48 Mr. A. H. Evans •. with the [Ibis, 



in their element; a couple of White-breasted Cormorants 

 {Fhalacrncorax gould'i) were fishing near the shore ; and 

 two Hoary-headed Grebes (Podiceps poliocephaJus) kept 

 diving and re-appearing as we approaclied. Our return 

 to the house was less eventful, but we came across one 

 more species that was new to us — the Brown Tree-Creeper 

 (Climacteris jncumna), which was clinging to the bark of 

 one of a magnificent grove of " box '^ trees; we also 

 renewed our acquaintance of the previous afternoon with 

 the Scrub-Tit (^Smio'ornis brevircatris). 



No remarkable birds crossed our path the next day, 

 which was chiefly devoted to botany at the Cataracts, or 

 huge up-country reservoirs, which supply Sydney with water : 

 the heath-like Epacris (red or white), the pink Boronia, 

 the curious Hakeas and Grevilleas were alone enough to 

 occupy our attention ; but it was hardly the wealth of 

 early-flowering plants that made us fail to observe the 

 avifauna, for the noise of our motor on the hard rutty 

 roads was quite sufficient to scare any number of birds. 

 An English motorist would think these tracks impossible. 



The following afternoon we drove to call on a neighbour 

 amid fields bordered by masses of the brilliant " Black 

 Acacia '' of the district, which was in full flower. We 

 saw small flocks of Rosellas, heard a B()oI)ook Owl as we 

 returned in the dusk, and were fortunate enough not only 

 to observe the White-throated Tree-Creeper (^Climacteris 

 scandens) but to hear its shrill cry, while we were admiring 

 the scenery at a small ravine. 



So ended a most delightful and instructive visit ; for 

 we were obliged to bid farewell to our kind entertainers 

 early the next morning and hurry off to catch the train to 

 Sydney. There arrangements had been made to transport 

 us to Adelaide in time for the first meeting on August 8. 

 The second meeting was at Melbourne, the third at Sydnej^, 

 the fourth at Brisbane. Social gatherings were, as a rule, 

 cancelled, owing to the declaration of war with Germany ; 

 but the scientific arrangements held good, so far as 

 Australia was concerned. Everywhere men were enlisting 



