238 HILLS BEYOND THE DARLING. [CH. V. 



cocks, extending for miles, we wei'e quite at a loss to under- 

 stand why they had been made. All the grass was of one 

 kind, a new species of Pajiicum related to P. effusimiR. Br.* 

 and not a spike of it was left in the soil, over the whole of 

 the ground. A cucurbitaceous plant had also been pulled 

 up, and accumulated in smaller heaps ; and from some of 

 the roots the little yam had been taken, but on others it re- 

 mained. The surface, naturally soft, thus appeared as bare 

 as a fallow field. I found a pole about 20 feet long, with a 

 forked end, set upright, by having one end planted in the 

 ground, and fixed by many sticks and pieces of old stumps 

 from the river. As the natives erect similar poles on the 

 banks of the Darling, to stretch their nets on for taking- 

 ducks, it is probable that the heaps of grass had been pulled 

 here, for some purpose connected with the allurement of 

 birds or animals. 



June 20. — The morning was fine, but a heavy dew had 

 fallen during the night. We proceeded across ground quite 

 open, herbless, and so very soft, that even my horse waded 

 through it with difficulty. At length, we gained some gentle 

 rises, at the base of which, the soil was a clay, so tenacious 

 as to have hollows in its surface, which, during wet seasons, 

 had evidently retained water for a considerable time. A fine 

 hill, apparently connected with a range extending north- 

 ward, at length became visible beyond the right bank of the 

 river, and, as I had previously observed in one or two simi- 

 lar cases, the Darling took a westerly turn towards the hill, 

 80 that this day's journey was not much to the south of west. 

 On one of the low eminences which we crossed, a new species 

 of parrot was shot, having scarlet feathers on the breast, 

 those on the head and wings being tinged a beautiful blue, 

 and on the back, &c. a dark brownish green.-)- The round 



• p. lutvinode, CLinrll. Ms3.) ; paniculfi ronipositA contractu capillari, rainis 

 pcdiccllisquo floxuosis, spiciilis acutis glabris, gluiuii cxteriore rotuudata, laxii : 

 interiore ."i-nervi, foliis vaginis geniculisque glabris licvibus. 



t Tliig bird has since been named by Mr. Gould PhUyccrms licematoyaaler. 



