102 Lord, A Trip to the National Park of Tasmania. [j^' 



Oct. 



beautiful liquid notes," wliich ring through the timber and belie 

 in every note the old libel that our native birds are not graced 

 with the gift of melody. 



We had now reached the end of the constructed portion of the 

 " pack track," which, in a few months, it is hoped, will be 

 available for horses right through to Lake Fenton. The large 

 packs were taken from the horses, and each member of the party 

 shouldered his load and prepared to " waltz Matilda " along the 

 narrow foot trail leading to the lakes. While we were here a 

 flutter of scarlet amid the timber led to the Fire-tailed Finch 

 [ZoncBginthus bellus) being recorded as an inhabitant of the Park. 

 Coming to a patch of horizontal scrub {Anodopetalmn biglandii- 

 losum), we paused in order that the botanical members of the 

 party might secure a photograph, but were interrupted by the 

 discordant cries of a flock of Yellow-eared Black Cockatoos 

 [Calyptorhynchus xanthonotns), and the camp pessimist and weather 

 prophet began to talk of signs of rain. Soon after this numerous 

 Green Parrots (Platycercus flaviventris) were observed amid the 

 euclaypts, which were here changing to a more alpine form {E. 

 gunni). The flora was gradually changing, and such trees as 

 the celery-top pine (Phyllocladiis rhomboidalis) became more 

 common, and the climbing Epacris, with its scarlet flowers, began 

 to twine among the stems of the trees bordering the track. A 

 mile or so more and the timber grew less dense and the mossy 

 carpet gave place to hard stones. Nearing the altitude of 3,000 

 feet above sea-level, the track was fringed with clumps of that 

 interesting plant the deciduous beech {Fagus gunni), the only 

 Tasmanian tree which sheds its leaves in winter. In close 

 proximity could be seen groups of the picturesque giant grass-tree 

 (Richea pandanifolia) and an occasional King William pine 

 {Arthrotaxis cupressoides). The phalangers (Australian opossums), 

 by the way, seem very fond of tlie young leaves of this latter 

 tree. 



Arriving at the hut at Lake Fenton, which is situated amid a 

 belt of dwarf eucalypts, we were welcomed by the soft notes of 

 the Diamond-Birds {Pardalottis ptmdatus). Having requisitioned 

 the billy and enjoyed lunch, our siesta was brought to an end by 

 the violent language of the angler of the party, who caught siglit 

 of several Black Cormorants (P. carho) swimming in the lake. 

 Whatever may be said concerning the remaining species of the genus, 

 there can be no doubt concerning the damage done by P. carho 

 in the inland waters of Tasmania, and this year the Cormorants 

 have come in thousands. We formed our base camp at the hut 

 at Lake Fenton, and for several days were busily engaged in 

 exploring the lesser-known portions of the mountain plateau and 

 visiting as many places of interest as time allowed. One of the 

 busy men of our party was Dr. GrifTfi.th Taylor, Commonwealth 

 Physiographer, Melbourne, who worked from daylight till dark in 

 order to gather sufficient data to prepare a rehef model of the 

 highlands of the Park, so as to show the main topographical 



