed quite sulky when we determined to go further. After passing Narracan Creek the clearings ceased, and the road again became soft. In about two miles we came to another creek, a tributary of Narracan, about eight miles from Trafalgar, where we determined to camp. This was partly because we did not want to make a long journey the first day, and partly to let Mr. Robinson who was to reach Trafalgar by the last train that night, overtake us before we started the next morning. When it has been raining all day, camping does not look very inviting, but a tent will keep out ary ordinary rain. Boughs laid on the ground with a piece of waterproof on the top of them make a sufficiently dry bed, and if wood be selected which is neither green nor rotten, it will burn with proper kindling material. This, in the present case, was found in some pieces of timber knocked off the under-side of a dead log which lay across other sound logs so as to keep it off the ground and therefore from getting sodden. We were therefore sufficiently comfortable, notwithstanding that it rained and blew a good deal during the night. It was still showery the next morning, nevertheless we enjoyed a bath in the creek, and just as we had finished breakfast we were joined by Mr. Robinson, who had come on to Trafalgar that morn- ing. At about eleven o’clock we started for Mirboo. Another mile and a-half brought us to Macdonald’s track, where there was a house. Macdonald’s track, west of the point where we struck it, runs about east and west, following the ridge which divides the waters which flow into the Moe and thence into the La Trobe and the Gippsland Lakes, from those which flow by way of the Tarwin into Anderson’s Inlet. At about the point where we struck this track, the water shed turns suddenly to the south while Macdonald’s track continues in an easterly direction along a ridge separating the waters of the Narracan and the Morwell. The direction of the track we were followmg being nearly south, was much that of the watershed which Macdonald’s track had left, but it did not keep to the ridge exactly. It was first a little to the west of it, crossing a small tributary of the Tarwin. It then again made the ridge and crossed it into the Morwell watershed. This part of the road passed through a forest of enormous timber with dense undergrowth, and the road was deep with mire. As, however, we turned further away from the ridge on the Morwell side, the land became poorer and the timber stunted, at the same time the road became dry. At about the point where we passed out of the dense forest into the more open and poorer country, we passed several selections upon which were houses and clearings, and the road continuing to descend, we at last came to Bear’s Creek, a tributary of the Morwell, at a spot marked on the maps as Village reserve, about fifteen miles from Trafalgar. Passing through this, 46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. we crossed the line of the new Mirboo railway, and the land still continuing poor, the timber small, and the road dry, we continued on to Mirboo North, a distance of about three miles, where the track again made the watershed line between the Tarwin and the Morwell, and where had it not been for the extensive clearings we should have been again among tall timber, as could be seen by the dead trunks still standing. Thence the road continued to follow the ridge between clearings more or less extensive on both sides, and keeping tolerably dry, until by a very steep and rough descent it turned down to the Tarwin, which we made just before dark, having come that day seventeen miles. We did not go right down to the Tarwin, but camped on a creek which crossed the road about quarter of a mile from it. Here we pitched our tent a few feet from the foot of a large dead tree about 200 feet high, against which we made our fire. While at tea a discussion arose as to whether the tree would catch alight, and if so, which way it would fall, and the last member of the party before turning in, put the fire out as well as he could, all except a few sparks. In doing so, however, he found that the tree was hollow and that the fire had burned through it. We slept soundly till about three o’clock in the morning, when waking up we found the tree was on fire all up, flames and sparks rushing out of a hole about 100 feet from the ground with a roar like a furnace. We got up and moved our camp out of reach and lay down, and went to sleep again, At about five o’clock we were all awoke by a crack. Three heads were at once thrust out of the tent door in time to see the tree come down, at first slowly, then with gradually accelerated speed, breaking into innumerable smoking fragmeuts with a loud report. We started at about nine o’clock the next morning, crossing the Tarwin, which was a good stream about up to the horses knees, and passing through Mirboo South. The clearings once passed, the track began again to ascend a spur separating different tributaries of the Tarwin, which led across the Hoddle Range, on to another spur separating the waters of Stockyard Creek from the waters of the Franklin. For some time after leaving Mirboo, the road was tolerably dry, but after the first eight or nine miles it became very wet, standing in pools covered with a green swamp grass, which with short intervals continued all the way until we came close to Forster. There was a forest of enormous timber, with dense under- growth, on both sides. with only one clearing. At about dark we made Stockyard Creek, just outside Forster. We had come, as measured on the map; twenty miles, by local estimate, twenty-three. We camped upon open ground, near old gold workings. Many gullies came down from different directions to join the creek, separated by THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. AZ — thick spurs covered with low scrub with light foliage, forming a pleasing contrast with the mighty forest behind. The next morning we passed through Forster, and saw Mr. Barry the line repairer, and obtained from him much useful information as to the Promontory tracks. After leaving Forster, the track lay across heathy plains, sloping towards Corner Inlet. On our left, behind us, rose the wooded ranges we had passed through, from which ran a long barren spur on our right, which culminated in bald hills of considerable height, and then died down into the isthmus which joins the Promontory to the mainland. Innumerable creeks containing a peaty water, rising in this range and running to Corner Inlet, crossed our path, with an occasional belt of small timber. Before us rose the misty mountains of the Promontory. Then we gradually left the hills behind us, and found ourselves upon the sandy isthmus between Corner Inlet and Shallow Inlet, and by sun- down had reached the homestead of Yanakie Station. It is nine- teen miles from Forster to Yanakie, and there is no house by the way. Here we were very kindly entertained by Mr. Miller, Mr. McHaffie’s manager, who insisted upon taking us in, notwithstanding our travel-stained appearance, and accommodating us for the night. After breakfast the next morning, he put us upon the way to the beach. After about half a mile of hummocky country, interspersed with she-oaks, we came upon a region of sand dunes, pure sand white as snow, without a particle of vegetation, rising into hillocks some fifty feet high, of curious shapes, from the tops of which the sand was blown into a cloud like smoke. Inthe hollows the ground was a little firmer, a thin incrustation of lme being apparently deposited over the sand. The transition from the heathy pastures of Yanakie to these utterly barren dunes was very sudden. In some places vegetation could be seen struggling with the sand along a narrow border—a bush or a hillock or a tree with the tips of its leayes just above the top of a hummock or heap of sand, in other places the vegetation, yet uninjured, stretches to the very foot of the sand dune by which it will be soon engulphed. Thousands of acres of Yanakie Station have teen swallowed up by these dunes, and they threaten to cover the whole of it. After passing for about two miles and a half across this sandy waste, we came out near the beach. We had now before us seven miles of hard, smooth, white sand, the blue sea rolling in on our right in long white breakers, a range of rugged hummocks upon our left, and before us, at the end of the beach rose the granite mountains of .the Promontory, tinted according to their distance with different shades of blue and violet. There was a fresh breeze off the sea, filling the air with white spray. Off the coast were fantastic islands, mere knobs of granite poking their heads above the water. Sea birds ran along the sand before us, rising into the air screaming, as we came near. There could not be 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 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 49 me. Cultivation same, I should think, as that recommended for former species. P. patens, (R. Brown.) A very pretty, and in some districts common sp., to be found on flats, particularly those bordering on ranges near Dandenong, Frankston, Dromana, Mt. Macedon, Grampians, Marysville, &c. To those who collect orchids as an instructive and pleasurable pastime, this sp. will be not difficult to distinguish, principally because of its abundance, although being variable, it may easily, to an ordinary observer, be mistaken for either P. alpinum or fuscum. The flowers for the size of the plant being somewhat small, of a yellowish green colour, the labellum being bordered with white (a point in the recognition of this sp. which should not be over- looked.) Labellum as long as the petals, sessile atthe base. To grow it well use good strong yellow loam, keep damp, with always good drainage. Place say twelve tubers in a shallow pot or pan, and with very little care these will flower very abundantly. In growing specimens of this genus, I had almost omitted to mention that they should have as much air as possible, otherwise, as with most other plants, they become weak and “drawn,” and thus lose much of their hardiness and beauty. Flowers in January and February. Height 6 inches to 2 feet. Found also in Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia. P. truncatum seems to be identical with this sp. P. ruscum, (R. Brown.) A variable species nearly allied to some forms of P. patens, usually rather smaller with smaller flowers, and the sepals and petals narrow and darker coloured, but the extreme forms of the two species only to be distinguished by the labellum. Here we again find our difficulties, the descriptions given by Bentham of P. patens seems to so closely resemble this plant that the detection of such differences must be done by a most practised eye, or else confusion will be certain to arise. We must however, ‘flounder about” and do our best should we come across this sp. to compare the specimens and should we fail, it would be no great disgrace, seeing by the synonomy of these curious plants, how many greater than we have been temporarily mistaken. And whileI am getting thus ‘‘ mixed” in my ideas, I cannot help thinking (and I am sure most of you will agree with me,) that without wishing in the slightest to blame our scientific zoologists here, that had the Zoology of Australia been as well worked out as the botany has been, by Baron von Mueller, there would have been little occasion for Mr. Caldwell, (or anyone else) coming to Australia to work out the 50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. peculiarities of the Monotremata or any other animals, be they