Vol. VI 



1909 



^'■] Jackson, In the Barron River Valley, N.Q. 235 



Ranger) and Mr. J. Fogarty, of Brisbane, en route at an early- 

 hour the next morning for the rich scrubs of Lake Eacham. 

 This lake, by the way, though a small one, is of great depth, 

 and of intensely blue appearance, but, strange to say, devoid of 

 fish or any form of aquatic life ; it lies on the mountain levels, 

 about 15 miles south-east of Atherton, and is generally regarded 

 as an extinct volcano. The tall scrub trees grow to the very 

 water's edge. On our way we passed many large maize fields, 

 and in the dense scrub on either hand I heard the notes of the 

 Victoria Rifle-Bird {Ptilorhts victories), and many others which, 

 to me, were of uncommon type. At a place called Petersen's 

 Creek we struck one of those delightful mountain springs 

 apparently specially designed for the dusty and tired traveller. 

 Here was a delicious flow of crystal-clear water, welling out at 

 the very hill-crest, and right opposite was a huge parasitical 

 scrub fig-tree 20 feet in diameter, with long aerial roots 'twixt 

 earth and branches, resembling numberless ropes, of all 

 thicknesses, whilst the road below and the surrounding ground 

 were strewn with the fallen fruit, rich blue in colour, of the 

 quandong tree. A brief rest in grateful shade refreshed us for 

 what lay ahead. The narrow, winding way led us for a few hours 

 through scrub tracks of indescribable beauty, until at last we 

 reached Lake Eacham, and our work was in front of us. 



The first step taken was to secure our horses in a temporary 

 but strong yard of saplings. After lunch, and having fed 

 the horses, we started on the real labour and pleasure of the 

 day. My two friends, who had a gun, went east in search of 

 Brush-Turkeys {Catheturus lathami), whilst I took the opposite 

 direction, as I had no desire to have my morning's work dis- 

 turbed by gun-fire, or perchance my body perforated by a stray 

 shot — a circumstance by no means impossible, owing to the 

 denseness of the undergrowth and the inability of the shooter to 

 see where the rest of the party was disposed. Every step in my 

 first plunge into the dense jungle was full of keen interest. 

 Quite early in the ramble, and whilst following an old cedar- 

 getters' track, I met two blackfellows, who approached me in 

 friendly way. Now was my chance of first-hand local informa- 

 tion, so, summoning my best " pidgin " English, I questioned 

 the dusky pair as to the Tooth-billed Bower-Bird, explaining by 

 signs the bower-building habits of the bird, and the leaves which 

 it places on the surface of its play-ground. At last I succeeded 

 in making them understand, and they in turn told me by sign 

 and sound that in their dialect the bird was known as " Cherra- 

 chelbo," but that they had never found its nest and eggs or 

 heard of anyone else doing so ; further, that they thought the 

 nest was always built at a great height from the ground. I 

 rejoiced their hearts with tobacco and matches, and continued 

 my explorations in the same direction as before. Suddenly my 



