THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77 



they were adorned with a liberal supply of bones, principally the 

 knuckles, ribs, and vertebras of sheep, broken glass, quondong 

 stones, and other seeds ; in one bower a piece of mirrored glass 

 was found. All the bowers were sheltered under Bursaria bushes, 

 the prickly thorns of which, united with the constant attentions of 

 the mosquitos, made it very difficult to take a picture. On one of 

 the pine ridges, about two miles from the homestead, we found 

 two nests of the Red-capped Robin ; as usual, these were very 

 cunningly hidden, but as the clutches were not completed we 

 left them for a few days. On the journey to take these eggs, a 

 few days afterwards, we took a short cut across the Ooroonong 

 backwater, and as the water rose over the seats of the buggy, 

 ccnsequently we got a wetting. Coming back by another track 

 made matters no better, the horses having to swim, and neces- 

 sitating a full change of clothing for us when we got to the 

 homestead. In all these struggles through the water our horses 

 seemed to take it as a matter of course, going in without hesitation 

 anywhere when driven. On one occasion two of the Macauley 

 Brothers, for our edification, gave us an illustration of how they 

 cross a stream when out riding. One of the brothers clung to 

 his horse's mane, while the other held on to his horse's tail. Care 

 must be taken to get on to the horses' backs immediately they 

 touch ground. The clothing, being tied in a tight bundle, is 

 held by one hand overhead. They laugh at the idea of riding 

 across on the horse, as it is not fair to the animal, and is simply 

 dangerous. 



We next went for a two days' trip to Mallan, about twenty 

 miles westward from our stopping place, on the Swan Hill — 

 Moulamein route. We were kindly received by Messrs. Neil 

 Macaulay and S. Metcalf at their respective homes, Mr. Metcalf 

 taking us to a mallee fringe which was a perfect aviary of birds. 

 But we were far too early for their nesting season. In this 

 mallee fringe we found other bowers of the Spotted Bower 

 Bird. 



On our way back to Bannockburn we took another route, 

 passing through a Polygonum (Muehlenbeckia Muelleri) swamp 

 and some box country. These Box trees {Eucalyptus melliodora) 

 have all been rung, and have a weird appearance. The ringing 

 is done so as to allow the grass underneath to grow more freely. 

 In the swamp we flushed a Teal off its nest in a snug hollow 

 tree, and later on took from it a clutch of eight beautiful eggs. 

 The swamp is a fine breeding-place for mosquitos, and a lively 

 time we had in going through. 



On the following day we paid a visit to a large swamp over the 

 Ooroonong Creek, in hopes of finding a Native Companion's 

 nest ; but, although we heard the birds trumping, we were 

 unsuccessful. While punting our way back we found a nest of 

 the Pied Grallina, Grallina picata, containing four pretty eggs. 