duck- billed or otherwise. To return to the orchid, I should say that the same culture as that recommended for the former sp. would suffice. P. alpinum, P. afinis, and P. rostratum, are synonyms of this sp. Found also in Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, and iu South Australia. Mr. Bentham adds some copious notes to his description of this sp., which may be found in vol. VI., page 340. I may mention before closing this description, that this sp. was formerly known by the name of P. alpinum, and seems to be equally at home whether growing in moist flats, or on the tops of our highest mountains. Section 3. GENOPLESIUM. Labellum obtuse, or contracted into a claw at the base, articulate on a horizontal claw-like basal projection of the column. ‘Stem slender, the leaf almost or quite reduced to a sheathing bract. Flowers very small. P. xigricans, (R. Brown) Stem very slender, under 6 inches high, with a single leaf $ to ? inches long. Flowers very small, in a spike 4 to 1 inch, usually dense and drying of a dark purple or almost black. Sepals broader than in the following sp. This little orchid I have never found, so that I can give you no further account of it, than the abbreviated description taken from the “Flora.” I may however, say that I take it to approach P. despectans, or some other of the smaller sp., and if this be the case, it would be of little value for cultural purposes, excepting of course to complete a collection. I may also mention that Baron von Mueller in his Census, gives this sp. as being also from Victoria, but I am not aware from what part. Found in New South Wales, Tasmania, and in South Australia. P. rurum, (R. Brown.) Stem slender, 6 to 8 inches high, the leaf reduced to a sheathing bract near the spike, 3 to 2 inches long. Flowers, the smallest in the genus in a spike of 4 to2 inches. Sepals tipped with a small point but (always) without the gland of P. nigricans. This is another sp. which I have as yet not myself found, and although the characters given seem very’clear, it appears that it has also varieties, I will thus simply give you its synonymous and geographical range. Believing it to be (as regards culture) identical with the former sp. Found in Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania, and at Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria, by F. Mueller. P. nudum is said to be identical with this sp. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51 P. pEspectans, (Hooker.) Stems slender, leafless excepting a sheathing bract of about 4 inch below the spike. Flowers narrow and dark coloured as in P. rufum, but longer, the spike dense, to Linch long. Labellum shorter than sepals. I believe that we are indebted to a member of this Club, Mr. T. McKibbin, for the opportunity of first adding this pretty little plant to the flora of Victoria, and as [ have mislaid the excellent paper read by him on the orchids of the Maryborough district, I am unable to give you the exact locality where he found it, but I believe it was somewere in the vicinity of Maryborough. I have not seen this sp. in a living state, although Baron von Mueller at once recognised the specimen as the Tasmanian P. despectans. For cultural purposes, it would I should say, rank with the former mentioned sp., and the soil recommended for these would probably be the same. Found in sandy soil near Hobart in Tasmania, also according to the census in South Australia. P arcaERi, (Hooker) Rather taller than P. jfimbriatum, a New South Wales sp., the leaf reduced to a sheathing bract with a short erect almost subulate lamina close under the inflorescence. Flowers rather larger than in the other sp. of the section, few together, spike rarely one inch long. Labellum articulate and fringed with long hairs This is another of Mr. McKibbin’s finds, and as in the former sp. does him credit as a close observer, for these slender sp. when growing amongst scrub or grass, requires a very sharp look-out to detect them. Iam indebted to Mr. McKibbin for the tuber from which I flowered a very fine and perfect specimen. Since writing these notes, I have flowered another sp. which the Baron has proved to be P. Archert, and, I regret to say that Mr. McKibbin lost his tubers, so mine I believe to be the only one left; and this is (or was a few months since,) in the very large and interesting collection of native orchids which I formed at the Botanic Gardens, and which was handed over by me as a donation, previous to my being trans- ferred to this department. ‘The cultivated specimens I found to be more robust than the dried specimens which I have seen from Tasmanla, gathered in their native haunts, but this is only to be expected, still it goes to show how little dependance can be placed on specimens which have been cultivated, and how necessary it is to have a national herbarium, in which every form, variation, and transition has a place. To grow this little orchid, I found the top soil from grassland to suit it best, and with a liberal supply of clean water when coming into flower, it will amply repay (as a botanical 52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. plant,) any little trouble bestowed upon it. Found also in Tasmania, and was hitherto confined to that colony. P. intricatum, (C. Stuart in Herb. F. Mueller.) A slender plant with the habit of P. fimbriatum. Flowers brown or pale yellow, with the labellum purple. This curious little plant which was found and exhibited at this Club first by my son, is very much like P. archer?, so much so that it is difficult for anyone excepting a thoroughly good botanist to determine them. It was found on top of the dry sand-hills at Frankston, and, of course, at once pronounced by its finder to bea new orchid, the usual reference to the Baron was resorted to, with the cheerful result, a well-known Tasmanian plant but new for Victoria, (or at least for the district in which it was found,) but very interesting, and thus the finder was rewarded for his perseverance, although somewhat disappointed. I have no reason to describe this sp. further, as the novelties found by other members of this Club, and by myself since the Club’s inauguration, have been so ably worked up by the Baron in the columns of the “S. S. Record,” Pharmaceutical Society’s Journal, and the ‘“S. Naturalist,’ that further remarks will be I think unnecessary. To grow it, (to complete the collection in pots,) it should be planted in a shallow pot of sand and gravelly loam, and should not be kept too moist otherwise the tubers are apt to decay. Great care should be taken with these smaller kinds, that good and efficient drainage is always seen to, as well as care as to keeping the tubers while at rest, a matter which I shall again refer to before closing my paper. Flowers in January and even later. Found also in Tasmania. This will conclude the sp. of the genus Prasophyllum, the next in order being Microtis, which will form the subject of my next number. NOTE. By approval of the honorable Graham Berry, Chief Secretary, a new edition of Baron Von Mueller’s volume on “Select Plants for Industrial Culture and Naturalisation,” is now passing at the Government Printing Office through the press. It will appear towards the end of the year, and thus available also for use at the Colonial Exhibition in London. This will be the Sixth edition in the English language, and it will be still further enlarged than the American one, which appeared last year at Mr. George Davis’ great establishment in Detroit. Cc. H. MUMM & CO.,, TAMPAGNE Has the Largest Saie of any Champagne. SOSSPCOCSCPCOSOSSOCOCOSVSSSCOCIOOCOSD SOLE AGENTS FOR VICTORIA— ALEX. JOSKE & CO. 16 Little Collias Street East. Wu. 8. HUSBANDS, Ad ANOLACL RING OPTICIAN 81 @UEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, (Established 1862), BRISTOL ENGLAND, (Established 1762.) W272 ooo Students Compound Achromatic Microscopes and Accessories in Stock. Mathematical, Philosophical, Meterologicai, Nautical, Optical, Surveying and Mining Instruments, Importer, Se. The Metfords Theodolites and Level Combined. The Improved Dumping Levels Ball Motion. Vou. II: No. 5, ! Szerrzuper 1885, THE Mictorian Waturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE OF THE d Naturalists’ Club cof Victoria The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. GC) IS) ee SS ; _ PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria Hae 53 To Wilson’s Promontory Overland. By J. B. Gracory, M.A., and A. H. Lucas, M.A. ° He At 54 Notes on a Trip to the Caves near Chudleigh, Tasmania. By EF. Wisrwouip vie yey Loe 59 CorRESPONDENCE pa eh nies ee 63 PRICE—SIXPENCE South Melbourne ;. J. C. MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST. 1885. A) : I Pield Natwalists’ Gleb of ‘tel clovla, OFFICE-BEARERS 1885-86. qrestvent : Rev, J. J. HALLEY. Dice-Presivents : Mr. T. A. FORBES-LEITH | Ma. A. H. S. LUCAS, M.A How. Treasurer : Hon. Libr avian : Mr. E. BAGE. | Me. ©. FRENCH, F.L.S How. Secretary: Asst. Mon. Secretary: Mr. F. G. A. BARNARD, Mr. G. COGHILL. Kew. Canmittee : Mrs. DOBSON. — | Me. J. GAD Bae , J. SIMSON. | igs Rene Mr. D. BEST. D. LeSOUnint Mn. ©. A. TOPP, M.A. ee Tu1s CLus was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. No Hntrance Fee, Annual Subscription, including copy of proceedings 15s., dating from May 1st. a The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers, and exhibition of specimens, with a short, conversazione, are held on the second Monday in ea2h month at the Royal Society’s Hall, Victoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. The proceeding es of the Club are recorded in its journal—the “ Victorian Naturalist.” Annual Subscription, 6s. 6d.. post free (to members free). The first Volume, comprising sixteen numbers, with title page and index, just completed. Price—Seven Shillings and Sixpence (post free). Copies of the Annual Report and List of Members for 1884-5, with Rules, etc., can be obtained on application to the Hon. See. THE Wictorian Waturalist: Worsy Ties No... 5: SEPT. 1885. No 21 THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 10th August, 1885. The president, the Rev. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and about fifty members and visitors were present. The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following donations to the Club's library :— “ Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria,” 19 vols., from the Society, ‘‘ Proceedings of Linnean Society of New South Wales,” Vol. X., part 2, from the Society;” ‘‘ Proceedings of Royal Society of Queensland,” Vol. I., parts 2, 3, and 4, from the Society; and also announced the receipt from Mrs. Curdie, of a small collection of foreign coleoptera, formerly belonging to the late Dr. Curdie, as a donation to the Club’s museum. The hon. secretary read a short account of the Club excursion to Cheltenham on the 8th inst., which, though rather poorly attended, proved most enjoyable on account of the splendid day. Some of the earlier spring flowers such as Hpacris impressa, Hibbertia fasciculata, H. densiflora, H. stricta, Acacia suaveolens, and Hovea linearis were more or less abundant. The only orchid noted in bloom was Cyrtostylis reniformis, but plants of Pterostylis barbata and Lyperanthus nigricans were seen. The ferns Schizea bifida, and Gleichenia circinata were found growing in one of the hollows. The pools which occur in the numerous hollows proved good fishing grounds for fresh water crustaceans, &c., amongst other captures being the large silvery-grey water spider, Argyrometra aquatica; the small red water spiders Hydrachna globulus and Limnochares aquatica, the shield shrimp, Apus Cancriformis, and several fresh water insects and larve. The following ladies and gentlemen were elected members of the Club:—-Miss Lange, Miss A. Lange, Mrs. Lange, Miss Rankin, 54 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Rey. W. T. Whan, M.A., Messrs H. Andrews, I. Batey, W. Brook, John Dennant, C. Frost. M. Gamble, A. J. Hall, F. C Lange, G. Meyler, W. E. Pickles, F.R.M.S., R. N. Smith, and Wm. Taylor. Papers read:—1. Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., read the first part of a paper entitled “‘ A geological sketch of South-western Victoria,” contributed by Mr. J. Dennant, of Hamilton. This, after giving a geological description of the district, gave a detailed account of the older formations occuring between the Glenelg and Wando rivers, county of Dundas. 2. The hon secretary read the first part of a popular paper on “The Habits of Native Birds,” contributed by Mr. Isaac Batey, of Sunbury. The writer’s observations respecting crows, which formed the subject of this part, created considerable discussion among those present. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening :—By Mr. E. Bage, three sp. of water spiders, shield shrimps, water beetles, and small entromostraca obtained at Cheltenham excursion, also Vorticella under the microscope; by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, geological specimens from Buninyong; by Mr. A. W. Coles, collection of birds from Townsville, Queensland; by Rev. A. W. Cresswell, M.A., flowering stem of the larger grass-tree Xanthorrhea australis ; by Rev. J. J. Halley, cheap portable microscope stand, by Baker, of London; by Mr. I. J. Hughes, bird of paradise ; by Mr. H. Kennon, small pearl obtained from an oyster purchased in Melbourne, also human tecth found on beech at Stewart Island ; by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, the American migratory thrush, Turdus migratorius, British song thrush, Turdus mustcus, American red- winged blackbird, Ageleus pheniceus, and British blackbird, Turdus merula, also feathers of the emu with double and triple shafts ; by Mr. J. McKibbon, orchids in bloom, Péerostylis curta, P. pedunculata, P. nutans, also an apparently hybrid species of Péerostylis, four species of lizards, with double and triple tails; by Mr. F. Reader, fungi Polyporus borealis, Fr., new to Australia, and P. ochroleucus, Berk, P. tardus, Berk., and Didymiwm farinaceum hitherto unrecorded for Victoria; by Mr. G. Rose, fossils from Cheltenham. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. TO WILSON’S PROMONTORY OVERLAND. By J. B. Grueaory, M.A., anp A. H. 8. Lucas, M.A. Pant: Tus track now for abouta mile skirted a grassy flat which was bordered on our left by a swamp covered with tall tree scrub, and on our THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55 right by the foot of the mountains, the tops of which were now covered with a wide flat cap of clouds. It then turned to the right through a saddle in Mount Leonard, and in three miles, after cross- ing two creeks and several gullies and their intervening ridges, descended again to the beach on the shore of Leonard Bay. The mountains near the sea were for the most part bare of timber, though there were occasional belts and patches, especially in the gullies, of no great height, and strewn here and there with granite boulders of all shapes and sizes. The water we crossed after leaving the Derby was very good. That at the mouth of the latter stream was other- wise, the spring tide apparently rising into the marshes. After making the shore of Leonard Bay, we again kept to the waters edge along the hard white sand for half-a-mile, when we came to a steep range jutting out into the sea in a point called Pillar Point. Over this the track went and descended on the other side. At its base ran a stream called the Tidal River, which we crossed and camped for the night on the grassy flats opposite. We had come fifteen miles from Yanakie and five from the Derby. We were now on the shore of Norman Bay. To the north-east, looking up the valley, the view was closed by the densely-wooded slopes of Mount La Trobe, rising to a height of 2400 feet. To the north was Mount Bishop, say 1000 feet lower, a spur of which we had just crossed. It was strewn with boulders, and ran down in a steep slope covered with brushwood, the foot of which was washed by the Tidal River. A spur from Mount Oberon formed the southern boundary of Norman Bay. Starting the next morning, we left the telegraph line and turned towards a saddle in the spur last named, locally known as the bad saddle. A steep and slippery track led up to a narrow pass between two conical peaks. On reaching this point the party divided, two of us turned to the left, towards the summit of Mount Oberon, the third, preferring to collect shells, led the horse down to the beach on the other side of the saddle. Keeping along the spur we met with no great difficulty beyond some dense serub in the hollows. On the top of the mountain, fortunately, some tall boulders rose above this, and so gaye a look-out all round, except where the view was shut in by the higher masses of Mount La Trobe and Mount Wilson. We were about 2000 feet above the sea, and about a mile from the water’s edge. It would take long to describe the view of peaks and islands, and the vast expanse of sea and sky which rewarded our climb. We descended by a steep gully down which trickled a stream of water from a spring, of which we drank as it flowed from the rock. Continuing our march the track now skirted that part of Oberon Bay, locally known as the Little Bay, and crossing another rocky spur, came out on the sands of the Great Bay, as the larger division of Oberon Bay is locally called. The mountains here recede 56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. from the shore some miles, leaving a large flat, lightly timbered. Immediately on descending on to the sands, we crossed a fresh running creek. We then kept for about a mile along the sands of Oberon Bay, when we came to another creek. This we did not cross, but turning to our left soon struck a track which, in a distance of two or three miles through small timber, brought us again to the telegraph line, and at the same time to a creek. It was now dark, so here we camped for the night. We had come that day, leaving out of account the ascent of Mount Oberon, about six miles. The next morning we crossed the creek, or rather two creeks close together, and ascended the hill on the other side, known as Martin’s hill, which- drought us out on top of a high open plateau with hills all round, covered with boulders. Several times we descended into thick wooded valleys, through which flowed fine streams of clear cold water, shaded by tree ferns. About mid-day we came out upon the brow of Mount Southern overlooking the lighthouse. It is upon a rocky point rising boldly out of the sea to a height of some 350 feet, but it appeared a long way below us as we looked down upon it. Out to sea was an archipelago of islands, the Rodonda, the Ansers, Hogan Island, the Moncure Islands, and others. There was no sign of the hand of man anywhere, except in the track and telegraph descending the mountain side, and the few acres of land on the top of the point on which stood the lighthouse. We did not at onee descend, but returned to the last creek we had crossed bus a little way back, where we unloaded our packs and left our horse. We then went downto thelighthouse. Here we found that our intended visit had been telegraphed from Forster, and that we were the first party of tourists, as far as was known, who had ever visited the place by land. Mr. Gregory recognised Mr. Martin, the lighthouse-keeper, as having seen him at Cape Otway five years before. After viewing the lighthouse and its surroundings we re- turned to the creek where we had left our packs and camped for the night. We had come that day about six miles. Phe next day we returned by the road by which we had come, and camped on a creek in a gully on Mount Leonard. The next day we returned to Yanakie, where we were again kindly entertained by Mr. Miller. The next day My. Robinson }orrowed a horse and rode on ahead. The party was thus reduced to two, who continued to return by the way by which we had come until we had passed the head of Shallow Inlet. We then took a track which turned off from the telegraph line to the left, and after crossing Dividing Creek, which runs into the head of Sh allow Inlet, separated into two, the left-hand turning going south to Irazer’s station, the right goimg north of east over the Hoddle Range to the mouth of the Tarwin, at the head of Anderson’s Inlet. This latter we took. It lay across heathy plains, gradually rising THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 57 towards the brow of the Hoddle Range, crossing several creeks lined with belts of small timber. Just before making the brow of the range the road became somewhat steeper, but not for long. The height of the range, perhaps 1000 feet, being made up chiefly in the long slope up from the sea. After making the brow of the range, it is difficult to say whether the track went up or down. It crossed an elevated heathy plateau, over which the evening breeze blew keenly, with belts of small timber in the hollows. As we crossed no creeks, we were apparently following a watershed line. Before us we could see, from time to time, the Bald Hills, near which we ex- pected to find a creek andtocamp. Atabout sundown we descended into a hollow just under the Bald Hills. Here we found a good creek and timber and a fenced enclosure. It was a complete solitude, not baying seen a human habitation since we left Yanakie. We had come that day twenty-two miles. It rained during the night. Rising the next morning, the sky was overcast so that we could not see the sun. We bathed in the creek, and as we were proceed- ing to get breakfast we saw clouds gathering round the Bald Hills, black as we had seldom or never seen before, and it began to thunder and lighten and rain with a great downpour. We took shelter in our tent, but the wind so bent down the saplings to which it was tied, that the canvas hung in bags and consequently let in water. When the rain ceased we packed up and continued our course to the Tarwin. ‘The country was similar, descending with an almost im- perceptible slope. ‘There was a strong biting wind in our faces, and occasional showers. After a while we got among clumps of tea- serub and left a branch track to our left which we understood went to Black's station, and in another mile orso we came upon selectors’ fences and habitations, the first we had seen since leaving Yanakie, and soon after we came out on the banks of the Tarwin. When we had crossed it before at Mirboo South, it was a fine mountain stream about up to the horse’s knees ; it was now a tidal river as big as the Saltwater at its junction with the Yarra, and capable of floating a craft of considerable size. On enquiry we learned that it was about four o'clock, for our only watch had stopped and we could not see the sun ail day, that the bridge was two or three miles up, and it was doubtful whether it was so finished that we could cross it. We determined, therefore, to try the ferry. Our packs were accordingly put in a small dingy and the horse had to swim, and we soon found ourselves on a piece of grassy land on the opposite bank, over which the water was rapidly rising. We loaded as quickly as possible and endeavoured to keep the track. This it was difficult to do where it was all under water. The result was we soon got off