120 D'OMBRAIX, ./ Trip to the Rker-Scrubs. [^^^toT 



and hoped for better luck around the river flats, where the paper- 

 bark {Melaleuca) was in bloom. Here we found the Blood 

 Honeyeater, together with the White-eared Uoneyeater. the 

 Yellow- faced Honeyeater, and the Yellow-eared Honeyeater. 

 One Flinders Cuckoo was seen, and what at first caused a lot of 

 speculation as to species, the I>lack Bittern. 



Plenty of White-eyes (Zostcrops), an occasional j^air of 

 Crested Shrike-tits, Blue Mountain Lorikeets, Australian Orioles. 

 The c|uaint "four-line" call of the shy Black-faced Fly- 

 catcher, produced almost like four short questions, was heard, 

 and the birds seen. Rosellas, King Parrots, and Crimson Par- 

 rots were about, looking for a handy place to drink, thus con- 

 futing the theory popular amongst some, that I'arrots do not 

 require water. In some scrub at the camj) the fluty notes of the 

 Collared Butcher-Bird rang out, whilst Ravens were heard and 

 seen overhead. Tree-Creepers, both the Brown and White- 

 throated, were seen. (Jnly one species of the Hawk was noted, 

 the Brown Hawk. Satin Bower-Birds were fairly numerous, 

 and although keen search was made, and many a sapling climbed, 

 no recent nests were found. Indeed from an oologist's point 

 of view the whole ])lace was disai)pointing, and considering the 

 long way we had come from North Western X.S.W. almost to 

 the coast, we felt it more than we otherwise should. 



When evening fell we went off to the river, after tea, to try 

 for perch and eels to be had there, but not being properly 

 equipped the result was not any better than our luck with the 

 birds. There were plenty of fish to be had, and next day on 

 again trying with natural flies we caught some beautiful silvery 

 herrings, which on cooking revealed more bones than we thought 

 a fish capable of possessing. 



We decided to pull out of Comara, and going back on our 

 tracks again, turning at an angle, on the Armidale-Grafton road, 

 we made for what is known as Billy's Creek, a part of the big 

 scrub once visited by Mr. Syd Jackson many years ago. It was 

 a long trek, and the latter end of the journey was finished in 

 the dark. The last hundred yards nearly provided an accident. 

 Our cars had fo ford a creek and run up a stump-studded bank 

 opposite. One of the cars, in trying not to collide with the one 

 in front, began to run backwards down to the creek, and only a 

 bit of luck and much hanging on by four of us prevented a dis- 

 aster. However, no damage was done, and soon the cars were 

 parked. "Jim" had a cheerful blaze a-going, tents were soon 

 erected, and after a good hot meal, a tired party of "bird 

 maniacs," as we were called, soon turned in to sleep soundly. 



Next morning saw us early astir, and we set oft' after break- 

 fast to explore the big scrub beside which our camp was pitched, 

 in a clearing at the foot of which ran a splendid stream of moun- 

 tain water. This water is said to be the purest water possible. 

 Giant trees of many kinds with a majority of coachwood— not 

 very good fuel wood our cook complained — and a fairly dense 



