342 THE LAKE GEORGE SENKUNGSFELD, 



Ponds, one traversed a sandy mud with occasional Hat-growing, 

 fleshy weeds. The coarse grass at the foot of Lake Bathurst 

 Trig. Station was littered with dead tortoises. One passed three 

 or four every yard, mostly about a foot long. These reptiles 

 were driven out of the lake in the autumn of 1906 by the increas- 

 ing salinity, and as there is no permanent water on the eastern 

 shore, perished. In some such manner, no doubt, many of the 

 huge deposits of vertebrates found fossil in various parts of the 

 world took their origin. From the Trig. Station a fine view of 

 the lake basin and surroundings is obtainable (fig.T). Rabbit 

 Island is a prominent feature, large wattle-trees growing amid 

 the huge granite blocks which have determined the island. 

 The well-defined gap to the south-west at the gravel-siding 

 shows up as the lowest portion of the lip of the basin. 



Continuing along the north-east shore, granite outcrops ' are 

 met with, their position being shown on the map. At this 

 northern end is the deepest part of the Lake, about one foot deep 

 in February, 1907. Prominent blujffs of granite occur on the 

 north-west shore. Completing the traverse by way of Rabbit 

 Island (which is now merely a mound in a thinly grassed paddock), 

 a series of detrital fans is crossed. These bear witness to the 

 vigour of the torrents rushing down the liillsides, and have a 

 bearing on the origin of the Lake. 



Not man}' years ago sculling matches took place on tlie Lake 

 between Rabbit Island and the gravel-siding, which latter was 

 also used to convey passengers to the recreation ground on the 

 edge of the lake. With the dr^-ing of the lake, the attraction 

 of the recreation ground has passed; and the pavilion, a prominent 

 and useful landmark, has now degenerated into a stable. 



Referring to the section across Lake Bathurst (fig. 6), the 

 geological features near the gravel-siding can be made out. 

 About half-a-mile to the west of the lake, the Mulwaree Creek 

 flows to join the WoUondilly-Hawkesbury system at Goulburn. 

 This stream rises about ten miles south of the Lake, and drains a 

 fairly large basin. Between Tarago and the Lake-outlet, the 

 valley contracts so that the stream flows at the foot of rather 



