154 White, Trip to Northern End of Flinders Ranges. [isf"}ap 



drove back ; the remainder set out on foot by a different route 

 from that taken in the morning. The return journey was inter- 

 esting and profitable, for much material was collected by the way, 

 and we reached the station at sundown. 



Next day two four-horse teams and a pair-horse buggy conveyed 

 the party to Furgusson Gorge. The last part of the journey we 

 drove along the dry bed of a mountain torrent, which traversed 

 a deep defile in the mountains. The scenery was wild and grand. 

 Huge masses of barren rock towered over us in places, stately red 

 gums grew along the creek, and picturesque pines {Callitris robust a) 

 clad many of the mountain sides. After lunch the majority of the 

 party continued on foot to the head of the gorge, where a deep gap 

 allows the water in times of rain to pass through the range, as is 

 the case with so many of these peculiar gaps in the north. A 

 deep hole is worn in the solid rock, making a natural reservoir. 

 This one, which was of large proportions, was filled with crystal- 

 clear water. The photographers were busy with their cameras, 

 botanists had plenty of work amidst the vegetation, while the 

 ornithologist was recording the bird-hfe of the district. The 

 Greenish Tree-Tit {Smicrornis brevirostris viridescens) was calling 

 loudly from the gum-tree tops. The Cloncurry White-plumed 

 Honey-eater {Ptilotiila penicillata leilavalensis) was found in the 

 gums along the creek ; the melodious note of the Southern 

 Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Lewinornis riifiventris inornatus) was 

 heard in the scrub ; the Australian Bee-eater {Cosmcerops ornatus) 

 was hawking for insects overhead ; and from many of the leafy 

 branches of the gums the unmistakable family call of the South 

 Australian Pardalote {Pardalotiniis striatus siibaffinis) echoed 

 through the gorge. The Brown Hawk [leracidea berigora) was 

 seen and heard many times during the day. Upon returning to 

 the camp it was found that the hobbled horses had split up into 

 several parties, and it was some time before they were rounded up. 

 Fortunately, the worst part of the return journey was negotiated 

 before dark. 



Our next excursion was on foot over the mountainous country 

 at the back of Moolooloo Hill. There was much to interest us 

 during the stiff chmbs and steep descents. The season having 

 been a good one in the district, the hills were beautifully green, 

 and in some places many acres were covered in the fluffy purple 

 plumes of Trichinium exaltatum, commonly called " pussy tails." 

 We boiled the billy and had lunch in one of the deep gorges where 

 a good supply of water was found. Afterwards the party split 

 up into three sections, and returned by different routes. With 

 two others, I descended the dry bed of an important creek ; large 

 gum-trees found a footing along its course. Great numbers of 

 Bare-eyed Cockatoos [Ducorpsins gymnopis) flew from tree to tree 

 in front of us or whirled in large flocks over our heads, making the 

 deep ravine echo again with their discordant cries. I discovered 

 that we were disturbing these birds, which were feeding on the 

 seeds of a wild pie-melon which had grown plentifully since the 



