Notes on my Visit to Australia. 287


NOTES ON MY VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.


By David Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


Some time ago Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, the Secretary of the

Zoological Society of London, conceived the idea of holding a

series of special exhibitions of the fauna of the different portions

of the British Empire at the Zoological Gardens in Regent’s Park,

and the suggestion received the hearty approval and support of

the Council. It was decided that the first of these exhibitions

should represent the fauna of Australasia, and arrangements

were made to exchange collections with the various Zoological

Societies of the antipodes, and the Governments of New South

Wales and New Zealand promised their assistance by donations

of animals.


The present writer sailed for Australia by the Orient-

Royal Mail Steamer “ Orotava,” which left London on December

13th last, on behalf of the Zoological Society, to make all arrange¬

ments for the collection and transmission home of animals which

were to form the Australasian exhibition, and it has been sug¬

gested to me that a short account of my trip, with especial

reference to the birds I came across, would be of interest to some

of our members.


WESTERN AUSTRALIA.


On January 16th, 1908, we sighted the coast of Western

Australia, and at 4.30 p.m. docked in Fremantle Harbour. Mr.

E. A. Le Souef, the Director of the Zoological Gardens at Perth,

and his brother Mr. L. Le Souef met me 011 arrival, and sug¬

gested that I should drive with them at once to Perth, a distance

often miles, and see the Zoo before darkness fell, and I had to

return to the ship to proceed towards the Eastern States.


The drive was to me of the greatest interest; gum trees of

various shapes and sizes grew everywhere, and Wattle bushes,

many of them in flower were scattered along the roadside. The

Christmas Tree ( Mytsia floiibunda) covered with masses of bril¬

liant orange flowers appeared now and again, but the time of

flowers was considered to be past. Birds were scarce save for

a few Magpies (Piping Crows) and dull coloured Honey-eaters

of species we could not determine.


During our drive my companions endeavoured to impress



