^"'ig^a'" I WHITE, Most Ext.'fisiir Ormtholo,ilcal Tour 231 



was very long, and we liad much irouhle getting tlnougli, imicli 

 of it being over 8 feet high. \Ve came to the site of tlic old 

 Elsey Station, saw Mr. Gunn's grave, crossed the Elsey Rixcr, 

 and at 103 miles from the Katherine we came upon the remains 

 of Birtles' car and camped near a hole in the Ikirdum Creek. 

 For the next day we followed the i>urdum Creek down for 

 a long way. We reached Daly Waters Telegraph Station in 

 the afternoon. Pdack-tailed Tree-creej)ers, Rufous-breasted 

 Whistlers, Red-wing Parrots and P>ronze-wing Pigeons were 

 noted. The weather was very hot. Next morning we were away 

 by 8.30, passing through a wonderful country, open forest land, 

 till we reached Frew's Ironstone Ponds; Here we saw Pelicans, 

 Little Grebe (Fodiceps ruficollis), Coots, and around the ponds 

 there were Native Companions or Australian Cranes, Ikidgery- 

 galis, Chestnut-eared Finches, Crows, Diamond Doves, and Red- 

 backed Kingfishers. The dry country birds were now putting in 

 an appearance. 'I'he treeless Sturt Plain, with its ruddy-brown 

 grass, was traversed ; the only birds seen were Bush-Larks. 



When we got back to Newcastle W^aters there were many 

 Pratincoles. The next day we got the cars over the water (or, 

 more correctly, under the water). At 1 p.m. on the 17th of June, 

 we left the scene of our great adventure with the troublesome 

 water behind us, and with cars too heavily loaded by far struck 

 out to the eastward, passing over a saddle in a low range. The 

 vegetation was the Blue-leafed Gum, Bloodwood and Paperbark 

 {Melaleuca). At 4 miles we changed our course to S.S.E., with 

 a vast open plain under waving grass to the east. We were 

 following the foot of the range, avoiding going out on to the 

 plain till we were compelled, for it was very rough going. Black- 

 faced Wood Swallows were plentiful. A hen Bustard came 

 within a few fet of us. Black and Whte Fantails or Willie Wag- 

 tails were plentiful. Jacky Winter (Microeca fasciiians), Crimson 

 Chats and P>rown Hawks were seen, the last-named having the 

 dark coloration of /. h. occidentalis. The Rufous Song-Lark was 

 seen, but w-as very silent, a well-known habit when the birds are 

 not nesting. A Spotted Harrier {Circus assiniilis) went skim- 

 ming over the waving grass, and Galahs were seen travelling 

 towards the ranges. At 34 miles from Newcastle Waters I saw 

 a very rufous Bu.sh-lark hovering over the grass; it was one 

 of the Mirafra, \vithout doubt ; this may be M. riifescens, of 

 Ingram. 



We now took our course o\er the great plain, which was 

 fearfully rough, and threatened to shake everything to ])ieces. 

 We came to a depression with some box trees, called Tandiger 

 Creek by the natives, 44 miles, when darkness came upon us, and 

 we camped on a fine waterhole. The night was mild (50 deg. F.). 

 When the day broke a lovely scene unfolded itself — a fine sheet 

 of water with large box trees along its edge, and a great many 

 White and Straw-necked Ibises in the trees. There were Blue 



