48



Mr. D. Seth-SmiTh,



me that hardly a day passed without one or more flocks passing

overhead ; only that afternoon he had seen a large flock.


We resumed our journey about midnight, the moon having

just risen, without which we could hardly have proceeded, as the

road here became a mere track through the forest of huge

eucalyptus trees.


There were numbers of Opossums in this forest but, al¬

though the moon shone brilliantly, it was extraordinarily difficult

to see them, and I doubt if I should have seen any had not my

companion, whose eyes were as sharp as a bushman’s, pointed

them out to me. A small excrescence would appear on the side

of a tree trunk, and this would very rapidly ascend until it

reached the branches where it would generally disappear alto¬

gether, hiding behind some limb. Mr. Le Souef was very anxious

to try a shot at one with a small rifle he had brought with him,

but however easy it may be to pot these little creatures with a

shot gun, to shoot them with a rifle at night, when it is impossible

to see the sights of one’s weapon is a totally different matter.

The shot had no effect so far as the bullet was concerned, but the

report was answered by loud cries of gnoolark gnoolark as a party

of Black Cockatoos (CalyptorhyucJnis baudiui ), disturbed from

their rest in the tree tops, took flight.


For mile after mile we continued through the forest, and

reached our destination at 3 a.m., our arrival being heralded by

the loud barking of dogs which awakened a trusty old servant

known as “ Dutcliy,” who turned out and conducted us to the

house where, late as the hour was, our kind hostess welcomed

us and provided us with comfortable quarters.


The next morning we were out fairly early for a long walk

in the forest. A family party of small grey Fantails {Rhipidura

preissi) were busy capturing flies around some stables, taking no

notice of our presence; most graceful little birds are these, con¬

tinually drooping their wings and their tails outspread swaying

from side to side. The party consisted of the two old birds and

three young ones, the latter being constantly fed with flies by

their parents.


Western Australia must be almost unsurpassed for the

beauty of its wild flowers at the right season, that is in the winter



