148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



wonga train. Reaching Tungamah we ascertained that an 

 agricultural show was to take place the following day, and we 

 had as fellow passengers " ladies and gentlemen" who were 

 " running" some sort of entertainment for the edification of the 

 villagers. Upon reaching Yarrawonga, now quite an important 

 township, we found the buggy of the Messrs. Sloane awaiting 

 us, and, after a pleasant drive to Mulwala, were glad to partake 

 of the hospitality for which the proprietor of Mulwala station is 

 proverbial. Having rested awhile, we went out to look for 

 plants, insects, &c., but beyond a few Carenums and Eutomas, 

 few insects were to be seen. A few very singular fungi and 

 lichens and a few small annuals were collected. The country 

 around the homestead looked charming, the recent rains having 

 been most welcome. Shearing was nearly over, as we were only 

 just in time to witness the finish. 



After spending a pleasant evening, we were up betimes and 

 out collecting, but heavy rain prevented us from doing much all 

 day, the plants noticed being the same as obtained on our 

 previous trip, recorded in the Victorian Naturalist for February, 

 1885. The following morning an early start was made, Mr. 

 W. Sloane driving us to Savernake, an out-station on the run 

 distant about 20 miles. On the way we made a short detour to 

 see a nest of the Lowan or Mallee Hen. Threading through 

 the pine scrub with the perception of a black tracker, our 

 guide was not long in finding the nest, which reminded us of 

 about a couple of loads of sand deposited in a heap. We had 

 brought a thermometer for the purpose of testing the tempera- 

 ture of the nest or mound, but our efforts were of no avail, the 

 dry loose sand filling up the hole as we scooped it out, and 

 however these birds manage their affairs still remains a puzzle to 

 us. Leaving the nest we struck off to the left, and camped for a 

 while to refresh both man and beast. The quandong tree, 

 which we saw on our last visit, seemed to be more prolific this 

 season, a number of fine ripe fruit being secured. Crossing a 

 flat a very finely marked iguana was seen. On reaching Savernake 

 we went for a walk; plants were scarce, but we found the beauti- 

 ful Cassia eremophila, Eutaxia empetrifolia, and others in fine 

 flower. A fine specimen of the sand iguana was here cap- 

 tured, and secured by a string. This singular animal is said to 

 subsist solely on insects, and lives in holes in the sand, and not 

 in hollow trees as the larger kind, though we fancy the sand 

 iguana is but a variety, and requires further investigation. At 

 night the solitude here was almost painful ; not a sound was to 

 be heard — no cry of a night-bird, no frogs, no crickets, nothing 

 at all to break the perfect stillness such as we never remember 

 to have experienced before. The evening was spent in arrang- 



