1917-] British Association in Australia. 45 



From Anckliiiid \vc proceeded direct to Sydney, arriving 

 in its magnificent liarbour on Sunday morning, August 2, 

 six days before the Association held its first meeting at 

 Adelaide. The praises of Australian hospitality ha,ve often 

 been sung, but 1 must here add my voice to the chorus in 

 no unstinted measure. No Avords of mine can. possibly 

 express the gratitude which I felt — and which every member 

 of our party must have felt — for the manner in which we 

 wei'e treated ; Avhile the thoughtful preparations for our 

 comfort, the admirable and iuex})ensive arrangements for our 

 expeditions, and the universal kindness of our entertainers 

 can never fade from our memory. A deputation headed 

 by Professor Edgeworth David met us at the landing- 

 stage, and the Professor himself conducted several of us in 

 the afternoon to the Botanical Gardens, where we were 

 welcomed by the Curator, Mr. J. H. Maiden, the greatest 

 of authorities on the Eucalyptus and Myrtle families. 

 A large party cannot well study birds ; so we postponed 

 that pleasure for the time, and devoted our attention to 

 the native flora, which is excellently represented in tlie 

 Gardens. 



The next morning (August 3) my wife and I left for 

 Camden Park, formerly the residence of Mr. Macarthur, 

 the pioneer of the merino-wool industry in the country. 

 Here we were introduced to the Australian avifauna under 

 the most favourable auspices. Our friend and hostess. 

 Miss Macarthur Onslow, proved to be no mean expert in 

 ornithology; while her brothers and her cousin, Mr. Foote 

 Onslow, aided us in the kindest way in our investigations. 

 The Park, long noted in New South Wales, is of great extent 

 and diversity : it comprises creeks and lagoons, pastures and 

 peach-orchards, groves of " box " and other Eucalypts, 

 with large wooded gardens round the actual residence, 

 which contain many fine specimens of uncommon trees 

 and shrubs. Birds were thus naturally plentiful, even 

 though the southern summer had not yet begun. The main 

 feature in an Australian landscape is, of course, the gum- 

 tree {Eucalyptus of many species), but in spring the glories 



