lOfi THE VICTORIAX XATURALIST. 



arrangement it possesses a means of always being able to open 

 the orifice of its respirator at the surface of the water whatever 

 may be the level. For example, if you place one of these larvae 

 in a bucket half full of water, and then gradually add to the 

 water, you will observe all the tubes I mentioned will be 

 projected outwards, being thrust out as far as possible, so that 

 they reach the surface of the water ; but, should you by means 

 of a syphon take some of the water from the bucket, all the 

 tubes immediately enter one another like a telescope." 

 (To he continued.) 



THE KIMBERLEY COUNTRY: A PAGE FROM AN 

 EXPLORER'S DIARY. 



" Monday, 3rd Ma}^ 1886. — Lat. isdeg. 3imin. 38sec., long. 

 i26deg. 45min. 20sec. Left camp on M'Kee River at 8 a.m. ; 

 course, S.W, by W., 24odeg. Followed course of river up. At 

 one mile river tending to \V. by N., 325deg. Then steered due 

 W., 27odeg. Struck river flowing from S.S.E., i55deg., and 

 traversed river up this course to a point three miles up, stream 

 then S.W., 225 deg. Tried to cross here, but found the sands 

 too soft. Slight ford of about two feet in river here. Country 

 traversed all well grassed and timbered. At three and a half 

 miles up river came upon a black's grave. The aboriginals have 

 a peculiar way of burying their dead — placing the body about 

 six feet in the air on strong props in a lot of leaves and small 

 boughs. I had this pulled down to see the body, and found it 

 doubled up. I would have taken the skull, but it was far from 

 choice. At four and a half miles had to head a small gully 

 flowing into the Lorimer. Steered W.S.W. for half a mile and 

 came back on the opposite side at four and a half miles. 

 Crossed river (Lorimer) here at a ver}- good crossing, and 

 travelled due west through fine, undulating, timbered country, 

 gradually rising from the time we left the river. At nine miles 

 came upon a fine line of lagoons, where we camped at 12 noon 

 for lunch. Started again at 2 p.m. Travelled due west through 

 beautiful well-grassed and fine large-timbered country. Iron- 

 bark ranges, and still gradual rise. At 1 1 miles came on a 

 fine chain of waterholes flowing north. At 13^- miles came 

 upon a beautiful blue and Mitchell's grass flat (gradual rise). 

 At 1 6 miles came upon a little timbered country, still rising, and 

 at 1 8 miles came upon the top of a table-land, and beheld, I think, 

 the finest view I ever saw in my life. Cliff's on all sides, with a 

 range of mountains in the distance. Below is a magnificent 

 valle}-, in extent, as far as I see here, about 100 square miles. 

 Succeeded in getting down with some difficulty, and at i Si- 

 miles got to bottom. Struck bed of river at foot, which I 

 named the Carson, after Mr. David Carson, of JMelbourne, and 