it into a ditch, where the horse went down, sending our top packs and one of the saddle-bags into the salt water. We got in up to our middles in getting it out again. This was not promising late in the 58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. afternoon, but there was nothing to do but to load up again and make the best of our way on to the higher ground. Getting out of the water the track turned up a slope covered in the first instance with tea- scrub and afterwards a small gum timber. In alittle way it skirted a gully in which was a spring of good water. Here we determined to camp, and having pitched our tent, proceeded to light a roaring fire in a sheltered hollow at the top of the gully, by which we dried our clothes and rugs, got supper and turned in. Notwithstanding our mishap we slept quite warm and dry. We had come that day about ten miles. The next morning the road continued to pass through not dis— similar country, skirting at some miles distance Anderson’s Inlet. Soon we found selections upon one side or both sides, which con- tinued till we reached Screw Creek. It was low tide when we got there, and we found the water a little above our knees, with a good rocky bottom. After crossing the creek the selections ceased. We were directed a near cut to the left, which in about a mile from Screw Creek, took us to a creek of fresh water, where we had lunch. Thence we continued across heathy plains with belts and clumps of small timber. Towards evening we could make out the Bass ranges in front of us, and soon after the top of Cape Woolamai. Turning off the main track by a branch track to the right near a stockyard, at about sun-down we reached the Powlett. Here again there was the house of a settler, though it appeared empty except one old man who seemed to be care-taker. We camped by the roadside. We had come that day twenty miles. The next morning we bathed in the Powlett. It was a good stream of fresh water about up to our middles, say fifty feet across, There was an old bridge of round timber over it. While we were loading up, Mr. Griffith, a neighbouring settler, came by and directed us how to find our way by a short cut over the hills to the Bass, which we accordingly reached without passing through Kilceunda. We lunched by its banks and then proceeded by the coach road to Grantville. At the store here we had to buy more buscuits to replace those which had been spoilt by the salé water. The store- keeper also filled our billies with fresh water; we had before watered the horse by the road-side. About half a mile out of the township we turned off the road into the bush and camped. The next day we continued along the coach road to Tooradin getting lunch by Tobin Yallock, the last fresh water creek we passed before Dandenong. The road lay first through forests of small timber, white gum | prevailing; then large paddocks sown with clover which grew. luxuriantly, covering the road on both sides of the track. This was especially the case at Caldermead, an estate on the left bank of Tobin Yallock. This estate evidently consists of a reclaimed swamp as could be seen by the deep drains and occasional clumps of tea THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 59 tree left in the hollows, but it had been reclaimed to some effect, the air was sweet with the smell of the clover, and there were large herds of fat cattle in the paddocks. After passing Caldermead we began to cross inlets from Westernport, running up into Kooweerup. The country became very flat covered with masses of dead tea-scrub. The last of these inlets was at Tooradin, where we camped for the night. We had come that day twenty-two miles. The next day we continued through Cranbourne to Dandenong, a distance of eighteen miles, where we left the horse, and returned by rail to Melbourne, the fifteenth day after we had left. NOTES ON A TRIP TO THE CAVES NEAR CHUDLEIGH, TASMANTA. By F. WisEwovu.tp. Tuesx Cayes are situated on the Mole Creek at the foot of the mountains, near Chudleigh, Tasmania, about fifty miles from Launceston. The easiest way to reach them is. by rail to Deloraine, on the Western line, a distance of about forty miles, and thence by convey- ance or horseback through Chudleigh, some ten miles further on, but if walking exercise is approved of, the walk from Deloraine is very pleasant and enjoyable. The most comfortable way to see them is to appropriate one day to the journey to the foot of the mountains, camp there the night, or if camping out is not eared for, a farm-house is close at hand, where a coil up under cover can be obtained. At this plaee also you will obtain your guide to take you into the Caveg next day. The following day should then be appropriated to the Caves, and before starting, a careful change of all our clothing must be made, putting on any old garments which we have taken care to have with ~ us, as we shall come out cold and wet through. We may then proceed to an inspection, but first, let us have some idea, if possible, of the locality. Tn front of us, and almost in a semicircle, are the mountains, some distance up which is the source of the Mole Creek, (go called, I believe, because it runs some distance under the earth), which runs through the Caves, and which, shortly after starting disappears under the earth, making its appearance again at the mouth of the second Cave, it then runs about quarter of a mile between high banks and again disappears into the first Cave, runs across its mouth only again to disappear for nearly a mile, although during 60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. this portion of its course there are many well-like holes in the ground, through which, if the ferns and undergrowth were cleared away we could see the creek rushing silently After this, the creek again appears at a natural bridge, a beautiful spot to which our guide first takes us and where we first make our acquaintance with the creek. This bridge consists of a large rock some ten or twelve feet in length, suspended on two walls of rock some fifteen feet high, over a pool of water, pure as crystal, with a fine yellowy-white, sandy bottom. To properly see the bridge, we must go down an almost perpendicular bank to the edge of the pool; here we find the creek bubbling up on the left hand side of the pool, swiftly running across it as if surprised at appearing so suddenly in the sunlight and disappearing under the wall of rock on the right, only to appear again some distanee further on. The opposite side of the pool to that on which we descend slopes gradually up the hill side and is for many feet up covered with beautiful ferns of all sizes. After having seen this we go on to the first Cave, taking care not to fall into any of the deep holes, across the bottom of which the creek runs. Having arrived at it, we find a pool of water guarding the entrance, of a depth unknown, and which appears black and gloomy in the deep shade of the rocky entrance, surrounded as it is with shrubs, while overhead, the staghorn and other ferns covering the rock almost seem to shut out the daylight. Towards this we- descend, our guide telling us it is only about two feet deep, but we find on reaching the edge that we can get over it by some stepping stones at one end, and then we are in the first Cave, through which a branch of the creek runs all the way. This Cave is high, and in some places you can see the daylight streaming in through a man- hole far above your head on the top of the hill under which the Cave lies. The floor is black and slippery, with here and there beds of shingle ; in other places it and the sides in the dim light appear to be black marble. At the far end and just before we reach the day- light again, we come to a sharp rise in the floor of the left hand side of the Cave, after ascending which we find ourselves met by a deep, dark hole, some distance down which, by the aid of our candles, we can just see the glimmer of water, the depth of which, our guide tells us, is very great, and that he has never yet been able to find the bottom of it, (perhaps he has never tried, and as we have no means of checking him, we must take it for oranted that it is so.) We then retrace our steps (as it is easier to walk 100 yards underground than a quarter of a mile over a hill,) and proceed to the second Caye. The creek between the first and second Cayes, a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile, runs between high banks covered with beautiful flowering dintihes tree ferns, and many smaller sorts, and is open to daylight all the way. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 61 The entrance to the second Cave cannot be seen from above, it is therefore necessary to go down the steep bank some thirty feet to the edge of the water, when we find ourselves opposite the Caye’s entrance, it being across the creek. Here the water is only: about one foot deep, running over a bright sand, and the pool in front of the entrance is almost surrounded by beautiful ferns, some many feet high. Now we see the necessity of having on our old clothing. We walk through the creek into the Cave, and are once more on dry ground, but only for a few minutes. The entrance is some ten feet wide, and about as many high, gradually increasing to about thirty feet, and having proceeded about twenty or thirty yards, we light our candles, as it gets very dark. A little further on, the roof suddenly descends to about ten feet, and the floor dips correspond- ingly about three feet into the creek, which here appearing from under the wall to our left rushes away into a hole on our right, running right across the Cave over a rough, rocky bottom. We made through this some six or seven yards, where some of the ladies and one or two of the gentlemen of our party come to grief over the slippery stones, and the water being between two or three feet deep, they are consequently wet nearly to the neck. After this, the Caye’s roof suddenly rises to about fifty feet, and in one place opens right out on the hull side, where, far above us we can see a glimmer of sunshine, partly obscured by the fronds of atree fern. The floor of the cave here is white, and in some places sparkling slightly, (a small piece of which I have with me,) and it maintains this character in many parts of the cave, but where the creek runs it is either shingle or yellow sand. After this we enter an almost circular chamber with a dome-shaped roof, the floor for the most part being dry, but round the side the creek runs and in one part is very deep. Proceeding further, the roof is very irregular, now so high that it is lost in black darkness, and again so low that it is almost necessary to creep on your hands and knees. The stalactites, especially those over deep pools of water, and which cannot be touched are very beautiful, but the finest are high up and cannot be properly seen by the light of our candles. (One I have with me, but not very good.) After proceeding a little further on we meet the creek, again running straight down the cave and suddenly turning to the left disappears under the wall. We follow it up for 100 yards or so. At first we can walk upright, the water being up to our waists and intensely cold, but after 40 or 50 yards it shallows and is only up to our knees, but as the roof suddenly lowers and is only about four feet high, we must creep along with our faces in some places only a few inches above the surface of the water, in our attempts to avoid which we frequently suddenly raise our heads only to lower them quickly, having ex- perienced that the roof is harder than our skulls, and here, and in 