MELLOR^bi the Fine, and Matlee. 21 



a suitable place to camp, this being extremely difficult in a new 

 country, darkness having set in. However, I was fortunate 

 in finding a friend in need, in the person of two out back fai'- 

 mers' sons, Mr. J. A. Forby and a friend, who came to 

 meet the train for mails, etc., and with their assistance I 

 removed my tent and camping kit about half a mile distant 

 to a isecluded clump of the so called Murray Pines (Calitris), 

 Having temporarily pitched my tent, I was glad of some 

 rest after the long day's journey, and even the hard ground 

 did not banish Nature's sweet restorer ''balmy sleep". Next 

 day I was up betimes, and straightened up camp a little 

 before getting out into the surrounding country, which is 

 chiefly of a chocolate sandy clay nature, carrying large mallee 

 and numbers of tine Murray pines. These trees attain a large 

 size, and when growing in patches give to the more open 

 country a park-like appearance. In these quite a 

 number of birds make their abode, the first to catch my eye 

 was the southern singing honey-eater, while the yellow- 

 throated Miner made the locality resound with its loud and 

 continued calls. The chestnut-crowned babbler was also (juite 

 numerous, and it was interesting to watch the antics of these 

 birds as they hopped and flew about in "follow 

 the leader" fashion from tree to tree, threading 

 their way through innumerable bushes and fallen 

 pines en route, all the time uttering their sharp 

 whistling calls, and bobbing their tails up and down 

 as if worked on springs. They are extremely animated birds, 

 and in these parts quite take the place of the white-browed 

 species, w^hich was rarely seen. The Pink Cockatoo also 

 known as Major Mitchell was quite a common bird in the 

 open country, and was breeding in the large mallee. 

 The Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Galah Avas by no means 

 rare, and doubtless was also breeding, although no 

 nests were found. These two birds fly about in 

 company, and feed together on the grassy flats where 

 seeds are plentiful, and make a pretty sight as they 

 rise and fly into the dark foliaged pines, the delicate pink of 

 the Major' Mitchell with its beautiful crest erected being 

 very conspicuous. Shell parrots were about on the open 

 grass land in large flocks, and ever and anon a cloud of them 

 would pass swiftly by, uttering their small rattling 

 notes, and alighting on a dead pine, the tree would 

 instantly be transformed into a living green, with the green 

 '"leaves" SAvaying in the breeze. Then suddenly the tree 



