Australian Natural Histojy. 1481 



der the loose blocks of coral. These belong to about thirty genera, a 

 bare enumeration of which would scarcely excite much interest. A 

 species of Hippopus, the largest known shell, the Chama gigas of old 

 writers, is particularly abundant, so much so, as to have furnished all 

 the lime used in the building of the beacon. While alive and on the 

 reef, the clam-shell is apt to form a very effective man-trap, by clos- 

 ing itself upon any one who wades about incautiously in the shoal 

 water. The animal is gaudily coloured either with green or blue, 

 there being two distinct varieties, if not species. In closing its shell, 

 a small spout of water is sent up through a tubular orifice. 



John McGillxvray. 



Ornithological Excursion to the North coast of New Holland. 

 By John McGillivray, Esq. 



As a brief account of the manner of life, occasionally adopted by 

 travelling naturalists may interest some of your readers, I send you a 

 rough sketch of an ornithological excursion on the North coast of 

 new Holland. 



In October 1844, my friend Lieut. Ince, R. N., and myself, accom- 

 panied by some natives and others, left the settlement of Victoria, 

 and were duly landed at Moormal, twelve miles further down the har- 

 bour of Port Essington. Here we formed our camp, having a shel- 

 tered bay for the boat, a well of tolerable water 300 yards distant, 

 and several lagoons, said to abound in aquatic birds, within reach of a 

 morning walk. As usual, the first to welcome us on shore were our old 

 friends the mosquitos, and in due time our hands and faces bore the 

 marks of elaborate chasings, the work of these blood-thirsty pests of 

 tropical Australia. A small circular lagoon a quarter of a mile distant 

 was the first visited by us, but, it being now near the end of the dry sea- 

 son, the water had disappeared, and the dried up mud was covered with 

 dead shells of four species of as many genera — Pirena, Planorbis, 

 Succinea and another : — here it was that poor Gilbert discovered the 

 beautiful Nettapus pulchellus. After ineffectually chasing some 

 "native companions" (Grits Antigone), and getting an occasional 

 shot at a Torres Strait pigeon (Carpophaga luctuosa), or a quail 

 [Synoicus Australis and Tamix casianotus), while striking across 

 some forest land, we reached a very large lagoon of brackish water, 

 which on former occasions had been found well stocked with wild- 

 iv 5 u 



