^"m^^] S- A. WI 1 rri':. Ccnh-al Jiislraliai, Expedition. 89 



We continued on oin- way across the tablelands to JUillocky 

 Creek, where we went into camp amongst the Gidyea trees. The 

 Desert Chat, AustraHan Dotterel, and Black-faced Wood Swal- 

 low were seen during the afternoon. 



Our route next day led us over very rocky country. The geolo- 

 gists examined many outcrops, and discovered fossils in the 

 rocks. Acres and acres of a beautiful daisy plant were met with, 

 and photographs were taken. Descending from the high table- 

 lands, Blood's Creek was reached at lunch time, and we pushed 

 on after that to Opossum Creek (the head waters; not the lower 

 end where we camped on our outward journey). We had a very 

 snug camp here amidst thick Gidyea trees on the bank of a fine 

 waterhole. Saw^ Little Falcons, Australian Dotterels, Pied 

 Honey-eaters, Tricoloured Chats, Pipits, Tennant's Maned 

 Geese and Grey Teal. There were some beavitiful flowering 

 shrubs in full bloom, notably Erimophilas and Cassias. The 

 night temperature here was mild (44 deg. F.). All the next 

 morning was spent traversing stony country. We reached Dal- 

 housie at mid-day. After lunch we drove up to the Mound 

 Springs, five miles distant, and the geologists spent the after- 

 noon amidst the wonders of that mound- spring area, which com- 

 prises a hundred or more springs (some now inactive). The 

 water temperatures vary very much from tepid to almost boiling 

 point. The waterfowl have a great liking for these warm waters. 

 Ducks of several species were found in hundreds upon the 

 springs, and when alarmed flew up, but soon returned. My old 

 camps in 1913 and later were easily picked out, for there is little 

 change in this country from when I first saw it. The Purple- 

 backed Wren was seen in the rushes round some of the springs, 

 and Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters were very plentiful. Black 

 ]\loor Hens as well as Tennant's Maned Geese, Mountain Duck, 

 Black Duck, Grey Teal, and Pink-eared Ducks were observed on 

 the waters. As evening approached we made our way out of one 

 of the greatest wonderlands of the North. On our way back, 

 the writer made a valuable geological discovery — a large ice- 

 marked boulder. This glacial evidence at Dalhousie is new to 

 geological science. This night at Dalhousie was still milder, for 

 the temperature did not fall below 50 deg. 



Next morning, Sir Edgeworth David left camp at daylight to 

 examine some cliffs a few miles to the west, and came back after 

 sunrise with some wonderful fossils, of w^iich he was very proud. 

 That morning the sunrise was wonderful — one that can only be 

 seen in a semi-desert country. Making a late start, w^e i)ushed 

 on with speed, and with table-topped hills all round us. Later 

 we rose on to tablelands, with numerous clay pans full of water, 

 on which were great numbers of Avocets, accompanied by their 

 young in grey plumage. We halted for the mid-day meal in the 

 sand hills, which were covered with wild flowers and flowering 

 shrubs. Again we passed on to stony tablelands, where Aus- 

 tralian Dotterels were numerous. Around some of the clay pans 

 a beautiful blue Aster was growing and blossoming in profusion. 



