Vol. XVII. 1 ]\Iacgillivray, Ornithologists in North Queensland . yi 



always done full justice to, whether of tinned meat or Brush- 

 Turkey, Scrub- Fowl or Nutmeg-Pigeon. 



A very large spider's hole had frequently attracted our atten- 

 tion ; so, when one was found near the camp, the shovel was 

 brought into requisition, and the creature found in a roomy 

 chamber at the end of 6 feet of a passage. It measured, after 

 cyanidation, 6 inches from the tips of the fore legs to the tips of 

 the hind ones, 2\ inches from mouth to end of abdomen, and 

 l^ inch across the thorax. 



On the 29th December M'Lennan and I, with two blacks, 

 crossed the creek to investigate some scrub on the opposite side. 

 We were following up a dry creek which divided grass land from 

 scrub, and at times ran through scrub ; it had a sandy bed and 

 occasional pools of water left by the recent rains. We had got 

 ahead of the blacks by cutting across a bend through scrub, when 

 one came running up to tell us that there was a " big fellow 

 snake " down the creek, and explained that it could not move, 

 as it had eaten something big. On returning with him we found 

 a large carpet snake, 11 feet in length, with a large bulging in the 

 middle of its body. The normal part of his body measured 

 9 inches, whereas it was 24 inches round the swelling. After 

 transfixing the head with the black's spear, we opened the snake, 

 and found that the cause of the swelling was a wallaby, measuring 

 3 feet from tip of its nose to tip of its tail. It did not smell too 

 sweetly, and several small carrion beetles were on the wallaby 

 and seemed quite lively and at home. It had been swallowed 

 head first, the fore limbs being alongside the body and hinder 

 limbs extended. 



Early in January it was still raining, and the general dampness 

 was having its effect on our belongings. AH our baggage, 

 especially anything of leather, was covered with mould ; one's 

 hat, if put down in the evening, would be mouldy by moi'ning, 

 also one's boots, which never became really dry, and all clothing 

 felt damp at all times. The leather covering our cameras became 

 detached, and also from our field glasses. Insects became more 

 numerous. Stinging flies of several varieties, varying in colour 

 and size ; the most numerous and most persistent was a small 

 brown one, about half an inch in length. They had to be con- 

 stantly kept off one's face and hands, and did their best to sting 

 through clothing if one's hands were occupied for a few seconds ; 

 for instance, when a butterfly was caught by net, and had to be 

 transferred to cyanide pot, one's face, hands, and any exposed 

 part of the body would be covered with these flies, each one 

 stinging so soon as it alighted. 



The grass was growing tall and rank in the open country, and 

 there was an abundant growth of wild grape vines and other 

 trailers and herbage in the open forest. We had noted so far 

 three terrestrial orchids, and, whilst admiring the many beautiful 

 plants, regretted that we had no botanist with us. Small green 

 or yellow frogs are found upon the grass blades, larger ones in 



