74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



in his boat. This was one of the many kind provisions which 

 the Macauleys had made for our comfort en route. After jump- 

 ing a wire fence or two with our buggy we arrived at the dreaded 

 Wymool, where we found the selector and his son with boat 

 all ready for us. But a large fire suggested billy tea, which was 

 soon got ready. After lunch we prepared for a famous swim. 

 This was certainly a new experience to us field naturalists. Our 

 luggage was transferred to the boat, which was somewhat leaky, but 

 to us was far more comfortable inside than out. Our friends the 

 Macauleys then swam the four horses across, holding on by their 

 tails, while we braved the flood in the boat. The borrowed 

 buggy is left well on the bank, according to instructions received 

 from the owner, who called for it some four months afterwards. 

 Before leaving we bid good-bye to Mr. Chanter, our kind pilot. 



The Wymool Creek and Wakool River run parallel about here, 

 and in a flood like this the streams coalesce and sweep by the 

 regimental gum trees about half a mile broad. Our friends with 

 the horses are soon out of sight, while we in the boat are pro- 

 pelled across the stream by a contrivance called a revolving 

 paddle, worked by a crank (an invention of the selector's). 



We found the Macauleys wailing for us with a spanking four- 

 horse team, and after thanking the selector, who was such a friend 

 in need, we merrily proceeded on our way. But for a little time, 

 however, for, after skirting Callaghan Plain, we see ahead of us a 

 broad sheet of water, and are soon flop, flopping through the 

 backwater of the Wakool. This water-travelling, with occasional 

 patches of dry ground, lasts till late in the afternoon. The 

 monotony is relieved at times by the appearance of game, &c. 

 We flush ducks and teal and the beautiful Wood Duck at frequent 

 intervals, and occasionally small flocks of both species of ibis 

 were passed ; parrots also of several kinds, while cockatoos, both 

 white and rose, are seen grubbing in the open. Towards evening 

 we enter upon a large plain, and kangaroos, both red and grey 

 species, together with occasional emus, are now frequently passed. 

 Some of these animals stopped to admire our four-horse team, as 

 well they might, for, with all the travelling, our horses were still 

 quite fresh. Darkness was our next experience, and we are 

 benighted in the overflow of the Neimur Creek, but our driver 

 knew his way, and we successfully crossed the bridge, shortly 

 afterwards turning into Neimur Park, to be hospitably entertained 

 for the night by the owner, Mrs. Perrignon, and her two daughters. 

 Next morning we leave our hospitable friends, and are soon 

 heading on our journey. This means, of course, more flood 

 water at frequent intervals. 



At seven miles we break on to a pine ridge, and arrive at 

 Bannockburn — our destination — where we got a hearty Scotch 

 welcome from the Macauley family. Dinner over we lost no 

 time in investigating a Black Duck's nest in a hollow stump in the 



