^"'iglf'J WHITK. Mosi lixtciislzr Oniitliolo;/ical Tour 233 



there were j^neal numhers of Scjuatler-I'ii^eons all rctuiid. lakinj^ 

 their morning- Ihji^lu. There were many hiiiuheds of hirds in 

 some of these ilij^dits. There were also many Native Com- 

 panions, or Australian Cranes, and one dance consisted of a 

 hundred performinj^ birds — a most wonderful sight. Their 

 strange calls were heard throughout almost every nighi, while 

 we were on the great plains. .Vl midday we were much re- 

 lieved at the sight of Anthony's Lagoon at 180 miles. Wo had 

 been making for this water across the trackless ])lain. and we 

 were now rapidly approaching the Queensland I'order, and get- 

 ting within the pale of civilisation once again. We continued 

 on from Anthony's Lagoon, and traversed country similar to that 

 near P)arr(jw Creek, the vegetation being the same, and the red 

 termite mounds had re-a])peared. Hlack-faced Wood Swallows 

 had also come into evidence, and the exerlasting "Porcupine 

 Grass" (Triodia). White-headed Stilts were seen on Anthony's 

 Lagoon, and there were thousands of Chestnut -eared lynches 

 drinking there. 



W^e now passed over open downs country co\ered in a great 

 cro]^ of Mitchell Grass, for all the world like a crop of wheat 

 ready to har\est. W^e came to a creek thickly lined with Gid}ea 

 trees, and cattle were seen, so we knew we were approaching a 

 cattle station. Prunett Downs was reached at 4.30, at 58 miles 

 from Anthony's Lagoon. Next morning we went down to the 

 large vvaterhole and found vast numbers of Pelicans, both the 

 Large and .^mall Black Cormorants, and the Little Pied Cor- 

 morant, White-faced Plerons, Black-fronted Dotterels, Caspian 

 Terns {Hydroprognc caspia). Mr. Barnard did a good deal 

 of work here some little time ago. We left at 9 a.m., and made 

 rapid strides homeward, for we had a beaten track now . 



Cloncurry Honeyeaters were very plentiful all through the 

 country, and the \\'hite-barked Gums were often seen. Willie 

 Wagtails were seen. Alexandra Station is one of the largest in 

 the world (12,000 sq. miles, with 50,000 cattle). At 150 miles. 

 Black-faced Wood-Swallows, I>ush Larks, l>rown Hawks, Kes- 

 terels. Pratincoles, were very numerous. We came to the 

 Rankin River at 163 miles, and passed through waving Mitchell 

 and Flinders grasses. We camjied on Lfjrne Creek. On June 

 22nd, a very cold morning, we made away through the Acacia 

 shrubs, and were soon passing through "Mulga" (Acacia aiuira). 

 Over the tableland country we saw many Kestrels. At 254 

 miles from Anthony's Lagoon we came to a gate, and passed 

 through into Queensland. The countiy changed. It was very 

 bare and poor, and at 263 miles we came into Camooweal. We 

 left at 6.30 p.m. ; went four miles, and camped in low scrub ; very 

 poor countiy, very dry, and no water. Our next stage to water 

 is 50 miles. For 8 miles, stunted Blue-leaved Gums, and we 

 crossed the Georgina at 27 miles; stopped the car, for I was sure 

 the ]\TacGillivrav Parrot (Baruardius haniordi luacqUlkraxi) 