62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. similar places to these, we envy those who have good hard hats to protect their heads. Having traversed this uncomfortable portion, we turn to the right into a high chamber, and on the corner of the wall as we turn we have some four feet from the ground the “Hanging Fleece,” which is of a whitish yellow, is some feet in length, and is an almost perfect representation of a large fleece of wool. Having passed through this chamber on dry ground, a few yards further on we come to another, and on the wall as we turn into it we have the “Organ Pipes,” being six or eight large stalactites, if they may be so called, of some feet in length, representing the pipes of an organ, and which, when struck, have a clear ring, showing they are perfect and sound. From this on the stalactites disappear, the cave seeming to have been cut out of the soft yellow rock. The floor now is yery uneven, and suddenly rises some eight or ten feet, up which we clamber and find ourselves in a long narrow chamber of soft yellow rock known as the “ Registry Office.” Here on both sides are the names of those who have entered the caye, written in every imaginable style, from candle grease, downwards, thus giving the chamber its name. This gallery has a smooth floor, and is about four feet wide, fifty feet long, and twenty feet high. Under this there is another gallery of the same length, along which itis necessary to creep almost flat on your face, there being only room for one at atime to pass. The original floor of the cave after passing the registry office falls about seven feet into a chamber with a fine sandy floor and of a good height, and the cave pretty well keeps this character for the remainder of the distance we go, the creek sometimes crossing and sometimes running straight down the cave, until we come to a long chamber with sides sloping upwards, until they almost join in the centre, the walls being of a hard brown stone, and here as we are all nearly frozen in our lower limbs, we elect to stop, our guide telling us we have travelled nearly a mile but that if we like he will take us upwards of a mile further on, that being the distance he has explored, although the cave extends further eyen than that. We now put out our candles and we can then realise that darkness which can be felt, and in it our voices seem unwilling to leave our close proximity, but even here we find life, for we see around us on the walls what look like very small glow-worms,* shining out like miniature stars, and which seem to make the darkness more intense. Having re-lit our candles we retrace our steps as rapidly as possible to the entrance. On emerging from the cave we quickly make our *Probably a fungous growth. ‘ THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63 way for the camp, change completely, and take exercise to restore circulation. I have been influenced to shortly sketch out this visit in the hope that others more scientific than myself may think it worth their while to afford time to explore these caves and report upon their re- sources (if any,) the caves and surroundings being such as would, I think, delight those following any branch of natural history. Since my visit in January, 1882, I have heard that there is another cave some few miles further on, which far surpasses the ones I have tried to describe, asit has been almost untouched by visitors. CORRESPONDENCE. ATTEMPT TO REAR A CUCKOO. (To the Editor of the “ Victorian Naturalsst.”) Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to contribute the following infermation for the benefit of your valued and interesting journal. About the 20th day of December, 1883, while mowing some common ferns or bracken which were growing unpleasantly near my orchard fence, being at that time of the year afraid of bush fires, my attention was arrested by hearing a young bird chirping, and on looking about I found that I had cut down some ferns in which was built a small nest, containing a single bird, which appeared to be decidedly large in comparison to the nest, and was in a nearly nude state, yery plump and strong, not unlike a young dove, but somewhat smaller. I replaced the ferns as nearly as possible in their former position, and decided to make the acquaintance of its parents. After some little time, I was agreeably surprised at seeing a pair of small and insignificant brown birds, not unlike Larks, appreach the nest. I at once concluded that all was not right, and was not a little interested. A week passed, during which the nest was regularly attended, and the young bird had grown considerably and was fairly well-fledged. As Christmas was to be spent in Melbourne, I took leave of my interesting friends for a week. wishing them every success. On my return my first thought was the birds, which I found all well, the young bird being now covered with very distinct bands of dark grey and pure white feathers. Preparing a cage, I took the bird into safe keep ing. F, 64. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. On showing to my neighbours and narrating my experience to them, they remarked it was very strange, but I maintained my opinion against all that I had got a real Victorian Cuckoo. The bird thrived with me well, and was fed on meat and hard boiled egg, but though well cared for seemed to suffer much from the weather when it became cold, and in the month of June died, as I think from its effects. I may remark that at the time of discovery I had no knowledge that there was such a bird known inthis colony, and this, coupled with my friends’ total ignorance in the matter, led me to take a very considerable amount of interest which I otherwise would not have done. With best wishes I have the honour to remain, Yours faithfully, Furnprers, WersTERNPORT, J. 8. SMITH. August 14th, 1885. ANECDOTE OF A DUCKLING. Wuen out fishing the other day, we heard the loud chirping of some bird, and presently spied a little black duckling swimming about in front of us. It seemed attracted by our voices and anxious to land. I tried imitating a duck’s call. It was avery poor attempt, but much to our astonishment the little thing came and landed close to us. I made a clutch at it, but it slipped back into the water, and dived out of my hand. When up, it dived once more, and swam away for about fifty yards. I called again, when it turned and came straight back. I sat quite still, when the Jittle creature landed, came round some tossacks and sat down beside me. I may mention that a black duck and four ducklings had been seen about an hour before, a little further down the river. She had evidently been alarmed and left this one behind. It seemed about a day old, but was wonderfully knowing for its age. We took it home, snugly tucked up. When taken out it refused to feed, but began preening its feathers, and then nestled in my hand. It caused much amuse- ment next morning by following me about, tumbling out of its box, and off the table, and coming where it heard voices, round corners, over flower beds, and through borders. It is domesticated with a white duck and her family, has been with her now for ten days, and seems quite contented. 6th Nov., 1884. J. A. H. Cc. H. MUMM & CO., CHAMPAGNE Has the Largest Sale of any Champagne. SPSOCPSOSSOOCSOSUVCOO SO SSOOS SOLE AGENTS FOR VICTORIA— ALEX. JOSKE & COz 16 Mittle Collins Street East. Wm. S. HUSBANDS, Jl ANCL ACT ORING OR TICIAN 814 OUEBEN STREET, MED BOU RIN =, (Established 1862), BRISTOL, ENGLAND, (Established 1762.) Weefereii gen Séudents Compound Achromatic Microscopes and Accessories ti Stock. Mathematical, Philosophical, Meterologicat, Nautical, | Optical, Surveying and Mining Instruments: Importer, Sc. The Metfords Theodolites and Level Combined, The Improve: Dumping Levels Ball Motion. Woilwll: No; 6. Octoper 1885. THE + | + or bap Ts fh | : + Dictorian Patuvalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE | OF THE The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. (GUA NS ig Mig A pc PAGE Proceedings of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria she 65 Notes on a Basalt-Vitrophyr at Tanjil. By A. W. Howitt, F.G.S8. as sa rae 67 Geological Sketch of S.W. Victoria. By J. Dayyanr. ... 70 Additions to the Queensland Flora by Dr. Lucas. By : Baron von Muxuuer. ae aes ma ye Notes on Victorian Fungs, with List of Species New to Victoria. By Baron von MurtueEr. ... ane 76 PRICK —SIX PENCE South MWelbourne ; J. C, MITCHELL, PRINTER, CLARENDON ST. . 1885. =F President : Raydo J. EDA Ln Pice-PBresipents : Mr. T. A. FORBES-LE(TA | Mr. A. H. 8. LUCAS, M.A. Hon, Treasurer: » Hon. Librarian: Mr. E. BAGE. | Mz. C. FRENCH, F.L-S. Hon. Secretary: Asst, Mon. Secretary: Mr. F. G. A. BARNARD, Mr. G. COGHILL. Kew. @onnittee: ‘Mrs. DOBSON. “Ma. J. HL. GAN » J. SIMSON. . GOR. Eiie Mr. D. BEST. ,. Di leSOume: Mr. C. A. TOPP, M.A. ——— Vuis CLuB was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History reeular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in tre Wield by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. No Entrance Fee, Annu Subscription, including copy of proceedings 15s., dating from May Ist. The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers, and exhibition of speciwens, with a short conversazione, are held on the second Monday in each month at the Royal Society’s Hall, Viztoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. The proceedings of the Club are recorded inits journal—the * Victorian Naturalist.” Annual Subscription, 6s. 6d.. post free (to members free). The first Volume, comprising sixteen numbers, with title page and index, _ just completed. Price—Seven Shillings and Sixpence (post free). Copies of the Annual Report and List of Members for 1884-5, with Kiules, etc., can be obtained on application to the Hon. See. THE Pictovian Maturalist: Vou. II., No. 6. OCTOBER 1885. No 22 THE FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. Tue monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 14th September, 1885. The president, the Rey. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and about seventy-five members and-yisitors were present. A letter was read from Dr. J. HE. Taylor, I'.G.S., thanking the Club for his election as an hon. member. The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following donations to the Club’s library: — “Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales” for 1884, vol. KaValliles from the Society; “ Report of Smithsonian Institution,” Washington, U.S.A., for 1882, from the U.S. Govt. The hon. secretary read an account of the Club excursion to Cheltenham on the 12th inst., written by Mr. C. French, F.L.S. On account of the heavy rain in the morning, the excursion was only moderately attended. On arrival at Cheltenham, the members took a westerly direction towards Brighton. Several pools were tried for specimens of pond life, but nothing of importance was captured. The country was simply a blaze of bloom owing to the numerous Leguminous plants, such as Acacias, Daviesias, ete. ; Epacrids; Comesperma volubile; and others. During the day over seventy species of plants were noted iu bloom. Orchids were not abundant, being more frequent nearer the beach. On some low ground a splendid patch of the beautiful Hpacrid, Sprengelia incarnata was seen. Insects were very scarce, doubtless owing to the early period of the season. The following ladies and gentlemen were elected members of the Club:—Miss Millne, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Wm. Bage, Messrs. W. Bage, Joseph Bryant, and E. H. Hennell. Papers for future meetings were promised by Hon. Dr. Dobson, F..L.S., Messrs. O. A. Sayce, A. W. Coles, H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., and H. Watts. 