CHAPTER II. 



The Lower Steppes. 

 From Oodnadatta to Charlotte Waters and the Finke River. 



Lake Eyre in tlic Dry and Wot Seasons— Giljliur Plains— Origin of tin; Gildiurs- Loamy Plains— Tliu Valley of the 

 Macuniba ]!.i\cr -Water Holes- Chestnut-cared Finches— The Prickly Seed Cases of Tribulus and Bassia— 

 Succulent Plants, Claytonia and Portulaca— Remarks on Spinous and Succulent Dex'clopnient of Plants - 

 Both forms of ^Towth are probably adaptations to climatic environment and not in the first instance 

 develoiied as protection against animals — The most spiny and the most succulent plants are found in the 

 arid regions— The Stevenson River— Contents of a Water Hole during the Dry .Season -Tenacity of life of 

 Bithinia australis— Dalhousie Station and Mound Springs— Red Mulga— Gibber Plains at Sunset— Clay 

 Pans ; contrast between them in the Dry and Wet Seasons— The Fauna of a Clay Pan — Amphibia, Crustacea, 

 Jlollusca— Colour Changes of Frogs— Habits of Apus— Fresh Water Crab— Water Holding and Burrowing 

 Frog — The Adminga Creek — Giddea Scrub — Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station — A Second Visit to Char- 

 lotte Waters in Summer Time— Flies and Mosi|uitoes— Succession of Forms of Life— The Colouration of 

 Lizards Sexual Differences— Brilliant Colouration, the accompaniment of a general state of activity and 

 only indirectly associated with that of the environment— Susceptibility to Heat of Lizards— Tiliiiua occipi- 

 talis killed by Heat of Sand -Departure from Charlotte Waters — Change in Nature of the Country — Ant 

 Lions — Mount Daniel- Camp at the Goyder River -Habits of Physignathus longirostris— Messrs. Watt and 

 Wiimecke start off to follow up the Goyder and Lilla Creeks— The Main Party goes on to Crown Point- 

 View of the Finke Valley. 



On its way north the railway line now passes close to the western bordef of 

 South Lake Eyre, anil at tliis point is actually some three or four feet below 

 the sea level. Asa general rule the Lake is for the most part, as it was when 

 we passed it going and returning, a white sheet of salt. Into it drain the more 

 important rivers of the interior — on the west the Barcoo and Warhurton, on 

 the north the Neale and the Macumba, whilst in times of heavy rain amongst 

 the ranges in the centre tlie Hood wateis of the big Finke itself jnobaljly help to 

 swell those of the Macumba. 



It is only after very heavy rains that these rivers run, and then the Lake 

 bed is filled with water, as it was when I passed by it in January, 1895. Then the 

 stony })lains around were green with grass, and the waves, blown by a heavy wind, 

 were breaking in spray against the small cliil's bounding the shore. The evapora- 

 tion is, however, so great that only a comparatively short time passes before all is 

 once more dry and paix-lu-d. 



From Oodnadatta our course lay across a gradually lising and somewhat 

 undulating country with low-lying flat-topped hills and upland plains covered with 

 " gibbers."* These gibber plains, a characteristic view of which is shown in the 

 accompanying illustration (Plate 2), are the most striking feature of this part, 



* The name is derived from a Queensland aboriginal word "gibber," which means a stone. 



