30 



ran down tlip hillside. Among th,em were the lovely little red- 

 <-apped robin dartins- about after winged insects like fire-flvs The 

 noisy black magpies, or Strepera, were making a great fuss be- 

 cause they had a nest of fledglings close by. A male Inrd of the 

 rufus-breasted thickhead sat upon a dead twig and poured forth 

 his delightful song to his spouse, who was in the act of incubation 

 in the adjoining tree. A little colony of Sittilla attracted our 

 attention by their quick movements as they searched each she- 

 oak trunk for insects, keeping up a continuous twittering the 

 while; and a fantailed cuckoo gave forth its regular and mournful 

 note from the top of a di-ad tree just over the valley. 



— RetU'riiing to the Camp.— 

 We were loth to tear ourselves away from such an animated 

 f'cene. but time waiteth for no man, and evening was drawin- 

 nigh. On reaching the starting point we found that the ever" 

 thoughtful Mjr. Home had the billy boiling, so with, a cup of 

 refreshing tea and something to eat we were on board again and 

 descending the steep hills. .Tust at dusk, as we came out on the 

 low country, we drove up to a pretty sight-a pair of brush 

 Icangaroos were feeding at the edge of the scrub and allowed us 

 to approach within 10 or 15 yards of thein. and on our pulling up 

 they weat on feeding unconcerned and allowed us ample time 

 to admire them. Poor animals! it was with pleasure mingled 

 ^^•Ith pity that we viewed them. Almost every man's hand and 

 every dog's teeth were against them, and the time will not be 

 long before their tenure of this country will be over. We reached 

 -camp after a long and profital)le day (thanks to Mjr. Home who 

 made the last part of the journey pass very pleasantly with his 

 many humorous tales and anecdotes), just in time to take part 

 with our camp mates in the evening meal. 



— The Last Evening in Camp. 



This was the last evening in camp, and a rather mournful air 

 pervaded the groups of campers, who stood or sat upon lo"-^ 

 .-•round the huge lire, for I am sure there was not one who dkl 

 not regret that the outiag was at an end. The general topics 

 of conversation were mostly on how long members would remain 

 m each State as they passed through on their way to their respec- 

 tive homes, and the likelihood of meeting one another next session. 

 Also wlio Avould take up the work of describing the different 

 sections of research; but as the eveaing wore on sleep made itself 

 fplt, and the little groups became smaller, till all had melted away 

 around the white tents to seek their last nighfs repose under 

 -canvas for some time to come. 



