^'^""•'1 Excursion to National Park. 171 



cross the marshy country by a short cut, while the others 

 followed a well-defined track. It was while crossing these 

 flats some three years ago that the first exantple of the rare 

 Ground Parrot, Pezoporiis Icrrestris, was noticed ; others were 

 seen about the same time on the eastern side of the range, 

 while one was disturbed here during our trip. The interesting 

 little Emu-Wren is also common on these flats, and, in tact, 

 ranges over the lieathy lands throughout the Park. 



About two miles and a half from the Darby the track 

 enters what was at one time a thickly-timbered flat, extend- 

 ing across to the tea-tree covered sand-dunes which margin 

 the ocean beach. Most of the timber, which consisted princi- 

 pally of fair-sized eucalypts, with a few scattered Blackwoods, 

 has been ringed, only their whitened skeletons remaining to 

 show what once had been. 



Only a few years ago the Koalas or Native Bears were 

 numerous, and could be seen here at any time. \\'allabies. 

 Dingoes, and the introduced Hog Deer, were also common, 

 but are now replaced by the Fox. Birds are still fairly 

 numerous, the most noticeable being Crows, Magpies, Mud- 

 Larks and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. A Wedge-tailed 

 Eagle's nest still stands in a large gum-tree close to the track, 

 and the White-bellied Sea Eagle, which also nests in the park, 

 is occasionally seen here. 



Approaching the entrance to the park we passed a small 

 reedy swamp, situated among the old sand-dunes. This is 

 the home of numerous birds, including the Bald Coot, Moor- 

 Hen, Black-throated Glebe, Black Duck, Reed Warbler, Blue 

 Wren, and occasionally the Native Companion, while number- 

 less Starlings roost among the reeds. 



The Darby River, which forms the north-western boundary 

 of the Park, was reached before mid-day, and after a swim in 

 the ocean, we had lunch in the newly-erected Trustees' cottage, 

 nicely situated at the foot of a steep, scrui>covered sand-hill 

 adjacent to the river. Close by is the second rest-house, 

 while a little further on is the Ranger's cottage, commanding 

 an excellent view of the adjacent hills. 



The fence, which extends from Corner Inlet to the Darby, 

 crosses the river here, and, continuing over the stee[) sand- 

 hill, terminates on the rocky ocean beach. Within the Park 

 were seen some of the animals recently introduced, consisting 

 of two Kangaroos, two species of Wallabies (one of which was 

 brought from Flinders Island in Bass Strait), and two Emus. 



After an interesting ramble along the shore, we left the 

 Darby at 4.30 p.m. and reached the rest-house at the Inlet 

 at 6.45 p.m., a walk of 6^ miles. 



