THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 191 



We made a parting call at Mr. C. Dalton's, who, however, was 

 not at home, being away with two of his sisters at another of his 

 places, known as the Hermitage, some two miles lower down. 

 We called there on our way, and, after he had once more extended 

 to us his hospitality, we left him with regret. Of him and his 

 sisters and two nephews we cannot speak too highly, and we 

 have no hesitation in saying that to them we are indebted for 

 seeing as much as we did, and most certainly without Mr. C. 

 Dalton as guide we should not have been able to find our way to 

 the Victoria Valley. 



One more parting visit we had to pay, and that was to Mr. W. 

 Dalton — a brother of Mr. C. Dalton — at the schoolhouse. After 

 amusing the school children with races, time began to press, and 

 we had reluctantly to leave, they wishing us good-bye with hearty 

 cheers, to which we of course responded. We had not gone 

 above half-a-mile when we heard a " coo-ee," and looking back 

 to see from whom it emanated, saw a lad hurrying up, and when 

 he reached us we found he had brought a nice present in the 

 shape of some eggs, thoughtfully sent by Mrs. W. Dalton. 

 Those only who, like ourselves, have been living on tinned pro- 

 visions for some time, in a locality where practically nothing was 

 obtainable, can appreciate the thoughtfulness of such an acquisi- 

 tion to our almost exhausted stores, or the consequent pleasure 

 with which it was received. Whilst on road again, tried under 

 bark of trees for insects, and met with much more success. 

 Beetles being far more plentiful, and although no rare ones were 

 obtained, it helped to confirm our previous impression that, this 

 year at all events, we were rather too early, as they were evidently 

 becoming daily more plentiful. Saw a Spotted Pardalote enter 

 its nest in ground at roadside, and having carefully dug around 

 had hoped to secure the bird as well as its nest and eggs, but it 

 escaped ; and as the nest, on being reached proved to have two 

 young ones in it, and had been broken to pieces in extracting it, 

 we had to destroy the young birds, as otherwise they would have 

 fallen a prey to the ants. The Leptospermum on creek still had 

 but little life on it; indeed, if anything, it had less than when 

 we first tried it, so finally gave up searching it as a bad job. 

 Some fine hornets were seen on the track above the creek, and a 

 pair of these were secured. 



Friday, 4TH December. — Morning warm, with every prospect 

 of day being very hot. Packed up everything and loaded dray, 

 and made a start on our return at about 11 o'clock. At the 

 entrance to Gap, a search of an hour was made for a large snake 

 said to have its abode there, but no sign of it was seen. Like 

 all country reports of snakes, its length was no doubt exaggerated, 

 as we find it difficult to believe it could be from 8 to 10 feet, 

 which was the size it locally obtained credit for. For several 



