8 O'Donohue, Wanderings on the Murray Flood-Plain. [voLXXXii 



its accompanying abundance of herbage, the plant is untouched, 

 and is consequently afforded an opportunity to promote a 

 growth of twigs, and, at a Later stage, to display its floral 

 beauty to the wayfarer. 



The Spike Acacia. .1. oxycedrus, the Furze Acacia. A. 

 colletioides, and the Willow Acacia. .1. salicina, were noted 

 bearing flowers in more or less profusion. Kochia villosa, Silky 

 Blue-bush, Kochia pyramidata, Shrubby Blue-bush, and Kochia 

 sedifolia, Dense Blue-bush, were the most conspicuous <»t the 

 ( henopodiaceae, and evidenced a surprising degree of Luxuriance, 

 despite the inhospitable situations in which they were invariably 

 found. 



Among the many familial' types of birds noted were the 

 Black-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, and the Singing 

 Honey-eater, Ptilotis sonora. The former was frequently 

 observed in large numbers on the cultivated areas, and the 

 latter amid the foliage of the Flame Trees, Sterculia acerifolia. 



Sunday forenoon was devoted to a ramble along the river 

 beneath the giant red gums, in whose leafy crowns numerous 

 varieties of birds had sheltered. The only flowers seen were 

 those borne by sickly plants of the Smooth Minuria, Minuria 

 iniegerrima, Australian Centaury, Centaurea australis, and the 

 Small-leaved Swainsona, Swainsona microphylla. Whilst 

 resting in the --hade ot the gums we were afforded a striking 

 illustration ol the courage and insouciance of the average 

 country child. An undersized, short-frocked girl, whose age 

 was probably no1 more than ten years, pedalled rapidly to the 

 water's edge, near where we were seated, tossed her bike into 

 a row-boat, and. casting loose the painter, seized a paii ol 

 heavy oars and pulled out into the current, which, at this 

 point, was running very strong. Slowly but with grim deter- 

 mination she forced the boal to the opposite hank. and. aftei 

 securing it to a convenient peg, mounted her hike and rode 

 away along a dusty road as if the feal she had jusl a< complished 

 was one that required neither the possession of nerve or skill. 



Immediately aftei Lunch Mr. Whitford and Mr. Partridge, 

 era! manage] ol the Mildura Irrigation r rust, called with a 

 motor-cai and drove us to Irymple. We were back in time 

 for tea, and parted from oui friends with many good wishes foi 

 the uco "i oui trip, and promises ol a better time on oui 

 retui n. 



In passing, we cannol refrain from adverting to the kindness 



and consideration shown us by the secretarj and assistanl 



etary oi the shirr, by Messrs. Whitford and M'Leod, and 



by Councilloi and Mi^. Gordon, all ol whom wiic only too 



willing to imparl any information that mighl l» "i ervice 



to us mi oui projei ted 1 1 ip. 



