44 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



just where slanting sunbeams fall after noon. Moon 

 Cave, at the time of my visit, was not ready for 

 tourists, and, therefore, most desirable from my point 

 of view. The guide led the way through dank gal- 

 leries, rugged and dripping with moisture, to a lofty 

 chamber. We stood on the margin of a subterranean 

 stream, and small fishes [Galaxias] were seen in the 

 clear, cold water, on which the torchlight gleamed. "A 

 Platypus comes here sometimes," said the guide. But 

 I peered in vain for a sight of Ornithorhynchus 

 anatinus. Coming from its dark channel under the 

 hills, the creek goes, singing, away through pleasant 

 valleys to some mysterious haunt of birds. Its banks, 

 here and there, are hidden by blackberry bushes. By 

 the ford we lunched, eating ripe berries for dessert. 



Close to the township, where the Buchan River 

 flows past a farm, I disturbed a big lizard, which was 

 searching for hen eggs. It dived into the water and 

 swam swiftly down stream. Farmers' wives detest 

 the "Goanna" [Varanus varius] because it is fond of 

 eggs, and never misses a chance of pilfering from 

 poultry yards. 



***** 



Victoria's National Park is not greatly troubled 

 by tourists, though small parties camp there during 

 Easter and Christmas holidays. There are rest- 

 houses and other facilities. Two rangers, who dwell 

 in comfortable cottages, keep ward over the Park, 

 which is sanctuary for all native animals except snakes 

 and Dingoes. 



Wilson's Promontory is linked to the mainland by 

 an isthmus, composed chiefly of sand dunes, some four- 

 teen miles in length and four miles across. Within 

 the Park the nature of the country varies. Innumer- 

 able small streams flow from the granite hills. Along 

 portion of the coast great dunes arise, and behind 

 them lie swamps and morasses, formed by inland 

 waters fighting their way to the sea. These lonely 



