Emu 



joQ Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [^^j "J 



journey down by the newly-opened railway line through the 

 mallee to Tailem Bend, spending two days in the mallee itself. 

 Though the time at disposal was limited, and the weather during 

 a portion of it very hot, and, in consequence, the number of birds 

 seen small, this side expedition proved of great interest and 

 indicated some good collecting grounds. 



The early coach left Overland Corner at 4.30 a.m. Fortunately, 

 a box seat was available, so that the cool, crisp air could be 

 enjoyed. The road passed for most of the way through open, 

 park-like country, grassed with an abundant growth of spear-grass 

 {Stipa), on which the horses fed well, and diversified with scattered 

 sandalwood-trees [Myoporum montanum) and patches of open 

 mallee {Eucalyptus oleosa, E dnmosa, and probably E. gracilis). 

 The freshness of dawn and the morning cheerfulness of the birds, 

 the clearness of the atmosphere, and the sweet smell of moisture 

 were a striking contrast to the heat of the mallee-scrub the day 

 before in the hot breath of the dust-storm. About 5 miles out. 

 Lake Bonney (now Lake Barmera) was seen over a grassy ridge, 

 a fine stretch of water. As the 30 miles into Renmark was 

 approached the valley of the Murray was reached again, here 

 opening out into a wide expanse of undulating woody country 

 much below the level of the surrounding plain. The weather was 

 warming up, and the country was becoming more sandy and less 

 interesting, when we passed through a gate and entered on a 

 transformation scene. We were on the outskirts of the irrigation 

 settlement of Renmark, and saw before us a wide road leading 

 on for 4 miles to the town, with orchards and vineyards on each 

 side and homes surrounded by sugar gums, palms, and foliage 

 trees. The desert was blossoming like the rose, when supplied 

 with the wherewithal of water. Little could Sturt have imagined, 

 as his men rowed past the cliff at Renmark in 1830, how the face 

 of the country would change. 



With a shade temperature of well over 100°, little was to be 

 done in Renmark. A walk to the new railway station across the 

 Murray at Paringa took one through a thick belt of scrub (eucalypts 

 and acacias) on a higher flat. This scrub appears to occupy a 

 good deal of the extended valley of Ihe river in this part, 

 and should repay careful investigation. Acanthiza, probably 

 iiropygialis, was the only bird specially noticed in the noonday 

 heat. The afternoon was spent, through the hospitality of friends, 

 in a motor-ride round the settlement. 



Thursday, 4th December, showed an early rise at 4 a.m., a drive 

 to Paringa, and a train journey starting at 5.20. The wheat- 

 lands of Paringa were gradually left behind and mallee country 

 entered upon, cleared extensively in places. Wherever, along 

 the newly-laid line, the horses had been fed with oats, these had 

 germinated with the late spring rains, and were stooling heavily 

 and bearing well. As the day wore on, a temperature over 100° 

 was again reached, and the weather was unpleasantly hot on 

 alighting at Alawoona, 60 miles down, at 10.15 ^■'^^^- A friendly 



