M^y, 1924 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
73 
I have also seen odd speeiniens in those days, or per- 
haps earlier. alon^‘ the same class of country above 
Ithaca (b’cek, but the only locality where one could be 
sure of a sio-ht of at least a i>air was at the Middle Ttidsce 
of Taylor's Ran^-o, and there the familiar noisy Avhirr of 
wings, as they rose from the ground when alarmed at 
approacdi, ])etrayed their i)res(‘nce. This Middle Ridge ot 
Taylor's Range runs into tlie main range at rigid atigles 
to it near the luuv shelter shed, and lies betw(‘on the two 
main branches of Tthaea Creek, one of wliieli flows down 
through what are now known as the Darns, whereas the 
other enters near the tuni-off road to Paddington, be- 
low Avhere Captain Simpson once lived on the bill above, 
now infested with lantana. Tlu‘ flats, as also tlu’ eourse 
of the ere<*k. both above aiid l)elow, consisting of rich 
scrub or tropical jungle, abounding in s]>lendid bird Ufo, 
amongst which wcu'e rifle, regent, satin-bower-birds, eat 
birds, all tin* beautiful specif'S of scrul) ]ugeous — a 
regal lot — dragoon-birds, mountain thrushes, log-rnn- 
uers. scrub turk(‘>'s. as also many sinaller fcatluu’ed 
beauti(‘s. M'^hitt- (utekatoos abounded, as also king par- 
rots. The rifle-bird bad a disagia*eab1y harsh call, as also 
the eoeka1o(e but ilu* notes of many, especially amongst 
the smaler birds, were d(‘liglitful. Tlie calls of the kar- 
rawong tsome now dub it “currawong," Why?) t'ehoed 
around the hills with pleasing effect. Here 1 first heard 
the sharp, ringing, l)ell-like note's of the bell-miner 
(minah), now no longer existent there, though it may 
still be found at the head of Gold ('reek. The animal life 
of this locality was also abundanf and varie'd. it consiste'd 
of the large* grey kangaroe), wallabies, ])aeldA'melo]m, 
'possums, flying sejiiirrels in seve'ral sj)e(Mes. nati\'(' bear, 
and other smaller marsupials; also the echieina. Dingoes 
also Avere much in evielence. The large native eat 
(dasyurc) Avas also suspected, but the specimens of this 
which T obtained Avere from the head of the creek vdueli 
enters Enoggera Creek in the Ga]). and is in the granite 
country of the Enoggera Range. Wheia' are all thesf* 
animals and birds uoav? (Tuie with the splendid vi*g(‘ta- 
tion which clothed the country in those days. 
Early exj)erience of the l)ron/('-\ving was gained in 
1864 on tin* Darling Downs, at Clifto)), where, as a lad. T 
liAuul with an uncle at an out-station, known as Mount 
Kent. }I(*r,e for a time we bad a v(*rA- dry spell, and tlie 
only Avater beyond a dam Avas obtainable at King's Creek. 
