162 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [ibP'lan 



Working Excursion and Camp-Out. 



On Wednesday, ist November, some members, under the leader- 

 ship of Mr. A. S. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., proceeded at 8 a.m. to 

 Ourimbah, about 56 miles from Sydney, for an extended working 

 excursion to the sub-tropical scrubs, whilst others journeyed to 

 Gosford, a picturesque spot near Ourimbah, by the afternoon's 

 train for a similar purpose, the balance of the camping party 

 reaching Ourimbah the following morning. 



The members who left on Wednesday camped about 3 miles from 

 the Ourimbah station, some going about 4 miles further, to the 

 farm of Mr. G. H. Jaques. Twenty-one members attended.* 

 Although a great many birds were observed, practically few were 

 noticed nesting. Interesting pictures of birds building or feeding 

 their young were obtained by Mr. Rosenhain and Mr. H. Burrell, 

 while Messrs. Barnard, Burrell, and C. Coles took a long excursion 

 into the back country on Sunday, and were rewarded by glimpses 

 of very fine rough scenery and numerous birds, though nests 

 were not seen. For this particular district it was just a little too 

 late, for most of the birds seen had young. The camp was broken 

 up on Monday (4th November), to enable members to visit other 

 parts of New South W'ales, notably the Hawkesbury River and 

 the Blue Mountains. Mr. A. J. CampbeU arrived the day after 

 the break-up, and, together with the president (Mr. J. W. Mellor), 

 remained the allotted time — to the end of the week. It should 

 be explained that No. i camp was on Mr. Lowe's farm, about 

 three miles from Ourimbah station. With plenty of green sward 

 about, the tents were comfortably situated, while the cook's 

 quarters were an unused outhouse well stocked with choice pro- 

 visions (thanks to the thoughtfulness of Messrs. A. S. Le Souef 

 and Charles Barnard). In front, not far away, the stream 

 — " Ourimbah " of the aborigines — at summer level, meandered 

 through a fringe of trees, which afforded safe retreat for many 

 birds, including a Lyre-Bird, observed by two members of the 

 party for some time. Behind were timbered gullies, and ranges 

 around, full of interest for naturalists. A visitor from Sydney, 

 who, with others, spent a night at this camp, has recorded in the 

 Sydney Evening News (16/11/11) that — 



" No pen may describe the awakening of the bush with the 

 first streaks of dawn. It was then that one became impressed 

 with the absolute fallacy that Australian birds are songless. Bred 

 and born in the heart of rural England, with all the instinctive 

 love of my woodlands, I must admit that I had no idea that any- 

 thing equalling in richness the song of the Thrush and the Black- 

 bird — they are my favourite song-birds — was to be found in 

 Australia. But after that first experience of listening to an 



* Mr. and Mrs. NichoUs, Mr. and Mrs. Burrell, Mr. and Mrs. Leach, Mrs. 

 Israel, Messrs. Mowling (2), Cole, Barr, Stokes, Rosenhain, Milligan, Mellor, 

 A. S. Le Souef, Barnard, C. Coles, Drs. Long and D'Ombrain. At Gosford 

 were Mr. and Mrs. aiattingley, Mrs. Cole, INIrs. Wickham, and Miss Hayman. 



