J""^'! O'DoNOGHUE, Rambles in Raak. 27 



tion, and so occupied were we in this task that we failed to notice 

 a bulky Carpet Snake, Morelia variegata, slightly over seven 

 feet in length, that was indulging in an early sun-bath on one 

 of the trunks, in close proximity to an enthusiastic orni- 

 thologist's hand. At the alann signal the whereabouts of a 

 suitable waddy was as vital as the snake's. On divining the 

 identity of the disturbing factor, however, cameras were hastily 

 dragged from their cases and as hastily screwed to tripods. 

 Becoming alarmed at the unusual disturbance in proximity to 

 its domicile, the snake decided to retire into a hollow spout. 

 Johnny, however, fustrated this design by plugging the hole 

 with his soft felt hat. As the bafifled reptile coiled about the 

 entrance, a bat issued from out of a smaller exit, and, struggling 

 frantically over several of the ophidian's folds, fell to the ground 

 and simulated death. The snake now resolved to go aloft, 

 and in a few moments lay extended along a small hmb some 

 fifteen feet from the ground. This situation not being deemed 

 sufficiently elevated above the danger zone, an effort was 

 immediately made to reach the shelter of the dense foliage 

 above. Slowly the snake erected itself till over six feet of its 

 length was poised rigidly and vertically above the limb on 

 which it rested. The feat was a surprising one to us, and 

 served to demonstrate the great muscular power possessed by 

 these constrictors. The moment the reptile's head reached the 

 upper limb it released its hold of the lower one, and quickly 

 drew its body into the supposed haven of safety and conceal- 

 ment. Johnny now ascended the tree, and summarily shook 

 the snake to earth, where it was measured and examined, and 

 then carried without protest to a neighbouring small bush and 

 photographed, after which, being unfortunately unprovided 

 with a bag or spirit bottle of sufficient size, we left it to glide 

 away to its shelter tree unhanned. 



From various causes a visit to the Double Tanks, distant 

 about six miles due west of the hut, was deferred almost to the 

 day of our departure from Raak. The route thither lay for 

 the first mile or so over open country, and then through a 

 forest comprising mostly pine and Belar. Amongst the most 

 conspicuous of the flowering composites noted were the May 

 Weed Sunray, Helipterum cotula, the Fringe Daisy, Brachyconte 

 ciliaris, the Pointed Everlasting, Helichrysum apiculaium, and 

 the Soft Millotia, Millotta tenuifolia. On issuing from the timber 

 we ascended a sand-ridge and beheld an extensive lake-bed, com- 

 prising some thousands of acres, extending for miles to the south 

 and the west. Far off, across this monotonous level depression, 

 which was thickly invested with the Dwarf Salt-bush, a light- 

 coloured patch marked the site of Warrick's Tank. Thither 

 we directed cur steps, and on reaching the tank found it over- 



