roT'l O'Donohue, Wanderings on the Murray Flood-Plain-. 10 



we progressed, great consternation among the feathered tribes 

 sunning themselves thereon, and scaring an emu and her four 

 young ones into more than usual activity, we noted numerous 

 large, circular holes, about eighteen inches in diameter, at 

 varying distances from the water's edge. These at first proved 

 a puzzle to us ; but, on being informed that the lake contained 

 Catfish, Gleichthys australis, it was assumed that these ex- 

 cavations were the sites of their nests, since the Salmon Cat- 

 fish makes a basin-like excavation, about twenty inches in 

 diameter, at the bottom of which the eggs are laid and covered 

 with a layer of pebbles. The site for the camp was soon chosen, 

 the tent erected, and lunch prepared, after which we wished 

 Johnny a pleasant return journey, and started on a voyage of 

 discovery around the lake. 



Lake Mournpoul is one of a series of comparatively shallow 

 lake basins, some of which are of considerable area, situated in 

 that portion of the Murray flood-plain between Hattah railway 

 station and Chalka Creek. This creek issues from the river 

 near the north-east corner of the parish of Gayfield, and runs, 

 in a more or less westerly direction, through Gayfield, Cantala, 

 and Brockie. About the north-western boundary of the last- 

 mentioned parish it turns north through Cantala, Yelwell, and 

 Kulkyne, and discharges into the Murray at the south-east 

 corner of Colignan. Before the Murray had entrenched itself 

 to its present depth, Chalka Creek was undoubtedly instru- 

 mental in diverting an enormous body of water from it to the 

 remotest limits of the flood-plain. Now, however, it is a factor 

 of little importance save in flood time, as it has cut its channel 

 almost, if not quite, to the river's lowest level, and tends to 

 drain the lake basins, previously referred to, almost as quickly 

 as it fills them. Some of these lake basins, as Mournpoul and 

 Hattah, being situated in depressions of greater depth than 

 the majority, retain water permanently, whereas Lakes 

 Konardin, Yelwell, Yerang, Lockie, Brockie, and Little Hattah 

 seldom withstand the evaporation induced by a moderately 

 severe summer, and had been dry for many months prior to 

 our visit. 



In making our first inspection of Mournpoul, we noted that, 

 though its area had been reduced to a considerable extent by 

 the abnormal spell of dry weather then prevailing, there were 

 still between 500 and 600 acres covered with water, which in 

 some parts of the lake was estimated to have a depth of twelve 

 feet. The lake is practically encircled by sand-dunes of varying 

 elevations, and overflows to the north-east and south-east. 

 Its shores are flat, and sandy in the vicinity of the dense 

 growth of Red Gum and box timber growing on and at the base 

 of the sand-dunes, but are extremely muddy near the water's 



