134 
KINGHORN, Trip to Upper Colo [ ut o™ 
Notes on a Trip to Upper Colo, N.S.W. 
By J. R. KINGHORN, C.M.Z.S., Zoologist, Australian Museum, 
Sydney. 
(By Permission of the Trustees of the Australian Museum.) 
Upper Colo is situated on the Colo River, about fourteen miles 
above its junction with the Hawkesbury River, and about twenty 
miles from our starting point, Richmond. The first intimation 
received at the Museum as to the possibilities of the locality 
being a valuable collecting area was from Mr. W. W. Thorpe, 
a member of the scientific staff, who had returned from a trip 
which extended through that very wild stretch of country be¬ 
tween Upper Colo and Putty. 
Mr. Thorpe suggested that a well organised trip to the region 
which he had traversed should reveal many interesting species 
hitherto supposed to be very rare. As the expense of such 
an extended trip would be considerable, a short preliminary trip 
was suggested, so that some estimate could be made as to 
the advisability of sending a well equipped excursion at a later 
date. The Museum party consisted of a taxidermist, Mr. J. H. 
Wright; an assistant, Mr. H. O. Fletcher; and the writer. The 
organisation being left in my hands, a move was made to get in 
touch with the Director of the Department of Agriculture, the 
Principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, and the 
College farm manager, Mr. Judd, and it was through their gener¬ 
osity that a fine horse and cart, together with full equipment, 
were lent to us for the eight days during which the trip was made. 
I am grateful to all with whom I had dealings at the College, 
for their willing assistance and advice. 
Our party left Richmond on October 13th, at midday, crossing 
the river half an hour later. For six miles the uphill Kurrajong 
Road was followed, and then we turned northwards along the 
Comleroy Road. We kept to the ridges for about nine miles, 
and then dipped suddenly and zigzagged down the side of a 
mountain, at the bottom of which, situated in a wild and rugged 
gorge, lay Wheeny Creek. 
We arrived at Wheeny about tea-time, and found that a small 
grassy flat about an acre in extent made a splendid camping- 
place ; so a splash in the cool waters of the creek and an excellent 
tea refreshed us after a heavy day in the blazing sun. Later in 
the evening a jacklight excursion was made along the creek and 
up the gorge; traps were set in the hope of catching small mar¬ 
supials, while one rock wallaby was secured for our collection. 
A restless night was spent, mainly through the snorting and 
stamping of the horse, which though very thirsty, would not drink 
in such a strange locality either from the creek or from buckets. 
However, he learnt a lesson by remaining thirsty all night, and 
for the remainder of the trip he drank at every opportunity. A 
