Vol. XXVIII. 



] NicHOLLS, A Trip to tJie Bass Valley. 155 



and single imitations, those of the Butcher-bird and the rising 

 of the parrot-flocks being often repeated. A new series always 

 commenced with the second note of the Harmonious Thrush. 

 The call of the Mopoke was given only twice. Sounds that were 

 similar and bird calls pitched in the same key, or that har- 

 monized, always followed one another. The two mechanical 

 sounds were always kept together, as were the cries of the 

 Whistling Eagle and Black Cockatoo. The notes of the smaller 

 birds, the Thornbills and Scrub-Wrens, always followed in 

 sequence, and when these calls were uttered the whole volume 

 of the Lyre-bird's voice was modulated and toned down to 

 low, whispering notes. 



On the Tuesday we visited Woolamai, the sea end of the 

 valley, some seventeen miles from Nyora. The railway station 

 is about ten miles from the cape of the same name, which 

 forms the eastern extremity of Phillip Island. Leaving the 

 valley, we followed a road two and a half miles to a local 

 eminence known as Finney's Hill. From here we had a 

 splendid view of the surrounding Bass Ranges. On one side 

 we caught glimpses through the trees of the distant township 

 of Wonthaggi and the white-capped waves of Bass Strait ; whilst 

 on the other hand, nine miles away, were the waters of Western 

 Port, with Phillip, French, Pelican, and Elizabeth Islands 

 standing out clear and distinct. The estuary of the Bass spread 

 out before us, and we could see where the main stream entered 

 Western Port, some four miles above San Remo. These 

 distances were given me by a resident. 



The Spotted Ground-bird was added to the list, and we also 

 saw, in one company, two male Flame-breasted Robins in full 

 plumage and six young male birds without any colouring. We 

 also came across a large hunting band of Acanthizas, and with 

 them were Blue Wrens, Scrub- Wrens, a female Whistler (Thick- 

 head), and a pair of Harmonious Thrushes, together with the 

 ubiquitous White-shafted Fantails. 



We disturbed a few wallaby in the hill-tops. On our return 

 to the station we incidentally heard that last Christmas thirty 

 Koalas, or Native Bears, had been sold on the platform to 

 travellers at half-a-crown a head. Ant-eaters are fairly 

 common about Wonthaggi, which is only some two miles from 

 the sea. At the Woolamai station we were much interested 

 in three bags of oysters, each weighing about 150 lbs., and 

 consigned to Melbourne. Later on we sampled some of them 

 at a Swanston-street fish shop, and found them decidedly 

 muddy in colour and flavour. 



Another day we visited Wonthaggi and descended one of the 

 mine shafts. There were then twenty-one miles of coal drives, 



