238 MR, LAWRENCE’S EXCURSION, 
and I started with two men to hunt. The circumstances of 
the dogs having lamed themselves in ascending the mountain, 
and the ground being very stony, again caused us a disap- 
pointment. We saw many kangaroos, both of the forest and 
brush kind, and observed excrements of the **Hysena" 
(Didelphis or Thylacius cyanocephalus) ; but very few traces 
of quadrupeds, except these now named. There are but few 
birds, the most remarkable being one which, from its locality, 
I have been used to call the Mountain Bird: lam ignorant 
of its scientific name, but it seems to belong to the Order 
Pici of Blumenbach. This morning's collection of speci- 
mens and seeds was satisfactory; a Richea, a new and small 
Pultenea, a trailing Exocarpus and a creeping aphyllous 
shrub being among the most remarkable. After resting a 
short time in the tent, we packed up and proceeded due 
south towards the lakes, the mountains running east and 
west: these, however, being purely basaltic, presented nothing 
to interest the mineralogist. After walking about three miles 
we saw a great number of kangaroos, and halted that we 
might take advantage of the evening and following morning 
to hunt them. 
The country here is merely a repetition of small plains and 
low stony hills, the former bearing grass and alpine plants, 
but evidently subject to be flooded during the winter season, 
the water still standing in places, even at this time ofthe year. 
On the hills are several Eucalypti, of deformed aspect, from 
exposure to the winds which are both high and frequent. 
Tasmannia fragrans, several species of Hakea and Orites also 
occur. The hunters were again unsuccessful, though num- 
bers of fine forest kangaroos* were seen. The dogs would 
not run, though half starved. 
January 18. (Thermometer 55°, 709 ; at Formosa, 68°, 
76°.) Two of the men went out to hunt at day-break, one 
ee 
“A large kind of kangaroo ; not, however, I believe, the Macropus 
H-ganteus, j 
