372 TimeHri. 
forest-trees. For the greater part of the way the banks 
of the creek are lined with trees skirting the savannah ; 
but at intervals, a dense forest growth occurs, on 
slightly raised land, continuous with the forest further 
in, where the mora is in abundance, while water-wallaba 
and corkwood, with the cokerite and manicole, are less 
plentiful, and the bullet-tree is occasionally seen. 
All along the creek, the track of large animals, such 
as the tapir, deer, and waterhaas, are plentiful ; but the 
latter alone could be obtained and a large specimen was 
shot in the afternoon. Otters were plentiful along our 
whole course, but only a medium-sized specimen was 
procured — the old specimens being wary to the last 
degree. Early in the day, a large opening on the left 
bank, Ababbo Creek, nearly dry owing to the drought, 
was passed. Here there was another track made by the 
ballata bleeders ; but only an old tumble-down benab 
marked the site. Late in the afternoon, another large 
creek, on the left bank, Tauraculi creek, was passed, 
but it was even drier than the Ababbo creek. The 
Tauraculi creek was said to mark the highest point of 
the Messrs. DAVSON'S ballata grants which extended 
down to Whiroon, but we nowhere came in contact with 
anyone in connection therewith ; and even the sign-board 
marking the site was absent from the Tauraculi station 
— at least it was not to be seen where the men said it 
ought to be found. 
Just below this point, where there is a small extent 
of swampy ground, the crested Lap-wing (Vanellus 
cayennensis) locally termed the " Bucktown Spurwing," 
was seen for the first time, and one specimen was 
obtained. The bird is of a rare and most handsome 
