3b 
x 
THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
Huon Lane was reached. Here we climbed aboard the Gem, 
and I began my first piece of Australian coach-staging. I found 
it extremely rough, and had as much as I could do to hang on. 
The mining district at Sandy Creek was found in holiday attire, 
it being Derby day. Miners in all states of joviality and excite- 
ment swarming all around. 
Leaving this place, we made our way over hills and valleys, 
always ascending, till on one of the rough places the spring 
. broke. This meant a stop for repairs. By the aid of a sapling 
we were able to get things right and start off again. The 
quartz mines of Lockard Creek were just passed when we 
arrived at the Gap, which is about 2760 feet above sea level. 
The road through it is very narrow and sinuous; a slight 
mistake on the part of the driver would have sent us down the 
hill slope hundreds of feet. We were very nervous, owing to. 
the accident we had interfering with the working of the brake. 
It was awfully cold, and to increase it a snow storm came on. 
We were glad to get to Glencoe Restaurant and have dinner. 
Having changed horses a fresh start was made, Tallendoon 
Creek was crossed, and we soon came within sight of Eskdale. 
Here we bundled out, feeling stiff, sore and tired, and having 
paid the driver for the knocking about he had caused us, we left 
him to proceed on his jonrney. We met Mr. Lee, and went on 
with him and our luggage down the valley. We then put upat 
Mr. Swan's place, where we were made extremely comfortable 
for the fortnight we remained. Our room was a picture of 
cleanliness. 
The country round here was all that could be desired for 
collecting. Lyre birds were in abundance, and we were able 
to observe some of their habits. They have a peculiar way 
of dancing on a special plot of ground, and they keep up a con- 
tinual mocking sound while in motion. When disturbed, a 
lyre bird rushes off down hill, partly flying and partly running, 
and then crouches down behind a log to evade discovery. It 
lives chiefly on insects, and makes its nest of twigs and sticks 
on the top of a hill in the open and looking down the valley. 
The young are blind when hatched, and look most helpless 
creatures. The satin bower bird, that great lover of the maize 
crops, is to be found here all the year round. We were not 
able to find his bower. We tried all we knew to secure a 
wombat—dug in the holes, and set traps—but were un- 
successful. The Australian Roller or Dollyr bird can be seen 
at sunset over the river. It is very pretty, and is somewhat like 
a sparrow in the shape of its feet. It lives on insects, and 
breeds between September and December, laying three to four 
eggs. 
