78 [page number] 
[7.7.49] so next morning I picked up Bruce, and 
we went through Ivanhoeand Heidleberg* [Heidelberg], 
through the grounds of Mont Park Mental 
home to the large swamp of reeds. Nearby 
was a flock of GALAHS - wild ones which 
surprised me very much. To find a 
very same bird in our district in the 
outskirts of Melbourne is a bit of a 
shock to the dignity! 
It was at the this reed-bed in 
the previous few season that Bryant + 
Amos had studied and photographed 
the Spotless Crake. So we waded in - 
myself in borrowed sand-shoes and trousers. 
In a spot that Amos considered 
likely we trod out a "sight-line", trample 
down the reeds some twenty 8 [guess] yards 
in length and a foot or so wide. I 
sat on dry reeds at one end and 
Bruce stood at the other and we 
waited. Down out of the wind it 
was quite warm. All sounds from the 
outer world were cut short out leaving 
