86 S. A. WHITE, Central AnstraVum Expedition. Ti^fSeT 



again into some heavy sandy country, which took some pulling 

 to get through to reach the Ten-Mile Bore. A short halt was 

 called here to examine the hot water coming up from the Great 

 Artesian Basin. Continuing our journey, we followed the 

 Stevenson Creek, pulling up at Willow Well for the night. In 

 addition to the birds already mentioned as ha\ ing been seen dur- 

 ing the day, the following species can be added: — Pelican, W'hite- 

 necked or I'acihc Heron, White-fronted Heron, Pipits, Black- 

 fronted Dotterels and Red-browed Pardalote. This was the first 

 night out in the open, and I was glad it was a mild one for my 

 companions' sake, for they are well advanced in years. The 

 glass fell only to 45, which is quite a mild temperature for the 

 time of year. Boobook Owls and Nightjars were calling during 

 the e\ening. 



flaking an early start next day, we reached Hamilton Bore 

 at mid-day, and used u]) two teams (jf horses to get there, and 

 with two more teams reached the Dove or Opossum Creek, 

 where we went into camp for the night close to a fine water- 

 hole, on which ducks sported all night long, in spite of our bright 

 camj) fire so close to them. Mosquitoes worried us badly all 

 day as well as night, and our horses suffered much from them. 

 Bird life was plentiful in the country around us. Mrs. Mor- 

 gan's Parrot, Ground Cuckoo-Shrikes, Pallid Cuckoos, Black- 

 throated Butcher Birds, both the Orange and Tricoloured Chats, 

 Grey Teal, Black and White Fantail, White-fronted Herons, 

 Shell Parrots, were noted. Boobook Owls and Nightjars were 

 calling all along this creek. The nights were still keeping mild, 

 for 46 was the lowest reading. 



Next morning two horses were missing, and we left one of 

 the black boys to track them down and bring them along. Driv- 

 ing along the creek that morning with the bright sunlight shin- 

 ing upon the gum tops, the latter, as usual, lining the banks of 

 this water course, one could not but be filled with admiration. 

 Owing to the grand raiils during the last twelve months, the 

 growth on these tree toj)s was wonderful, but the coloration of 

 these young succulent leaxes was beyond description, and could 

 only be described by the artist's brush, for they shaded from 

 pale greens and yellows to orange, and then from pale brown to 

 ]Mnk and all shades of red. Along this timbered creek were ob- 

 served Tennant's Maned Geese, Black Duck, Grey Teal, South- 

 ern Stone Plover, Banded I'lover, Mrs. Morgan's Parrot, Ground 

 Cuckoo-Shrikes, Pallid Cuckoos and Pipits. 



We reached Blood's Creek for lunch, where the manager of 

 Eringa — another of Sir Sidney Kidman's properties — brought 

 seven more horses. The boy did not catch up with the two 

 stragglers, so on we went after lunch. Reached the Adminga 

 Creek for night cam]), and during the evening the boy and two 

 lost horses came along. Each day the writer collected many 

 botanical s])ecimens, for the whole country was a i)ictin"e of ^vav- 

 ing grass, herbage, and wild tlowers e\ery where. The night was 

 a little cooler, 39 deg. 



