Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67 



approach, scuttled across the track. A hasty snap was taken of 

 a Jew Lizard, Gramatofliora barbata, Kaup., basking on a dead 

 Mallee stem. One of the smaller lizards was of a beautiful green, 

 marked with yellow. In a small depression along the track, 

 where water sometimes accumulated, several box-trees had found 

 a suitable soil in which to grow, and in the top of one a pair of 

 Wedge-tailed Eagles had built their large, platform-like nest of 

 sticks. Rabbits seemed to be absent from this part of the country 

 — at least, none were seen as we passed along. 



Suddenly, on crossing a rise, the road dipped into flat country, 

 which was dotted for several miles with larger eucalypts ; these 

 were the homes of a greater variety of birds than we had hitherto 

 seen. Several elongated plains intersected this country, and 

 around their margins huge Red Gums, Eucalyptus rostrata, reared 

 their umbrageous heads. We were in the ancient bed of the 

 Wimmera River, where it had years ago spread out its arms 

 and become lost in its vain endeavour to reach the Murray 

 River. 



Presently we came to some rising ground on which was 

 situated an iron hut, used as a camping place by the men when 

 droving sheep and cattle between the outlying stations. Several 

 tanks of fresh water for domestic purposes were here, whilst a 

 well of semi-brackish water yielded a never-failing supply for the 

 stock. This place is known as Wonga. We decided to spell 

 here for an hour or so, and rest and feed our horses. In the 

 meantime we had a good look round the surrounding country, 

 which is known as the Wonga Basin, and would form an 

 admirable national park without any further making. Flowering 

 shrubs abound, principally Acacias, Hakeas, and Grevilleas, 

 whilst the Quandong, or Native Peach, is to be found in many 

 places. Several tea-trees and heaths occur among the smaller 

 shrubs, and the air was balmy and redolent of the aromatic 

 odours of the pines, eucalypts, and the fragrant shrubs. The 

 ridges, covered with tall, graceful pines, were intersected by 

 verdure-clad bays or indentations forming the plains, the green 

 sward of which, clear of all other vegetation except grass, 

 patterned themselves into fantastic arrangements. Patches of 

 typical mallee intervening lent a decided charm to the spot, 

 while in every direction the old river-beds were overshadowed 

 by picturesque Red Gums. Areas of open country were frequently 

 met with, and places which had once been the beds of lakes 

 were ready-formed recreation grounds as level and as green as a 

 billiard table. 



Mobs of emus and kangaroos freely dotted these places, whilst 

 back in the mallee thickets the wonderful nesting mounds 

 of the Lipoa or Mallee-Fowl were numerous. Pigeons and 

 cockatoos swarmed in this as yet undisturbed country, and many 



