THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 89 



southerly course was taken. After crossing the Myrniong Creek, 

 Werribee River, and the railway line between Bacchus Marsh and 

 Ballan, a forest consisting chiefly of stringybark and ironbark 

 with acacia scrub, and traversed with deep gullies, was invaded. 

 Recrossing the railway line a more north-easterly line was followed, 

 which led down a very deep and secluded valley to what is locally 

 known as the Werribee Gorge — an exceedingly wild and romantic 

 place. From the bed of the river hills tower up on either hand to 

 about 500 feet. Some places are quite precipitous and rocky for 

 about 200 feet to 300 feet from the water's edge. There is plenty 

 of scrub about. The river was followed up to its junction with 

 the Myrniong Creek, and finally the starting point was reached 

 after ten hours' actual travelling and climbing. The probable 

 mileage covered was about ten miles, but from the rough nature 

 of the country it was equal to 25 or 27 miles of ordinary walking. 

 The weather was fine but breezy and the summits of the hills 

 were found to be very windy in a double sense. 



The number of birds identified was exactly 50 species, nests 

 and eggs being taken of 19, namely : — Boobook Owl — Near the 

 Werribee a bird was flushed from the hollow of a dead gum-tree 

 by a heavy stone being thrown against the barrel. The tree 

 ascended, a hole was quickly chopped and three eggs taken 

 therefrom. A Yellow-tailed Tomtit's nest was taken, in case it 

 contained a Cuckoo's egg. This assumption was proved by find- 

 ing in the nest the egg of the Bronze Cuckoo. The next nest 

 found was that of the pretty Blue-headed Warbler. The home 

 was artistically placed in a tussock of grass behind a dead fallen 

 wattle, and, strange to say, this nest contained the spotted egg of 

 the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo. At the bottom of a deep gully 

 the neat moss-constructed nest of the Yellow-faced Honey-eater 

 was taken. It contained one egg only and was suspended in an 

 acacia bush which may be distinguished by the glutinous touch of 

 its new-sprouting foliage. Artfully hidden in an adjoining thorny 

 bush was the nest containing a clutch of three eggs of the White- 

 throated Thickhead. Subsquently was discovered another nest 

 of this species, with the handsome male bird closely sitting upon 

 young. 



In commanding positions of more secluded gullies, Wedge- 

 tailed Eagle eyries, new and old, were not uncommon. Instances 

 were noted of two and three in one tree. (Three pairs of these 

 noble birds were seen.) An attempt was made to ascend a 

 moderate-sized tree on a steep declivity to one of these eyries, 

 but a glimpse into a yawning abyss below made the stoutest- 

 hearted member of the party forbear. Afterwards, however, when 

 it was found necessary to inspect one of these huge nests, instead 

 of climbing the tree one climbed a few yards up-hill, where, by 

 the aid of a pair of binoculars, or even without them, the nest was 



