128 THB VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



will find its way to Melbourne, to create more sensations in the 

 city than in the country. 



Next morning, ist November, an early start was made in the 

 direction of the Loddon River, and the country worked between 

 it and the Murray. Three clutches of White-rumped Wood 

 Swallows' eggs were taken, each with the full complement of four ; 

 also several nests of White-winded Superb Warblers with three 

 eggs apiece, this apparently constituting the full clutch. These 

 beautiful little wrens also build their nests amongst the Salicornia 

 bushes on the salt lake. A Restless Flycatcher's nest was found, 

 and on account of its awkward position the eggs were lost in 

 attempting to secure them ; a second nest was also found nearly 

 built, and subsequently two eggs were taken from it. 



2ND November. — Explored the banks of Loddon River for 

 some miles, keeping to the river and its small tributaries. On 

 the plains between the Murray and Loddon rivers many plants 

 belonging to the order Salsolaceae were collected, representing 

 the genera Atriplex, Kochia, Bassia, Threlkeldia, Enchylaena, and 

 Rhagodia ; fine plants of Eremophila divaricata, the pink and 

 the rare white-flowered variety, were found in full bloom. On the 

 banks of the Loddon Mesembrianthemum aastrale, commonly 

 known as " Pig's Face," grew abundantly. The day being hot, 

 the expanded pink flowers formed a wonderful contrast amongst 

 the parched vegetation. Other plants noticed were Goodenia 

 heteromera, G. pinnatifida, G. gracilis, and Teucrium racemosum. 

 A Blue-faced Honey-eater's nest was found situated on the top of 

 an old Pomatostomus' nest ; we were, however, disappointed to 

 find two young birds recently hatched. A Black-faced Graucalus 

 was flushed from her nebt, and two fresh eggs were taken, also 

 one more clutch of White-winged Superb Warblers, with three 

 fresh eggs. 



3RD November. — Crossed over the Murray into New South 

 Wales. Dragged our boat into a swamp and poled some dis- 

 tance, finally abandoning the boat and wading into reedbeds to 

 look for Ibis, Bittern, &c. One of the latter birds was flushed, 

 but no nests were found, though we searched diligently for the 

 Reed Warblers', who betrayed their presence by their sweet 

 notes. Four Tiger Snakes were encountered in a short space of 

 time, their usual tendency being displayed by their slipping into 

 the water and wobbling away. The sight of so many snakes 

 amongst the reedbeds caused a distinctly uncomfortable feeling, 

 therefore we struck out for the timber fringing the Murray, killing 

 on our way several of them, about a dozen escaping, which were 

 of the Tiger species. On reaching the river a Black-fronted 

 Dottrel was seen, with a young one recently hatched. It was a 

 most difficult task to discover the young bird, as it resembled the 

 stones and clay on which it rested. Their eggs cannot easily be 



