?8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



In this locality, and on the Murray banks, the eggs of these 

 birds are very different to those found nearer Melbourne, being 

 of a rich fleshy tint, like those of the Honey-eaters. One day 

 we drove through the " lignum " swamp to the box country, and 

 succeeded in finding a Buzzard's nest, but to our disgust it 

 contained young only. On returning we chased a flock of 

 twenty-eight Emus, who disdainfully allowed us to approach near 

 to them, and then showed us how they could run. The time for 

 our homeward journey was now approaching. We see by the 

 newspapers that the Murray is still rising, and are told that 

 returning vid Koondrook is impracticable, and that the Wymool 

 would not be the only swim on the route. So there is nothing 

 for it but to return vid Deniliquin. About fifty-three miles on the 

 way to Deniliquin is Dunvegan, a valuable property owned by 

 two of the Macauley Bros. So we decided to start a day earlier 

 and pay them a visit. 



On the morning of 22nd September, after bidding farewell to 

 our good friends, we made an early start, and were soon flop, 

 flopping through the flood waters. After about five or six miles 

 of this we got on to better ground, and, with few exceptions, had 

 good roads to Dunvegan. About two o'clock we halt for billy 

 tea, which was drunk under difficulties, the mosquitos being so 

 attentive, but we made " a smoke," which kept them at a respectful 

 distance. During the day we flushed large numbers of the 

 Crested Bronze-winged Pigeon, Ochyphaps lophotes ; they were con- 

 tinually rising, with their characteristic whirr, in flocks of 4 to 25. 

 We also noticed a family of the Twelve Apostles, or Grey 

 Struthidea, Struthidea cinerea. In this instance the 12 numbered 

 13. While crossing one of the plains we captured two young 

 Black-breasted Plover, Sarciophorus pectoral-is. One of these died 

 the following day, but the other lived and thrived in captivity 

 until about a month ago, when it fell a victim to an Armadale 

 rat. A clutch of eggs of this bird is a pretty object, and makes 

 a fine photographic picture. On one of the cross roads leading 

 to the Wakool River we found an incident of Riverina — a waggon 

 loaded with forty bales of wool, which a team of forty bullocks is 

 unable to move. We took the picture and sympathized with the 

 drivers, as night was coming on apace. Darkness is complete 

 when we reach the woolshed of Calimo station. We say, " How 

 do ye do " to a friend, and hurry on, as we have a couple of hours' 

 journey before us, and more flood water to cross. Cooee Creek 

 is reached, and we enter it with a certain amount of dread, but 

 we find the water does not rise to the buggy floor. The following 

 day two of our friends failed to cross this stream; the water had 

 risen so during the interval that it was a dangerous swim. We 

 arrived at Dunvegan about 10 p.m., and found the good folks all 

 abed. 



The following morning was spent in hunting for birds and eggs, 



