ction of
the last creek crossed by the party. Beyond that supposed bed of the
Wimmera the country appeared to be undulated, open, and grassy; and it
was probably covered with lakes similar to those on this side, for I had
observed from Mount Zero patches of water in that direction. From this
summit I had a good view of the Grampians of the South and, discovering
that a lofty range extended from them southward, I named it the Victoria
range having also recognised and intersected Mount William, distant 53
1/2 miles. I could see no high land to the westward, and the hill on
which I stood seemed to divide the singular lacustrine country from that
where the character of the surface was fluviatile. Mount Arapiles is a
feature which may always be easily recognised both by its isolated
position and by its small companion the Mitre Rock, situated midway
between it and the lake to the northward, which I named Mitre Lake after
the little hill, its neighbour. Like the mountains in the east Mount
Arapiles consists of sandstone passing into quartz, the whole apparently
an altered sandstone, the structure being in one part almost destroyed,
in others perfectly distinct and containing pebbles of quartz. At the
western extremity this rock occurs in columns, resembling, at a distance,
those of basalt. (See Plate 31.) On the steep slopes grew pines,
casuarinae, and a variety of shrubs among which we found a new species of
Baeckea, forming a handsome evergreen bush, the ends of whose graceful
branches were closely covered with small white delicate flowers.* This
mass occupies about two square miles, its highest summit being elevated
above Mitre Lake 726 feet. I ascended this hill on the anniversary of the
battle of Salamanca and hence the name.

(Footnote. B. calycina, Lindley manuscripts; glaberrima, foliis planis
sparse punctatis oblongo-cuneatis acutis, floribus pedicellatis
terminali-axillaribus, laciniis calycinis petaloideis petalis
longioribus. Near B. virgata.)

MR. STAPYLTON'S EXCURSION NORTHWARD.

July 24.

While Mr. Stapylton rode northward in search of the Wimmera I proceeded
to examine and survey some of these remarkable lakes.

SALT LAKES.

On the margin of one of them, bearing 55 1/2 degrees West of North from
our camp, a green hill of rather singular shape rose to a considerable
height above the surrounding country. I found the water in the lake
beside it shallow and quite salt. The basin was nearly circular though