17 J 



White, North Aitslralian Birds. ^49 



a start against the tide, and continued a couple oi hours, tlock 

 of Pied Geese seen a Uttle before sunset perched in tall paper-bark 

 trees along the river ; put off in dinghy and bagged three. Anchored 

 at dark. A number of Cormorants and a few Darters were noticed 

 in a paper-bark ; they were just starting to build. Large flock of 

 Platalea regia seen. Additional birds noted were : — Cacatua galerita 

 and C. sanguinea, Rhipidura tricolor and R. isura, Seisura nana, 

 Stigmatops ocularis, Ptilotis unicolor, Lalage tricolor, Cacomantis 

 flabelliformis , and a Chalcococcyx. 



20/2/16. — No wind, and tide running out strongly. Went ashore 

 on the right bank to a big lily-covered lagoon ; followed it for about 

 3 miles. The only birds seen about it were two Jabirus and an 

 occasional large Egret. Returned along river to boat. Bird-life 

 fairly plentiful. Haliastur sphennrus, Corvus coronoides, Cacatua 

 galerita and C . sanguinea , Rhipidura tricolor and R. isura, Seisura nana, 

 Micrceca pallida, Lalage tricolor, Merops ornatus, Grallina picata, 

 Geopelia placida, Geophaps smithi, Ptilotis unicolor, Glyciphila 

 fasciata, Stigmatops ocularis, Conopophila albogularis, Smicrornis 

 flavescens, and a Pardalote being noted. Started about mid-day. 

 Saw a native on the bank of the river about 3.30 p.m., and ascer- 

 tained from him that the mission station was near. (It is about 

 80 miles from the entrance of the river.) Went ashore, and he 

 put me on the track. Mr. Warren, the superintendent, informed me 

 that there was no possibility of getting stores farther up the river, 

 as the police station — the only place where a surplus stock was kept 

 — had twice been under water during the recent flood ; moreover, 

 the police had gone to Port Darwin. However, Mr. Warren very 

 kindly offered to let us have whatever stores he could spare, mainly 

 flour and sugar. He had meat, but had lost all his salt in the flood. 

 Spent the evening at the station. 



21/2/16. — In the morning Mr. Warren let me have about two 

 months' supply of flour and sugar and a few tins of meat and fish. 

 He informed me that cattle — " clear-skins " — were fairly plentiful 

 near the mouth of the river.- 



22/2/16. — Made an early start. Took native as pilot, there being 

 many sunken rocks, snags, and banks for 30 miles below the station. 

 We were extremely lucky in getting up the river without striking 

 anything. Anchored at dark. 



23/2/16. — Put the native ashore after passing the last dangerous 

 reach, and anchored at sunset a few miles below our anchorage of 

 the 19th. 



24 to 26/2/16. — Uneventful progress down stream. 



27/2/16. — Heard cattle through the night ; made an early start 

 after them. Mohr went up the river and New and I went down along 

 the edge of the forest country. After going about two miles I dis- 

 turbed an old bull in a swamp on the plain ; he made off down river. 

 Further on fresh tracks were seen heading out to the plain. Followed 

 them for a while, and came across another bull, which also made off. 

 Followed his tracks (was in hopes that he would rejoin the mob) for 

 about a mile along the edge of the forest and inland for another 

 mile along a well-defined pad ; came across him again, but no signs 

 of the mob. Found fresh tracks of a mob of about a dozen beasts. 

 Followed them for about i^ miles, and disturbed another bull in 



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