Vol. XXII, I VVlirri-:, MosI Hxlcnslvc Onillliolof/ical Tour 229 



were reached. 'I'hese waterlioles had beautiful flowering watcr- 

 lihes <jii iheir surface, and there were thou-^aiids of l^irrls. 

 Jabirus i Xcnorhynchus as'iaticits ) stalked about in the water, 

 and struck (juainl attilufles. Coots ( I'ulica atra ) were in liun- 

 dreds. Plumed E}.jrels, White Ibis, I'elicans, J^arj^e Black Cor- 

 morants, and J'ied Cormorants were in number^. Still }<oinj^ 

 north, we passed through a beautiful park-like country with 

 bright llowering shrubs, and trees with leaves changing from 

 green and yellow to gold, and from that to red and crimson. 



The rich, ruddy-brown termite mounds amongst the golden 

 grass made a wonderful landscape. W'edge-tailefl Eagles (l/roue- 

 tus aitdux) were seen, and lirush Bronze-winged Pigeons ( Fhaps 

 elegans ) were numen^us for the last few days. The i^ariridge- 

 Pigeons ( Geophaps smithi) now put in an api>earance ; they kept 

 very close to the ground, cree]»ing about with their heads down, 

 and in some instances they e\en allowed the cars to j>ass over 

 them. W'aterholes in the timbered country were met with, and 

 they were covered in very beautiful blue Water IJlies. With a 

 Snow-white Egret or two perched on a snag or fallen tree these 

 made a wonderful picture. A beautiful Yellow Hibiscus came 

 into the landsca])e; als<j a tang(j or deep ruddy orange coloured 

 flowering gum made its appearance. Quail (sp. ?) and Masked 

 Wood-Swallows were numerous. We reached the outskirts of 

 ci\ilisation in the Territory at Marremboy that night, having 

 travelled 1840 miles. The night was cool (42 deg. F.j. We 

 obsersed that the Brown Hawks ha\e changed and liave no ruddy 

 coloration being of the /. h. occidentulis type. There were many 

 bright Howering Gre\illeas, which attracted many Honeyeaters. 



Xext morning, June 6th, we mo\'ed on at an earl}- hour, 

 and soon entered a very rough and hilly country. There were 

 patches of a long-leaved Afulga, and there were some of the 

 chrome or tango-coloured flowering gums, the great masses of 

 bright blossoms ha\ ing a \'ery marked effect upon the landscape. 



We descended a ver\' deei> gorge, through which a creek 

 found its way. The scenery was very beautiful. We met with 

 several big flocks of Partridge Pigeons, and the Leatherheads, 

 or Xoisy Friar I>irds ( Phllenwn corniculatus ) were making a 

 great noise amongst the strange tango-coloured gum blossoms. 

 The whole of the country is here hea\ily timbered. The lilack- 

 faced Cuckoo Shrike was there, and several Red-winged Parrots 

 passed over. We also met with large flocks of Quarrions and 

 Galahs. At 11.30 we had reached the Katherine River. Having 

 forded this deep watercourse, the cars came out up a steep 

 bank over 100 feet high. We camped on the north side of the 

 Katherine. and were on the move at a very early hour next 

 morning to try to make Darwin that night. We i>assed through 

 open scrub country till we reached Pine Creek. 



Many watercourses were now winding in front of us, 

 and at P>rock's Creek we examined the j>ineapple i»lantations. the 



