Vol. XXIV. -J 
1925. J 
BARRETT, Rockhampton Outings 
219 
surroundings, and the plant and animal life which delighted him, 
a wandering naturalist from Norway. His picture of the home¬ 
stead might be from a photograph taken yesterday, though it 
was, in fact, sketched nearly fifty years ago. lime has been 
kind to Gracemere; has mellowed its woodwork, walls and roof, 
and made the garden lovelier in its serene old age. Lumholtz 
praises the magnificent trees of the garden, Poinciana regia, 
tamarind, Brazilian Jacaranda, and bunya bunya pine. ( Araucaria 
bidzuillii). He writes of the lagoon, or lake, with its grove of 
Egyptian papyrus, which we saw on October 17th, 1924, and 
thought of the traveller who, one day, in November, 1880, 
lingered there to hear the “little singer,” Aerocephalus australis , 
and search for its nest, maybe. In the vine scrub near Grace- 
mere he observed and collected, and in the vicinity, he saw the 
Phragmites communis, “probably the only,plant which the Nor¬ 
wegian and Queensland floras have in common.” 
OLSEN'S CAVES. 
The trip to Olsen’s Caves, on October 18th, was an all day 
excursion, and it proved one of the most interesting of the Rock¬ 
hampton series. The Caves were glanced at, not “explored 
they are too extensive for that—and indeed, it was stated, are only 
partly known to their discoverer. Out in the open we went our 
several ways, in two and threes, and each party returned to the 
meeting-place, with a little harvest of notes on things seen, and 
some with specimens, plants, insects, and land shells. The bird 
list was satisfactory, nearly 40 species, including the Regent-bird 
(Scriculus chrysocephalus )—a bower in the making was found. 
Many delightful small birds were here: the Spectacled Flycatcher 
(Monarcha trivirgata ), the Mistletoe-Bird (Dicccum hiriindina- 
ceeutn), and the Orange-backed Wren ( Malums mclanocepha- 
lus ). Wonga Pigeons ( Lcucosarcia tnelanoleuca) were calling 
from the scrub, near the cave mouth, and there we had a glimpse 
of the little Green-winged Pigeon (Chaleophaps chrysochlora) 
“at home.” The capture of a Frilled Lizard ( Chlamydosaurus 
kingii ) caused a diversion. We were to see more of this curious 
species at Byfield. Apparently it is rather common in the 
Rockhampton district. 
A RIVER VOYAGE. 
Sunday, October 19th, was devoted to a motor launch trip on 
the Fitzroy River. We were the guests of the Rockhampton 
Motor Boat Club, and they gave us a very pleasant outing, 
marred only by tropical rain. We had a stroll ashore before 
the first shower, one party visiting Mr. Birkbeck’s place, Old 
Glenmore, another historic homestead. Our advent was unex¬ 
pected, but we were welcomed with the kindly grace and hospi¬ 
tality that Queenslanders know so well how to bestow. Our 
host related stories of old time, when the aborigines were wild 
and dangerous. The rain came before our departure, and we 
