44 Keartland, Zoology of Great Desert, N.W. Aust. [y^ 



ict. Nat. 

 I. XXX. 



wood, had sucked the precious fluid. 1 took up one of these 

 roots (about two feet long), cut the ends with a sharp axe, and 

 stood it in a pannikin. In ten minutes I had about an egg- 

 cupful of water. 



We were now travelling entirely by night and camping during 

 the day. Whilst lying under our shade I saw a little animal — 

 which, I believe, was a phascogale, but which was no larger 

 than a half-grown rat — come out of a hole in a tree within a 

 few feet of where I was lying. I made several unsuccessful 

 attempts to capture it, and it finally retired to its retreat. On 

 the margin of the desert, in some rocky country. I saw a most 

 remarkable kangaroo. It was equal to Macropus major in 

 size, but very dark brown — almost chocolate colour — on the 

 upper parts of the body, with paler under parts. You may 

 wonder how these birds and animals obtain food. The Triodia 

 bears a seed very much like small canary seed, which is con- 

 sumed in large quantities by seed-eating birds, rats, mice, 

 jerboas, and ants. The lizards swallow the ants, and are in 

 turn eaten by the hawks. The Amytis, Tricoloured Chat, 

 Oreoica, &c., find spiders, white ants, and other insects to 

 supply their wants, whilst the honey-eating species obtain their 

 food from many varieties of shrubs, some of which are generally 

 in blossom, and when supplies fail in one district they migrate 

 to another. Whenever a native well is found birds and animals 

 are numerous ; but where the country is absolutely dry you 

 may travel for a fortnight without seeing even a hawk or crow. 



On the 5th November we required no telling that we had 

 crossed the margin of the desert. The atmosphere was cool, 

 and the herbage had quite a fresh appearance compared with 

 that we had just passed through, and'before daybreak on the 

 morning of the 6th we disturbed thousands of Whistling Ducks 

 from the Mitchell grass plains ; plover and other waterfowl 

 passed over. As day broke, we sighted two large lagoons, 

 which were practically covered with many species of ducks, 

 coots (Porphyrio), Pigmy Geese, ibises, herons, spoonbills, &c., 

 whilst the margin of the water was alive with httle waders, 

 including Snipe, Black-fronted, Red-capped, and Red-kneed 

 Dottrel, &c. In the bushes many small birds were noted, 

 amongst others the beautiful EphthiamtrcB crocea, aurifroyis, and 

 tricolor. Several species of honey-eaters and Horsficld's Bush- 

 lark was as numerous as sparrows anywhere near Melbourne. 

 The desert was crossed, and all nature, as well as our party, 

 gave way to rejoicing. 



Orchids.— Mr. O. H. Sargent, York, W.A., desires to corre- 

 spond with collectors of orchids, and particularly wants 

 specimens of genus Drakea. 



