THE VICTORIAN NATLTRALI«T. 1^9 



pleasant odour, something akin to tliat of sandalwood. It has a 

 fine close grain., and when nicely varnished or polished, assumes a 

 beautiful dark color which makes it very suitable for indoor work. 

 Being now nearly 20 miles from the homestead, and the sun getting 

 low, we made a start for home, our friends making a considerable 

 detour from the road by which we came, for the purpose of afford- 

 ing us an opportunity of visiting some of the more interesting 

 places in tlie neighbourhood. After a drive of a few miles, 

 stopping occasionally to collect a few plants or to turn over a log 

 in search of insects, we came to a singular looking pile of granite 

 Tocks, on which tliere was a natui-al basin holding water, and this 

 depression Avas shaped much lik^' a boot, hence it is called by the 

 residents of these parts, " The Boot." We found little of interest in 

 the way of plants here, a few fine specimens of Grammitis rutcefolia, 

 Cheilanthes terniifolia, two well known rock ferns, and some plants 

 in bloom of Ifioto?na axillaris, a pretty blue flower, and a large 

 patch of Drosera peltata, were all we could find near the boot rocks. 

 Travelling towards the station we saw large numbers of kangaroo, 

 as, also pair of very fine emus, who strode off at a rapid pace on 

 the approach of the buggy. A little further on we came across 

 quite a flock of native companions, Grus Australianus, which 

 seemed to be quite at home amongst a large number of sheep, but 

 soon flapped their wings and disappeared. We here learned what 

 we were not previously aware of, viz., these birds soar to a great 

 height, and ascend we were told as high or even higher than the 

 eagle-hawk. We were now seeing sights which we had long wished 

 to see, these curious birds in their native haunts, and although late, 

 we could not resist the temptation to ascend a hill, and see also for 

 the first time the real and most formidable foe of our explorers, viz., 

 Spinnifex, Triodia irritans, and the appearance of the plant seemed 

 to quite justify its specific appellation. It is singular that this one 

 patch, not more than a few yards in diameter, is said to be the only- 

 one in the whole district. We were still some distance from home, 

 and as the sun was fast disappearing we made straight for the 

 station, which was reached shortly after dark, and this was probably 

 the most enjoyable day spent during the trip. 

 {To be continued.^ 



TKIP TO FIJI. 



Part 2. 



At our last meeting we parted on the Upper Kewa. The river in 

 places was becoming more shallow. The native boys bad 'to wade, 

 dragging the canoe over the rapids. The cocoa-nut palm had dis- 



