76 ERITONGA VALLEY. [PART 1. 



predominates sufficiently to give a distinct character 

 to the forest. 



Up to this place the river has an average depth of 

 from two to three feet. In rainy weather it often 

 swells suddenly, from the narrowness of the valley 

 through which it flows, and from the large supply 

 rapidly brought down from the hills by a number 

 of lateral tributaries. The banks near its outlet are 

 quickly overflowed ; and these sudden inundations, 

 after a few hours' rain, have several times taken the 

 settlers lower down by surprise. The river at 

 present meets with many impediments in its course 

 from snags, and is capable of great improvement 

 in this respect. 



In the gorge, which, as I have stated, forms the 

 apex of the alluvial triangle of the Eritonga, the hills 

 were almost perpendicular ; and, in order to avoid a 

 tedious and fatiguing road, we got into a small punt, 

 which had been brought up thus far for the use of 

 the surveyors. We landed again about half a mile 

 higher up. This part of the river was truly pic- 

 turesque. The right bank was steep and abrupt, 

 nevertheless it was covered with trees overhanging 

 the river. That beautiful bird the large-crested 

 cormorant 1 is found here in great numbers among 

 the higher branches of the trees. It feeds upon eels 

 and a small kind of fish with which the Eritonga 

 abounds. They are social birds, and many of their 



! Phalacrocorax punctatus. 



