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-cattle and horse stations), and followed the Lindsay Creek 

 down for days. In this creek there were many fine water- 

 holes, up to half a mile in length ; they teemed with fish, and 

 there were many water-fowl. White-fronted Herons 

 (Xotophoyx novce-hollandice) were met with along this water- 

 course, also the Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platibis flavipes); 

 the latter birds were often seen perched upon the dead gum- 

 trees which overhung the waterholes. There were several 

 varieties of ducks — the commonly-called Wood Duck, or 

 Maned Goose [it is really a goose] (Chenonetta jubata): Black 

 Duck (Anas supercilliosaj ; Grey Teal (Virago gibberifrons) ; 

 Australian Shoveller (Spatula rhynchotisj. Large flocks of 

 Black Cormorants were also found on these waterholes living 

 upon the fish. The large Black Cormorant of Australia 

 (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a fine bird, and when a number 

 come out of the water after a fishing excursion, sitting upon 

 the bank or fallen trees with outstretched wings drying their 

 plumage in the sun, they present a strange sight. Bobbing 

 about upon the water like corks numbers of Western Black- 

 throated Grebe (Tachybapti/s ruficollis novce-hollandice) were 

 seen. The Lindsay Creek passes through a very rough gibber 

 country, but fine red gums line the banks of the stream. It 

 was along this watercourse and in its rocky banks that we 

 saw the gigantic lizard (Varanus giganteusj, one specimen 

 measuring fully 8 ft. long. Following the creek down we 

 came to its junction with the Stevenson; here we met with 

 an Owlet Nightjar of a very rufous colouration. Continuing 

 down the Stevenson we passed one or two small waterholes, 

 but the country became drier as we went south. Still quite 

 a number of specimens in various branches of natural 

 science were collected, in spite of the great heat and flies — 

 the latter tormented us night and day. Strong winds with 

 dust troubled us sorely, and for the last few weeks nearly 

 every afternoon strong winds would come up from the south- 

 west and blow with great violence, covering everyone and 

 everything with dust. The last part of our journey was along 

 a beaten camel pad, which led us into Oodnadatta. 



So ended a camelback journey of 1,300 miles through a 

 dry and awful country which, when the rain comes, blossoms 

 like the rose, but in a short space of time (about eight weeks) 

 once more subsides into its normal state of drought. Rain 

 ialls in this great interior at long and irregular intervals. 

 It is an old saying of those who live in the country when 

 questioned as to when rain will fall by answering, "It may 

 fall in ten minutes or ten years." The dreary aspect and 

 the solitude of this vast country followed us like a nightmare 

 ras we travelled south. 



