28 



anothfi- neislibour in quite a different direction. Anyway at tlio 

 .appointed time a small spring cart and a pony made its appear- 

 ance, and T was done the honour of being entrusted to pilot the 

 party on the journey. 



— A Secluded Spot. — 



We made a considerable detour to strike and make use of a track 

 which led into the ranges, and we were on the gradual ascent all 

 the way. After leaving the foothills we came upon a prett.y. 

 secluded valley, with a nice stream of water running through, it. 

 Here we tied up the horse and proceeded to follow up the creek 

 on foot, which had swampy ground on either side, covered with 

 water grasses and rushes, among which tadpoles scuttled away 

 in the shallow water. Once a little landrail (Hypotanidia- 

 Philippinensis) ran from a thick l)unch of rushes, paused for a 

 while as we stood still to survey us in astonishment, and with 

 a funny little twitch of the tail, which is carried erect, the bird 

 darted off into the long rushes. The New Holland honeyeaters 

 kept up a continual squeaking amidst the large patches of bottle 

 brush, where they build their nests. A little later on we espied 

 a mud nest of the jay (or corcorax) high over our heads, and after 

 a climb it was found to be an old one. The full, liquid call of the 

 shrike thrush sounded up the gully in irieh cadence; and a solitary 

 black cockatoo flew bj% giving forth its harsh, screeching call, 

 which clashed on the ear after the sweet notes of the thrush. Far 

 overhead soared a pair of wedge-tailed eagles, keeping an ever 

 watchful eye over their big nest in a lofty gum. After proceeding 

 a mile, the valley broadened out where two gullies met, and in 

 the rainy season emptied out their streams, spreading over a flat 

 some four or live acres in extent; but at this time it was covered 

 with a verdant grassy carpet, which would rival any lawn, with 

 a few gums dotted about, also bottle brush. On the soft soil were 

 seen many imprints of the emus' feet, showing th,at these strange 

 birds have not been entirely exterminated. • 



— Among the Songbirds. — 



Ye children of man whose life is a span 



Protracted with sorrow from day to day. 



Naked and featherless, feeble and querulous, 



Sickly, calamitous creatures of clay. 



Attend to the words of the sovereign birds — 



Immortal, illustrious, lords of the air 



Who survey from on high with a merciful eye, 



Yom* struggles of misery, labour, and care. 



Resting for a while to listen to the rufus-breasted thickhead's 

 lovely note we observed many birds in a clump of sheoak which 