66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Papers read:—1. By Mr. H. Watts, on ‘Staining vegetable tissues for the microscope.” The writer exhibited an enlarged drawing of a stained section, and described his experience in double staining. . 2. she hon. secretary read a paper by the Rey. Dr. Woolls, F.L.S., entitled “Sanitary Properties of Eucalypts.” The writer recommended eight species of Eucalypts which were likely to prove useful, where on account of climatic or geologic circumstances, LH. globulus could not be grown. 3. The Rev. A. W. Cresswell read a paper by Mr. A. W~- Howitt, F G.S., entitled ‘ Notes on a basalt-vitrophyr from River Tanjil valley, Gippsland.” This was shown to be a glassy basalt from a yolcanie formation, which had flowed ever the bed of an ~ ancient river, altering the gravel comprising the bed into a solid quartzoze rock, locally termed ‘cement ” Specimens of the rocks. were exhibited and also sections under the microscope. 4. By Mr. F. Reader, “ Notes on some hitherto unrecorded Victorian fungi,” being a description of several species new to Victoria, collected by the writer in Studley Park, and elsewhere near Melbourne. Baron F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., forwarded as also applying to this colony an extract from the ‘‘ Gardener’s Chronicle” in which attention was called to the wholesale destruction of native plants in England, and recommending botanists, and members of field clubs to discountenance wholesale sales of native plants, and the removal of rare plants for cultivation without special objects. Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., read a note on a curious growth of fungi found by Mr. Tisdall in the Long Tunnel Mine, Walhalla, 800 feet below the surface. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening:—By Rey. W. M. Alexander, 122 specimens of woods; by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, native orchids in bloom, Pterostyl’s curta, P. nana, P, nutans, and P. pedunculata; also branches of native shrub Myoporum insulare, all grown by the exhibitor; by Miss F. M. Campbell, 100 species of Australian lichens; by Mr. A. Coles, two. pheasants from Samoa, woodcock, and Canadian quail; by Mr. J. i. Dixon, 1are Victorian beetle, Natal’s ttana, also mason wasp, and nest; by Mr. C. French, F.L.8., lepidoptera from Sumatra, the rare beetle, Neolamprina Auelleri, from North Queensland, also specimens of a destructive Australian moth Agrot?s vastator, the larve of which feed on the roots of cereals; by Master C. French, album of dried orchids, genus Pterostylis; by Mr. J. T. Gillespie, twenty-six species of Victorian birds eggs; by Master Hill, orehid Prasophyllum elatum; by Mr, H. Hunt, a fan-tailed euckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis, (alive); by Mr. A. W. Howitt, F.G.S., hand specimeas and sections for the microscope, of the rocks im THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST 67 illustration of his paper; by Mr. H. Kennon, volcanic specimens from Mt. Noorat, also fossil shells from clay marl at lakes Bullen- merri and Gnotuk, Western District; by Master Lawrence, minerals; by Mr. D. Le Souef, mummy head of Egyptian Queen from Thebes, about 4000 years old; by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, a parrakeet, Cyclopsittacus suavissimus from New Guinea, being the smallest ‘Species but one known; by Mr. A. H.S. Lucas, M.A., lizard Egernia fom near Saltwater River; by Mr. J. H. McKibbon, orchids in bloom, Diuris longifolia, Pterostylis nana, etc.; by Mr. F. Reader, fungi in illustration of his paper; by Mrs. Jno. Simson, cocoons. etc., of moth, apparently gregarious in its habits, on meyall branches from Deniliquin, N.S.W., also native cucumbers. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. NOTES ON A BASALT-VITROPHYR AT TANJIL. By A. W. Howann,.'l).G-.S. Cd I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Graham, the mining manager of the “Tanjil Deep Leads Goid Mining Company 3 for the samples described in these notes. According to the information which he favoured me with, the No. 2 shaft of the mine was sunk through a vyoleanic flow, which had covered and preserved from erosion part of the course of a former river, of which perhaps the Tanjil is the modern representative.* In sinking the shaft, a tree trunk was found standing erect and enclosed in the rock from which the samples Nos. 1 and 2 were taken. Mr. Graham states that “it rested in a ollow in the clay, but without any sign of tap root, and the remaining branches and roots had a charred appearance.” At 82 feet depth, cemented gravel was found, which is locally known as “ cement” or “ pudding stone,” this was two feet thick, and it rested upon a few inches of water-worn gravel. Below this was the bed rock, probably of Upper Silurian age. The sample of the rock through which the shaft was sunk, is a mixture of volcanic glass and fragments of crystalline rock. The glassy material which was very abundant in some samples, I found to be throughout greatly altered and decomposed, so that I had much difficulty in extracting sufficient material in an unaltered condition for analysis and examination. he alteration products are mostly carbonates of iron, manganese, lime and magnesia, which *I may refer the reader to particulars as to the Tanjil district given by Mr. Reginald A. F. Murray, in his valuable memoir on the “* geology and mineral resources of South Western Gippsland.” Progress Report of the Geolegical Survey of Victoria, part III, page 135. 68 THE VICTORIAN, NATURALIST. fill in cavities or cluster along the fissures of the rockin botryoidal or mammullated groups. The included fragments of crystalline rock vary from an almost compact to a vesicular texture, and in color from dark lead tint to almost black. I examined three samples. The unaltered glass, one of the in- cluded fragments of rock, and the “cement.” ‘he following are the results of the examination :— 1. Volcanic glass,—It has a black color and a glassy lustre, with a peculiar wrinkled appearance on a fracture surface. A thin slice examined under the microscope proved to be in greater part a yellow isotropic glass, containing but few products of devitrification. In it are (@) very numerous, small, lath-like crystals of a triclinie felspar. Many of the crystals are imperfectly terminated, or the component plates are not of the same length. I could not obtain any reliable optical measurements, but the inclination of the plane of vibration is large, and suggests labradorite. (6.) Colorless angular grains or clusters of grains, which polarize in bright tints of green and red. Some few bear resemblance to colorless pyroxene, but I believe that all are olivine. Two groups showed traces of a rhombic prism, with — angles very near those of olivine. The roughened surface appear- ance of the grains, the occasional occurrence of minute included octahedra of magnetite, and the decomposition of similar grains im: another slice by hydrochloric acid confirm the conclusion. (c.) Magnetite, or perhaps titaniferous magnetite, occurs rarely. (d.) Finally, there are a few instances of alteration products which are most likely carbonate of iron, lime, &e. In order to learn more as to the character of this rock, I made a quantitative chemical analysis, of which the subjoined are the results :— P: O; wed Fe O 732 Naz O 3°30 Ti O5 tr. Mn O tik Hig tO ‘79 Si Og ‘HIS Ca O 8-74 Al, O3 18:03 Me O 560 100-18 Moisture -70 Sp. Sts: | 26 The microscopical examination shows that this rock is essentially glassy, and that it includes porphyritically crystals of olivine, plagio- clase, and magnetite. These data, as also the quantitative analysis, agree best with a rock of the composition of tachylite, with which also the specific gravity falls in well.* *Zirkel, Lehrbuch der Petrographie, p 304. I refer to the analysis by Gmelin of the Tachylite of Bobenhausen. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69 The term Tachylite has been used by Zirkel for a glassy modifica- tion of Basalt.* Rosenbusch restricts it to those “more or less easily decomposable basie hyaline rocixs which would have produced a Basalt had erystalline consolidation taken place.” More lately he has suggested that it will be well to use the word Vitrophyr for all voleanic rocks, which are mainly or wholly composed of glassy material. There would therefore be a Basalt-Vitrophyr and the name Tachylite might be added as indicating that sub-division to which the rocks, which are readily decomposed by Hydrochloric Acid, belong. The sample which I have examined has the composition and structure of a hyaline example of Basalt, and according to the rules indicated by Rosenbusch, it can be deseribed as a Basalt-Vitrophyr of the Tachylite sub-division. 2. Crystalline rock. This sample formed part of a rock fragment embedded in the Tachylite. I prepared a thin slice which | found to have many resemblances to that last described. The ground mass 1s composed of much dark-colored glass, which is made still more opaque by a great amount of black dust-like particles (magnetite?) In this are many lath-shaped compound triclinic felspars and some irregular grains and clusters of grains of Olivine, and a few rare grains which may perhaps be a light-colored Augite. The vescicles of the rock are filled in with carbonates. Optical measurements which I obtained in some of the felspars gaye me results which, although not very satisfactory, allow it to be said that in the zone oP (001) — 0 Pa (100) the inclination of the angles of obscuration lie between 7° 30! and 33° 80!. One section which was near to the Brachypinacoid gave an angle of 39° 30!. Such angles as these suggest a basic felspar Labradorite or Bytownite series, but the angles taken as a whole do not agree with those of either one or the other, as given for instance in the researches of Schuster on the optical properties of the Plagioclastie felspars. This rock may be considered as being a fine grained somewhat vesicular Basalt, with a large amount of glass in its ground mass. 3. Cement. This sample was taken from part of the “ cement? already spoken of. I found in examining a thin slice that it is composed of quartz sand, with a few larger fragments of what seems like vein quartz, and some black flecks which may be probably carbonaceous material. It has evidently been part of the river drift upon which it was found resting, and may have been altered to its present condition, at the time when the flow of Basaltic lava sealed up the course of the ancient river. To sum up the preceding statements so far as relates to the Weeanie rock, through which the shaft of the Tanjil Deep Lead 70 YHE VICLORIAN NATURALIST Mine was sunk, I may say that it is a Basalt-Vitrophyr of the sub- division Tachylite, with included fragments of more crystalline lavas of the Basalt group. *Zirkel, Mikroscopische Beschaffenheit der Mineralienund Gosteine, p. 484. ~ ; ; +Rosenbusch, Mikroskopische Physiographie der petrographisch wichtigen Mineralien p. 137. : ; tRosenbusch, Mikroskopische Physiographie der massigen Gesteine, p. 445. GEOLOGICAL SKETCH OF SOUTH-WESTERN VICTORIA. By Joun Dennant, INTRODUCTION. Tus following outline of the geology of the south-western portion of Victoria, is the result of observations made while travelling through it for business purposes on various occasions. The region described lies between these boundaries :—West, the South Australian border ; East, Norton’s Creek, Serra Range, and a line