Iq?^'] Further Notes on the Brisbane Range. 135 



how Fortune has rinally dealt with this one-time nourishing 

 mining centre. In the heyday of its existence it was the hul), 

 as it were, ol Tea-tree, EcUpse, Stony Rises, Dolly's Creek, 

 Morrisons, and other diggings, spread over an area of 70 square 

 miles of country. To-day its habitalile houses might be 

 numbered on one's lingers. Piles of rock, and aged fruit trees 

 that occur along miles of road, mark the site of former 

 habitations, whilst large mounds of slate and massi\-e brick 

 smoke-stacks amid the renascent x'egetation ])roclaim the spots 

 where fortunes were lost or won. Traversing the main street 

 of this relic of former opulence, we crossed the creek, and, after 

 negotiating a long and somewhat steep slope, found ourselves 

 on the crest of a spur, along which we continued towards the 

 Geelong Reservoir. Before we could reach a predetermined 

 camping-i)lace night overtook us. Selecting the most favour- 

 able camp that j^resented itself we built a fire and made our- 

 selves as comfortable as circumstances permitted. At ; a.m. 

 we were astir, and half an hour later were sauntering towards 

 the reservoir, a more rapid pace being rendered imj^racticable 

 by reason of a dense fog that had settled over the neighbourhood 

 shortly after midnight. The road ramified at places, and had 

 a habit of disappearing altogether at others, so that at times 

 our e.xact whereabouts was often a matter of conjecture. The 

 Bittern's booming note at length made known our pro.ximity 

 to an extensive swamp ()\-ergrown with the Tall Si)ike-rusli, 

 Heliocharis sphacelata. Though both are familiar with the 

 Bittern's note, the volume of this bird's call far exceeded any- 

 thing we had previously heaid. The Noisy Miners were 

 greeting the grey dawn with their ringing chorus when the hazy 

 outline of the reservoir unfolded to view on our right. The 

 loud call of the Black Duck came from all parts of the reservoir, 

 and occasionally small Hocks could be dimly seen on the mist- 

 wreathed water. 



Proceeding along the Beremboke road for about a mile 

 beyond the reservoir, we halted for an hour beside a swani]) 

 where water- fowl of many varieties were observed, and also a 

 pair of Harriers, whose e\<)lutions over the dense growth of 

 spike-rush in the swamj) ofttimes claimed our attention. 

 These birds nest hereabouts. Within two chains of the spot 

 where we rested two young biids were taken by one ol us 

 from a nest about four years jn-eviously, and lived in caj)ti\-ity 

 until M'ry ri'cently. From the remains scatteied about the 

 nest, "bunny" bad been licaN'ilv le\ic(l upon to luniisli the 

 larder. 



The mist was rapidly dissipating before the sun's rays as we 

 resumed our journey. Ihe long Kangaroo-grass within the 

 reserve was laden with moisture, and made progress somewhat 



