130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



however, from which eggs were taken were well lined with grass, 

 the Sordid and White-eyebrowed Wood Swallows preferring rootlets 

 for this purpose. Many of the Red Gum trees were noticed with 

 the trunks and larger branches gnawed by the Cockatoos at their 

 junctions with other large limbs, and apparently by the action of 

 sun, wind, rain, and exposure decay had set in, and in course of 

 lime a bowl was formed, which served for nesting places for 

 cockatoos, parrots, and also the White-rumped Wood Swallows, 

 as several of their nests were taken after seeing the bird disappear 

 in the fork of the tree. Yellow- throated Friar Birds were very 

 noisy, and several nests were discovered in early stages of 

 construction. 



6th November. — Having secured the services of a lad as 

 guide, we followed the course of the Loddon to the Bar Creek. 

 Nothing but water was to be found in this " Bar," and this also 

 was fast disappearing. A Graucalus mentalis was noticed and 

 shadowed for some time, and the nest found, one fresh egg being 

 the result. A nest of the Short-billed Smicrornis was taken with its 

 two fresh eggs, also one egg of the Yellow-throated Friar Bird. 

 A Wedge-tailed Eagle's nest was discovered with young ones 

 showing over the edge of the nest. A Black-headed Sittella was 

 observed, and a lot of time spent in watching, but it was finally 

 lost without discovering its nest. A Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater 

 was seen ; also the following birds near the river : — Black-fronted 

 Dottrel, New Holland Snipe, Black-tailed Tribonyx — the latter 

 bird reminding one of Bantam fowls. Birds here seemed scarce, 

 however, except near water, where several parrots were flushed 

 from the trees but no nests found. An Iguana was seen 

 exploring a Grallina's nest, evidently in search of eggs, but found 

 lodgings in our collecting bag. A swim in the Murray in 

 returning finished up the day's proceedings. 



7TH November. — The day being hot, with indications of an 

 approaching storm, we did not venture far, contenting ourselves 

 digging up a blackfellows' oven in search of relics, with no 

 success. 



8th November. — An early start was made for a trip into 

 Riverina. Two horses were crossed over the Murray — one of the 

 party riding one after landing, with the object of scouting ; the 

 other was harnessed to a springcart, but refused to move, straight- 

 way lay down, and would not rise till the traces, &c , were 

 undone and the cart pushed out of the way. After a dose of 

 whipcord had been applied, and the animal again yoked, and 

 with more greenhide and coaxing, a start was made at last at a 

 gentle canter. On striking a cornfield some fodder was reaped 

 for the horses, shortly after which, in trying to negotiate an irri- 

 gation channel, the springcart was left in the middle, necessitating 

 again unharnessing and dragging out the cart ourselves, assisted 



