THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 187 



was a great disappointment to find that it had practically no life 

 whatever on it, if we except three specimens of the common 

 Buprestis beetle, Stigmodera macularia. As we rapidly descended 

 signs of emu were very plentiful, this evidently being a favourite 

 feeding ground for them, in consequence, no doubt, of the abund- 

 ance of the shrub Styphelia sonderi, of the fruit of which they are 

 very fond. On reaching the valley we had lunch at the creek, and 

 after some discussion, three members, with Mr. C. Dalton, decided 

 to go on to the forester's hut with the letter given to us by Mr, 

 Perrin, whilst the rest, there being no provisions whatever with the 

 party, and feeling it would be taxing the forester's hospitality too 

 much to expect him to accommodate the whole, elected to return 

 to camp. Accordingly we separated, and the returning portion 

 continued collecting, meeting with fair success. Several lizard? 

 were taken, including the pretty and amusing little Gecko, 

 Diplodactylus marmoratus ; also, Rhodona hougainvillei, as well 

 as some fine scorpions. On the moist patches on the rocks there 

 was plenty of moss and growing on this were hundreds of the 

 flowers of the Utricularia. Only two snakes were seen, and botl> 

 unfortunately escaped, owing to the difficulty in capturing such 

 slippery and quick-moving reptiles amongst stones, in which there 

 is so much shelter for them. Around the camp there were plenty 

 of parrots, of which several were shot, as also a Cormorant, a pair 

 of which had recently come to the neighbourhood; one had already 

 been shot, and now its partner had met a similar fate. At the 

 head of Middleton's Gap, there is a fine view of the country for 

 miles around, as also of the neighbouring rocks, one being very 

 conspicuous, standing high up by itself, right in front of the Gap, 

 and is known as the Castle Rock, a singularly appropriate name; 

 indeed, by one of our party it was not inaptly named Edinburgh 

 Castle. Several Black Cockatoos were seen, and a beautiful nest, 

 with eggs, of the Harmonious Thrush ( C ollyriocincla harmonica) 

 was taken. 



Saturday, 28th November. — Beautiful morning, slightly 

 cloudy, with nice cool breeze. About 200 yards from camp there 

 is a clear mountain stream, and this was largely availed of for 

 drinking and cooking purposes, as also for morning and evening 

 baths. After breakfast, started east for Barney's Castle, a fine 

 high rock, distant about three miles, and so named after a 

 departed old identity, who, report says, had his camp in the 

 vicinity. Track was very good, having been made for drays when 

 sawmills were working; they are now all closed, and it will not 

 be long before it will be again grown over. Whilst proceeding 

 on track we started a large Eaglehawk, and on reaching the spot 

 from which he had risen we saw remains of a large Rugged 

 Stump-tailed Lizard ( Trachydosaurus rugosusj, on examining 

 which we were surprised to find that, contrary to the lizard's 



