^°'ig^-'^'l -^^^ Mallacooia Excursion. I3I 



the night was spent at the Naggi River. Well -grassed flats, lightly- 

 timbered plains, drifting sand-hills, dense tea-tree scrubs, and 

 open heaths were the chief features of the outward journey. On 

 the homeward journey the Ground Parrot was met in two places 

 when crossing open heathy moors. The high wind rendered it 

 difficult to flush birds from the good cover. Interesting open 

 forest was traversed, and birds previously met with were common. 

 Wau Wauka Lakes were admired, and an extremely rough ride 

 was experienced when skirting the lower lake. After crossing 

 the granite ridge which ends at Howe Hill and Gabo Island, it 

 was decided to keep inland along the north of Barracouta Lake. 

 All appreciated the change. Beautiful valleys were occupied by 

 pellucid streams and clothed with dense semi-tropical jungle. 

 " Supple-jacks" — creeping lianas, some of great size, chmbed over 

 the tall trees. Tree-ferns were conspicuous, while kanukas, 

 blackwoods, pittosporums, and lillie-pillies {Eugenia) were 

 common. Here Lyre-Birds were numerous, though difficult to 

 see. Satin Bower-Birds were also to be seen, and many gullies 

 had a company of the vivacious green Bell-Miners. King Parrots 

 in scarlet and green claimed attention, and Laughing Kingfishers 

 {Dacelo gigas) raised the spirits of tired riders. The Yellow-eared 

 Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrysotis) lives in these dense, damp jungles. 

 The Black-faced Flycatcher [Monarcha carinata) was also found 

 in such situations. The timber resources of this district of high 

 rainfall are great, and much wealth awaits enterprise and energy. 

 After a most interesting ride, the hotel was reached about sunset, 

 just before the threatened rain. 



Meanwhile, a party of four had walked to the aboriginal kitchen 

 middens on the sand-dunes along the ocean beach. On the 

 return journey the party visited the haunts of the Emu- Wren, 

 Calamanthiis, Glyciphila, and Bristle-Bird, on the heath country, 

 and admired the acres of flowering plants. In the dull light a 

 dispute arose as to which was really the north end of a borrowed 

 compass. Darkness coming on, the wanderers decided to camp, 

 as they had entered a thick jungle. After a late dinner, tired 

 ornithologists set out to search for the lost ones. Early morning 

 rescuers found the party on the way home. No one was any the 

 worse for the wet and hungry night out. 



Each day found small parties at work. Some followed up the 

 heath birds ; others worked the jungles ; others, again, were 

 fishing ; while several early morning visits were made to the 

 Goodwin Sands, where wading birds. Terns, and Gulls abounded. 

 Ternlets nesting at highest tide level proved to be the White- 

 shafted species {Sternula placens)—a. new record for Victoria. This 

 species evidently replaces the White-faced Ternlet {Sternula nereis), 

 which occupies similar sand-spits and islands further west on 

 the Victorian coast. Red-capped Dottrels also nested on these 

 sands — an area about three miles in circumference, all covered 

 at high tide except about one acre. One Red-capped Dottrel's 

 nest, containing two, eggs, was in a clump of grass and vegetation 



