Vol. V. 



J Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 1 r> £^ 



From Western River three of the party who had decided on 

 making an extended exploring trip set off inland, while the 

 remainder returned to camp. 



On another fine day a party proceeded to examine falls 

 which were reported to be on Middle River, three miles distant 

 across rough country. Ascending a steep hill (500 feet high) at 

 the rear of our quarters, we get on a ridge whence a good out- 

 look is obtained. Southwards appears what is locally known 

 as " yacca " country, where grass-trees (called "blackboys" in 

 Western Australia) grow. These are exceedingly orna- 

 mental features in the landscape, the long thatch-like leaves 

 either fringing or drooping gracefully about the stems. A 

 quartet of Wedge-tailed Eagles (or Eagle-Hawks) soaring near 

 in circles are hawking for prey. They are, apparently, fearless 

 of our presence, because one alights on a low tree not far distant, 

 and flaps his great pinions, while uttering whistling calls, as if 

 glad to see us. We follow the ridge eastward for some distance, 

 then, crossing a tributary (White Tree Creek), descend into the 

 river valley. Delightful is the solitude. The trees are clean- 

 stemmed (no trace of forest fires), the herbage is soft and yield- 

 ing, and the clear stream is seen between verdant banks margined 

 with rushes. On the creek's bosom aquatic plants are oscil- 

 lating with the current, which bears away the floating blossoms 

 shed from the eucalypts above. 



To avoid the rocky banks we ascend a ridge, where we dis- 

 turb a White Cockatoo from its nest in a hollow tree-trunk. 

 We are now in very stiff scrub, which makes travelling 

 difficult, for the ladies more particularly. Nevertheless, 

 the scrub brings pleasures to the botanists, who are in 

 ecstasies, gathering species strange to them. A prickly 

 Hakea in full bloom is filling the air with delicate aroma. 

 Some of the rocky ridges sustain fine examples of the 

 common heath {Epaa'is), with exceedingly large and loose 

 red bells, and a creeping Grevillea bearing flowers of flaming 

 scarlet. By midday, or in about three hours from camp, 

 the sound of rushing waters reaches our ears. As we are 

 scrambling down a steep and slippery decline beautiful water- 

 falls in a fairly open locality confront us. The falls, which are 

 in the form of a cascade, come tumbling down about 1 10 feet 

 over tilted outcrops or ledges of hard rock. Amid such 

 romantic surroundings we boil the billy (probably the first ever 

 boiled here), and camp on a lichen-covered rock. 



The three explorers who left us at Western River three days 

 ago turn up unexpectedly, and are received with shouts of wel- 

 come. They were a bit travel-stained, and glad to find us. 

 They reported that after they had left Western River they found 

 the country inland rising gradually, till the aneroid stood at 

 about 700 feet. Four miles from the coast stringy-bark took 



