^°'-^^y^-"| White, Birds of Lake Victoria arid Murray River. I^ 



lignum bushes and trees were showing. The harsh cries of water- 

 fowl could be heard on every side, and we were soon busy taking 

 notes and making observations. We were surprised to see the 

 little Blue Wrens and their cousins, the Red-shouldered Wrens, 

 moving about in the almost submerged lignum bushes. The 

 weird, long-drawn call of the Grass-Bird could be heard coming 

 from every bush, and many of their lovely little nests were seen. 

 Numbers of nests of the Coot and Moor- Hen were observed. At 

 mid-day we pulled the boat over to a picturesque little island. 

 The boat was made fast, and we landed, boiled the billy, and did 

 justice to lunch amidst the glories of Nature and a veritable bird 

 paradise. Before we left the island a large fox, that had been 

 feeding upon eggs and birds, took to the water from the island. 

 We pulled out after Reynard, and despatched it in the water. 



Wednesday, loth October, we were on the move early, loading 

 up the boats ; said good-bye to our kind friends, and started down 

 the river with a boat and luggage in tow. We cut off a good 

 many bends in the river where the stream ran swiftly between 

 the timber. Great watchfulness had to be exercised in keeping 

 our boats from being dashed against the tree-trunks. At noon 

 we made into the first piece of dry land we had seen since starting, 

 and it was only a few inches above water. The glorious song of 

 Gilbert's Thickhead {Pachycephala gilberti) came from the tea-tree 

 scrub. Landing at a very picturesque spot, we had dinner. Then 

 my friend and I took a turn through the scrub. A good many 

 Black-tailed Native-Hens went running away in front of us, like 

 so many dark-coloured Bantams. The rich call of the Shrike- 

 Thrush was often heard, also the weird note of the Black-eared 

 Cuckoo. Whistling-Eagles and Noisy Miners were seen. A 

 large Varanus, or goanna, went scuttling up a big tree ; it was 

 the largest specimen of the species the writer had ever seen. It 

 was 7 o'clock this evening before we could find land high and dry 

 enough to pitch our camp upon. With some difficulty we poled 

 the boats through the thick timber till a steep bank of yellow 

 sand covered in Murray pine was reached. The night was very 

 mild, and we all lay down to sleep in the open. It was discovered 

 that we were close to Millewa, and had made 38 miles down- 

 stream. The first bird to attract our attention in the morning 

 was the Mallee Parrot. Brown-headed Honey-eaters were very 

 noisy. Gilbert's Thickhead was calling loudly. The unmistakable 

 tracks of an Emu were seen. Returning to camp, we had lunch 

 and went on board, and were very soon on our way again. White- 

 rumped Wood-Swallows were seen in small parties amongst the 

 partly-submerged gum-trees. We soon passed over the border 

 into South Australia. The boundary fence between Victoria and 

 South Australia was .een, and that between New South Wales 

 was passed some 8 miles further up stream. At 4.30 p.m. we 

 called at Chowilla for our mail, and the owner, Mr. R. Robertson, 

 was hard at work trying to save the stock from the flood waters, 

 which had risen to his house. Having our mail, we moved on, 