drawn from Mount Abrupt to the Eumeralla mouth ; South, the coast line; and North, the Mallee fringe. A few preliminary notes are made on its physical geography. The only mountain ranges are on the East, forming a part of the Grampians, and divided into the Dundas, Victoria, Serra, and Black ranges. A great number of volcanic hills of low elevation are found in the South, the principal being Napier, Rouse, Eccles, Clay, and Kckersley. The river Glenelg rises on the western slopes of the Serra, and runs northwards and westwards between the Victoria and Black ranges, thence on past Balmoral and Harrow, when it bends to the South, and finally, after an exceedingly tortuous course, flows into the Southern Ocean, near the South Australian boundary. The scenery along its banks is of the most varied character, every geological formation in the district being cut through by it on its way to the sea. Rising in sandstone country, it passes through granite at Harrow and Dergholm, slates at Roseneath, mesozoic strata at Casterton, pleistocene shell deposits at Pieracle, and miocene limestone at its mouth. The Wannon, whick rises in the same range, but on the opposite or eastern slope, flows South and West around Mounts Abrupt, Sturgeon, and Victoria, past Dunkeld and Cavendish, and on through rolling downs of extreme fertility to its junction with the Glenelg at Sandford. The other principal tributaries of the THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST 71 Glenelg are the Chetwynd, Wando, Stokes, and Crawford, all enter- ing on its left bank, the country on its right furnishing no stream of any importance. The Surrey, Fitzroy, and Eumeralla, are small rivers, unconnected with this main drainage area, flowing directly into the ocean on the eastern side of Portland Bay. In the region lying between the Glenelg and the Mallee Scrub, no river or even creek of any but the most insignificant size is found, as the country is almost a dead level, the slight slope which exists being towards the Murray. Here, however, are a number of small lakes, generally brackish, often full in winter, but sometimes for years together, perfectly dry. The principal are the White Lake, Boorropki, Wallace, and Mitre Lakes. The whole district is a deeply interesting one, comprehending as it does so many formations, ranging from pleistocene to silurian, with their accompanying intrusive and metamorphic rocks. G) Rae Mr. D. BEST. : » D. LeSOUEF. Mn. C. A. TOPP, M.A. : Tris Crus was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; ibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in tLe Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. No Entrance Fee, Annual Subscription, including copy of proceedings, 15s., dating from May Ist. The Ordinary Meetings for the reading of papers, aud exhibition of specimens with a short conversazione. are held on the second Monday in each mouth at the Royal Seciety’s Hall, Victoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. The proceedings of the Club are recorded inits journal—the “ Victorian Naturalist.’ Annval Subscription, 6s. 6Gd.. post free (to members free). The first Volume, comprising sixteen num'ers, with title page and index, . ‘ + fay eel 2) Nien “ just completed. Price—Seven Shillings and Sixpence (poss free). Copies of the Annual Report and List of Members for 1884-5, with LES . . . Rules, cte., can be obtatmed on application to the Hon. See. THE Wictarian BMaturalixst: Mor. Uo. No: 12, APRIL 1586. No: 28: THE FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICYORIA. THe monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, 8th March, 1886. The president, the Rey. J. J. Halley, oveupied the chair, and about fifty members and visitors were present. A letter was read from the Hon. Dr. Dobson, apologising for absence, and desiring lis paper to be postponed. The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following donations to the Club’s library :— “ Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania,” for 1885, from the Society; ‘“‘ Journal of Pharmacy,” Vol. IL, No. 2, from the Pharmaceutical Society. The following persons were elected members of the Club:—Mzr. L. N. Shepherd, and Dr. Springthorpe. Papers read:—1. By Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, ‘‘ Notes on the Aquiline or Hagle family.” The author briefly described some of the principal species of this family of birds, giving their several habitats. He also related striking instances of their great size, longevity, powers of sight, ete. 2. The hon. sec. read a paper by Miss F. M. Campbell, entitled “Notes on Hdible Fungi.” The authoress having first given a general outline of her studies respecting fungi, described in a popular manner about ten species which are common in Victoria, and are usually regarded as poisonous, but which, she stated, if eaten when young and fresh, are harmless. Dried specimens of 150 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST each kind were exhibited. The paper was very interesting, and created some little discussion. Mr. C. French, F.L.S., remarked in connection with the difficulty mentioned of naming specimens, that the whole of the fungi of Australia, (except the “micro” section) described up to date, would be enumerated in Vol. XII. of the Fragmenta shortly to be published by Baron von Mueller. _ The following were the principal exhibits:—By Miss F. M. Campbell, Victorian fungi in illustration of her paper; by Mr. J. P. Chirnside, gum with insects imbedded from Central Africa; by Mr. G. Coghill, orchid, Prasophyllum intricatum, in bloom; by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, a pair of Indian parrakeets, Palwornis cyanocephalus; by Mr. C. French, four specimens of birds of paradise, Paradisea raggiana; by Mr. R. Hall, a collection of aquatic insects; by Master G. E. Ell, coleoptera ; by Master H. Hill, lepidoptera; by Mr. H. Kennon, large mussel shells from Fiji; by Mr. D. MeAlpie, some interesting anatomical specimens, comprising preparations of the frog, portions of skeletons of the pigeon and the rabbit, with lithographed plates of same, also a young skate with yelk-bag attached, as found in its egg-case, commonly known as a mermaid’s purse; by Mr. J. N. McKibbin, 170 species of coleoptera; by Mr. A. J. North, letter- winged kite, Klanus scriptus, with egg; by Mr. F. Reader, plants collected around Warragul; and by Mr. S. H. Wintle, F.L.S., a large topaz, said to be the largest in the world, displaying the true crystalline structure of the topaz, found in a tin mine in Tasmania, three feet below the surface. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. TO WILSONS PROMONTORY OVERLAND. By J. B. Gregory, LL.M., any A. H. S. Lucas) MCAS Part 4. : Tne silted and sanded up embouchures of the Derby and Tidal Rivers afforded a home for colonies of plants which we did not see elsewhere. We had first at the entrance of the Derby to fight our way through a tangle of tall and thickset bushes of Styphelia Richer, and Lwocarpus cupressiformis, which were in berry, and furnished the only edible fruits which Nature provided for us in our journey. The Victorian Bush is as inhospitable as its settlers of all classes are hospitable. Stout bushes of Aster glutescens, Cryptandra Hookert, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 151 and Alyaia buxzfolia also barred the way, and where the bushes were less dense, the deep, fine, loose sand made progress in a hot sun difficult. Once through the shore-belt and sand-hummiocks however we came out on an open flat, which, extending on one side to the river, afforded a good camping ground. Here we were charmed by the brilliant racemes of Swacnsonta lessertifolia, of deep blue-purple. A humbler congener, Lotus australis, was in full flower. If we are to accept recent views of the development of color in plants, we should expect to find the mauve flowers of the Australian Lotus more dependant upon insect agency than the yellow flowers of L. cormeulatus, so abundant in English meadows. And the Swainsoniasyyet more entomophilous. But we had to hurry on, and could obtain no satisfactory evidence during our midday halt. The ground was in places carpeted with a little Goodeniaceous plant, Scevola pallida, of a very social habit, and bearing delicate pale lilac flowers. A granite spur from the main mass of the Promoutory projects northward, and parts the sea from the low marsh and pasture lands of the winding Derby River. We wound our way along the inland flanks of this spur, and commanded thence an excellent view of the river flats. Here we disturbed some King Parrots, and listened to the marsh birds, thinking of old times in the English Fens, as “bittern boomed and coot clanked.” Further on we reached the main mass of granite, and by a pass over Mount Bishop, again made the sea- shore in one of the Western Bays. On our way we gathered late blooms of Correa speciosa, of the handsome yariety in which the tube of the corolla has acquired a red coloration, the limb remaining green. Bushes of Calycothria tetragona, covered some with white, others with pink blooms, made the slores gay between the gigantic bosses. Mr, Gregory has mentioned our climb of Mt. Oberon. Black stumps of Yanthorrhea major, were prominent objects and obstacles to fully 1500 feet above the sea. There was, however, no serious difficulty in the ascent. We had to skirt the projecting smooth masses of granite, which shouldered us off, and managed to pull ourselves up in a nearly vertical crack in the face of the most awkward. The highest point had to he stormed through a brake of tall, closely set saplings, in which [found a nest with young birds, and then a climb up bare rocks set us on the summit. ‘Ihe heat of the fiercely shining sun was our most serious hindranee in the struggle up. Atthe very top grew freely two interesting Myrtaceous plants, Awnzea corifolia, and Callistemon -salignus, which also occurred at the very tip of the light-house spur. The white Lvid, Diplarrhena Morea, appeared generally distributed over the mountain, 152 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. and Aster stellulatus showed its variability of form, appearing on the heights and at the sea-shore. After taking in full draughts of the fresh, cold air, and as much of high sentiment as the situation supplied, we turned to the descent. We found water in a huge, natural, granite basin, but this, though clear, was brackish through excess of evaporation. It was interesting as furnishing a station suitable for a green Alga, (Prasiola or Enteromorpha), which had somehow manaped to ood it out and reach it even at this height. We presently ‘obtained drinkable water oozing out im a spring. This from its first appearance we traced, as a simple rill, then down an alarming succession of waterfalls, until it opened out in a gully and at last entered the sea. As the fall was some 1800 feet, and the distance from the sea not much more than a mile, our little stream led us a considerable chase. In some places indeed, it seemed to lead where. man might not follow. Though water finds, no doubt, the shortest course down a mountain side, it is generally the shortest in point of time for water, but mt for man. In fact, we should haye got down more quickly had we returned by the way we took in the ascent. Mount Wilson and. Mount Latrobe are heavily timbered, and though somewhat higher than Mount Overon, would hardly repay the much greater ‘orl of their ascent, for there can be no such lock-out from the summit of either as we obtained from that of Oberon. The panorama of land and water, island cape and_ bay, forest-clad hill and river flat, all yiewed from such a high point of vantage: this can perhaps only be surpassed in these regions by the view from Mount Wellington, in Tasmania, of the Derwent Hs stuary, the Western Mountais, and the long Peninsulas of the South East, with the town of Hobart in ‘contrast to the wildness of all surrounding Nature. I shall not easily forget the weird quiet of our night encampments on the Tidai River, and at the foot of Martin’s Hill. As we walked up the left bank of the former stream in search of a camping ground which would satisfy all requisites, we found abundance “ot water-fowl, swan and duck, on one of the expansions of the river. We had now moonlight nights, aud the outlook was sublime. We were in a small plain, shut in landwards by a hard granite semi-circle, with the higher peaks in the back-ground, and with the beating of the surf and roar of the breakers a “quarter of a mile on the other side. Yet, sheltered by a line of sand-lhummocks and a growth of young Eucalypts, we were comfortable enough m our tent, and far from human aid or interference passed a peaceful New Year's Eve. At the foot of Martin’s Hill, a huge owl came and perched on the telegraph pole adjoining our camp. I think it must have been a specimen of the Powerful Owl. THE VICLORIAN NATURALIST. 