72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



COLLECTING IN RIVERINA DURING FULL FLOOD.* 

 By J. Garriel. 

 (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \Zth July, 1896.,) 

 On 5th September, 1894, my friend Mr. A. J. Campbell and 

 myself found ourselves at Koondrook, prepared to start on a 

 collecting trip and brave the flooded waters of the River Murray. 

 To those who have not seen this fine stream of water, a passing 

 description of its annual rise and fall may be acceptable. 

 During the latter part of summer and through the winter the 

 river flows at its ordinary low level, and the traffic is at a com- 

 parative standstill. But as the warm spring approaches, the 

 snow at its sources rapidly melts, and soon the river assumes a 

 different appearance. The water rapidly rising, enables vessels to 

 depart to their many destinations, in some instances many 

 hundred miles distant from Echuca, the usual starting place. 



About October and November the river overflows its banks in 

 places — these overflows go to form lagoons. Some of these 

 lagoons extend for many miles in various directions, and about 

 the end of spring their surfaces are carpeted with the exquisite 

 little Water Lily, Limnanthemum crenatum, whose rich golden 

 flowers, combined with those of other aquatic plants, form some 

 of Nature's prettiest pictures. Innumerable birds, of many 

 species, flock here to breed — notably the waders and swimmers. 



Some few years ago, with another field naturalist, I spent a 

 glorious fortnight in hunting around and through some of these 

 fine sheets of water, and met with encouraging success. We 

 were supplied with a " shakedown" by our mutual friend, Mr. 

 G. H. Morton, who has a large selection at Benjeroop, and 

 whose house is built on the river bank. During our stay our 

 photographic artist was happy in obtaining several interesting 

 typical pictures, notably — A Murray Steamer with Barge of 

 Wool in Tow ; Cattle at Dawn ; Murray Lobsters — this picture 

 was taken under considerable difficulty, as the "creatures" 

 would not remain still ; but two hours' patience won the day, or 

 rather the picture. We took advantage of the harvest season, 

 which gave us two more — Harvesting, and Some of Morton's 

 Children. The river, of course, is teeming with fish, and one 

 afternoon we were successful in obtaining a fine haul. 



The following pictures were taken during our wading trips : — 

 Bitterns, Botaurus poicilopterus ; Bittern's Nest ; Semipalmated 

 Goose, Anseras melaleuca ; Nest of Goose; Ibis, white, 

 Threskiomis strictipennis ; Ibis Rookery ; Ibis Nest. All these 

 scenes tend to make things pleasant, but occasionally the 

 annual rise of the Murray is considerably augmented by con- 



* The paper was illustrated with a series of forty-seven excellent lantern 

 slides from photographs taken by Mr. A. J. Campbell. 



