CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. — Introductory Remarks. 



Object of the Work Members of the Expedition— Larapiuta Laud — DitHculties of Travel a,nd Nature of 

 Camels— Departure from Adelaide and Arrival at Oodnadatta — Departure from Oodiiadatta — 

 Loading- and Riding Camels -Daily Programnie while on the March— The Main Sections of the 

 ■lonrnev — Tlie Australian Steppes -..-... Paijc 



CHAPTER //.—The Lower Steppes. 

 From Oodnadatta to Charlotte Waters and the Finke River. 



Lake Eyre in the Dry and Wet Seasons — Gibber Plains Origin of the Gibbers— Loamy Plains— The 

 Valley of the Macuniba River— Water Holes— Chestnut-eared Finches— The Prickly Seed Cases of 

 Tribulus and Bassia— Succulent Plants, Claytonia and Portulaca— Remarks on Spinous and 

 Succulent Development of Plants -Both forms of growth are probably adaptations to climatic 

 environment and not in the first instance developed 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 BithiTiia australis— Dalhousie Station and 

 Jlound Springs— Red JIulga— 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 cf Apus— Fresh Water Crab— Water Holding and -Burrowing Frog— The Adminga 

 Creek— Giddea Scrub— Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station— A Second Visit to Charlotte Waters in 

 Summer Time— Flies and Mosquitoes— 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— Tiliqua 

 occipitalis 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 Wirmecke start off to follow up the Goyder and Lilla Creeks— The JIain Party 

 goes on to Crown Point — View of the Finke Valley ----- Page 



CHAPTER II!.— The Lov/er Steppes. 

 From the Finke River to the James Range. 



Discovery and naming of the Finke by McDouall Stuart, in 1800— View of the Finke Valley — Cunningham 

 Gap and Crown Point — Camp of Blacks — Their life in Camp — Corrobborees — Two important forms, 

 ordinary and sacred — ChuriiTa, sacred Stones and Sticks— Organisation of the Tribe— The way in 

 which tlie^' prepare for an ordinai'y Corrobboree — Usual Ornaments, Weapons, and Implements — 

 Women Mourning— Collecting amongst the Sandhills— Pyrameis kershawi and Danais petilia — 

 Scorpions— Deaf Adder — Occurrence and Habits of Linmodinastes ornatus— Two Types of Burrowing 

 Frogs in Central Australia— Departure from Crown Point — Rench the Lilla Creek — Meet Messrs. 

 Watt and Winnecke at the Horse Shoe Bend on the Finke — The Horn Range— Social Cateipillar 

 Cases on Eucalyptus microtheca and Acacias— Various case Moths — Description of the Scrub— Camp 

 at Idracowra — Determine ujion Future Plans — Return of Mr. Horn to -\delaide — Visit to Chambers 

 Pillar — .Sandhill.s— Desert Oaks— Description of the Pillar— Myth of the Blacks to account for the 