153 Martin’s Hillis the north ascent of a granite plateau, which, with the exception of the narrow and lower spur which forms the light- house foreland, constitutes the southern extremity of the Promontory. The climb was a steep one and one could not but marvel at the. sagacity and dexterity of our pack-horse. He performed many gymnastic feats during our tramp, but I think his ascent of that harsh, and steep, and insecure hill-front beat all the rest. Once up, however, and the rest of the eight miles to the light-house was easy work. On the brow of the hil, Gompholobium Huegelit, and G minus grew together in abundance. We came across three specimens of the blue-tongued lizard, Cyclodus gigas, two on this part of our journey. One was feeding ona fungus, the other apparently on a dead bird. They are easy enough to catch, of course, but we carried no means of preserving them. So with the Echidna; we disturbed three of these ant-eaters and made them burrow to amuse us, but did not bring away more than a few spines as_ trophies. Amonest birds we noted the Blue Mountain Parrot, the Cockatoo Parrot, flocks of the little Love Birds, and a number of Parrakeets, which I am quite unable toname. Atthe mouth of one of the creeks we found fresh emu tracks on our return. While collecting shells on some rocks which ran out into the sea on the seven mile stretch of sand, I noticed a small heron standing near me, and ever and again darting on some victim. 1 had not before made the acquaintance of a sea- heron, and watched him for some time. Wallabies occasionally bounded away from us, startled at our approach. The sportsman has not yet made the Promontory desolate, and the native inhabitants can still be observed, undisturbed in their proper hauuts. Near the lighthouse I found several everlastings. Helichrysum lucidum grew magnificently. H. obtwsifolium occurs here, but does not reach Tasmania. H. dealbatum, however, is found across the Straits. I have already mentioned H. Baxteri as extending only to the neck of the Promontory, and I am informed by Baron yon Mueller that it had not been observed so far south before. The flora of the Promontory is especially intéresting im its relation to the distribution of plants. for here we have the land of the continent which most nearly approaches Tasmania. I must here record my obligations and thanks to Baron von Mueller, to whom I submitted many of my specimens, and whose determinations of difficult species, render this paper trustworthy in its record of plants. Among the huge granite boulders of this iron coast, and in crevices and caves of the rocky cliffs, grow numbers of specimens of Asplenium marinum, which we had gathered in similar situations in Guernsey and Cornwall. It was,indeed astonishing to fird this plant world-wide in its distribution, and to reflect that it has its habitat, as it were, scarcely on land and scarcely in sea, occupying Ijat THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST as it does, but a narrow slip of vertical or cverhanging cliff, and watered by the spray of the tumultuous waves. Surely here is one of the most remarkable of the phenomena of distribution, the conditions of life so restricting, yet the plant so widely spread. We collected vigorously during our scanty time on the shore of the lighthouse peninsula, and also whenever opportunity presented elsewhere during our expedition. The most interesting among the Mollusca was WNatica Incez, which has not been found on the Victorian coast before, though recorded from New South Wales. Triton cutaceus, (if we may trust Mr. Tenison- Wood's identification of the European species with our own), Donax deltocdalis, Cassidaria undulata, and the more common open sea forms were collected. The Donaxz.was persecuted alike by the Vaticas and by a multitude of sea-birds. the number of shells bored or broken across being extraordinary. At the crossing of Serew Creek, Ophiocardelus corneus, and Ampuliarina fragilis, (probably a less robust estuarine form of A. Quoyl), were seen in great numbers. Several star—fish were obtained, some not yet described, one of which Prof. MeCoy informs me is in the hands of Prof. Agassiz. In conclusion, we may safely commend the Promontory as full of interest to naturalists of all persuasions. Practically inaccessible as it is at present, we believe that a future yet awaits it as a summer haunt of lovers of nature, lovers of scenery. In many respects alike, we prophecy that as the Cornish Peninsula was late to be discovered by tourists, not many generations will pass before means of communication will enable Victorians to find out and do justice to this noble granite Promontory, the Cornwall of Victoria. NOTES ON THE HABITS OF NATIVE BIRDS. By I. Barry, Sunspury. (Read before the Field Naturalists’ Clubof Victoria, Jan. 18th, 1886) Part 2. Cockatroos ann Magepirs. Cocxatoos having once learned what a gun can do, show talent of a high order when ravaging a newly sown grain paddock. From their mode of conducting operations, they seem to possess a reasoning faculty rather than common instinct. When feeding, several sentries are posted so advantageously, that it is almost an inpossibility for the cleverest sneaker to get within shot of the flock. The vigilance of the sentries is truly surprising, for if THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155 danger is lurking about, on the slightest intimation of it, the watchers give the alarm cry, which is at once responded to by the whole flock taking flight. Another curious fact in connection with the sentries, is, that they are relieved at intervals by fresh birds from the main body, who take up the watch, while the others go to feed. On a certain occasion, I satisfied myself that if these birds settle down with danger in their midst, unknown to them, they do not seek for it there. This day I was lying in wait under a thick bush, within shot of a tall gum-tree, that they used to perch upon before visiting an adjacent oat paddock. Having waited a little time, they came soaring up the creek, near enough for me to secure one with each barrel, but I wanted more than that. They pitched in the paddock, about 160 yards away in a straight line from where I was concealed. Sentries were set as usual, on trees near enough to be reached with a wire cartridge. Having reflected a while, L resolved to effect a sneak upon the main body. From the nature of the ground, I was compelled to adopt a devious course to reach my quarry. To commence, I had to go down a grassy bank for about thirty yards. The herbage, though fairly long, was not sufficiently high to screen me from the sentinels, and if I slid down on my back as I proposed, I should be in full view of those feeding. However, I had little fear, as [ knew they were too busy to notice me. Holding the gun close to my body, and lying on my back, I “snaked” rayself feet foremost down to the creek, where there was a capital fringe of bushes, and shallow water for wading. Here I was out of view of all parties, so, removing my boots and socks, I travelled noiselessly up stream. "Presently the cover began to get thinner, as I caught occasional ghmpses of the watchers, and at last ceased altogether. Having accurately marked the place where the birds were feeding, I ne I had some distance yet to go, even to get a long shot. In front of me wasa nearly perpendicular bank just about breast high, cut away by the floods, and in full view of the sentries in the backwoods above. There was only one way of getting over the intervening twenty or thirty yards, and that was to © flatten” myself along the bank in sight of the watchers, this I managed successfully, “and getting a good shot, secured six birds. Tiana the foregoing, I think it is mien that the sentries direct their vision to the outer part of the circle they are set to watch over, otherwise it would have been an utter impossibility for me to have circumvented them. Another very striking action on the part of the white cockatoo, is the sending out cf scouts for the purpose of investigating the food supply of a district. Persons like myself, who have spent the whole of their days in the bush, and possess some powers of 156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. observation, have unlimited opportunities for noting the peculiarities of birds. Thus, when I see half a dozen cockatoos, or more often a single one, pattering to and fro, as if on a general ramble, I can safely predict, that, provided the spies report favorably, before a week expires the grand horde will appear. It seems perfectly plain to me, and those who are versed in bird lore will doubtless agree, that those birds are sent for the benefit of the general common weal. If they went voluntarily, selfishness would prompt them to settle down for the purpose of enjoying the first fruits of their discovery. This of itself is wonderful, but the most mysterious part of the proceeding to the tyro, is, how the messengers are able to deliver a correct statement of the food supply of the district they have visited. As I before stated, the vocabulary of the crow consists of the word ‘caw’ with its various modulations, which convey an infinite number of meanings. The language of the cockatoo is more e»pious, embracing, to my mind, fully six words, if not more. This, taken with the fact that the cockatoo is naturally a more intelligent bird than the crow, seems to show that their acts are regulated more by pure reason than by instinct. It appears clear to me that the spies are sent out for a specific purpose by their comrades, and that they clearly understand the instructions they receive, and these they seem to carry out honestly, and furnish correct accounts of what has come under their ken. Furthermore, the intelligence of the cockatoo is progressive. In this old settled district they are the hardest birds I know of to work round on, from their habit of placing sentries. Years ago when I resided upon the Lower Murrumbidgee, they never had watchers stationed on trees. The reason this precaution was not taken there, was because no person thought it worth while to waste powder and shot upon them. The best way to get at cockatoos, is to mark the tree in which they roost, and then, provided you do not go to it in the early part of the night, you can get a slaughtering shot at them.