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tum), drooping acacia or ironbark (Acacia salicina), kurrajong, 
and mallee (Hucalyptus pachyphylla), we arrived at an open stony 
plain which extends to the base of the mountain. This height is 
composed of quartzite and sandstone, and has an abrupt escarpment 
facing westward and southward, appearing indeed from these 
directions to be inaccessible. It is of very considerable elevation, 
being some 1,538ft. above the surrounding plain and 3,884 ft. above 
sea level. ‘This important geographical feature not having pre- 
viously received a name, I have called it Mount Tate, after Pro- 
fessor R. Tate, the paleontologist and botanist of the expedition, 
who will make a geological examination of the range to which it 
belongs, and which is called Babamamma by the natives. At five 
and a half miles, after having crossed several small gum creeks 
trending southward, I altered the course to 96° 30’, a small pine- 
clad hill, mentioned by previous explorers, bearing 122°. At two 
and three-quarter miles, across low but distressingly stony hills, we 
came to a small mallee creek, near which we decided to leave the 
camels, and continue the further exploration of the precipitous 
hills to the north on foot. Crossing several ridges we ascended a 
rugged stony creek confined between steep rocks until further 
progress was prevented at a considerable altitude by a steep outer 
escarpment of the parent hill. On our return Dr. Stirling and I 
noticed a number of white bats (/Megaderma gigas) evidently dis- 
lodged from their retreat by the smoke and fire of several large 
plots of porcupine grass which we had ignited in the gorge. 
Frightened by us, they disappeared in a crevice near the summit of 
a hill some 350ft. above the creek bed. We at once ascended to 
this spot and discovered a small horizontal fissure some 4ft. in 
width and 2ft. in height. One of the special objects of the expedi- 
tion being to obtain specimens of the interesting and rare animals 
referred to, Dr. Stirling ventured into the cave. Assuming a re- 
cumbent position he penetrated some Syds. from the entrance. 
There, owing to the shape and size of the cavern, he could stand 
erect, and walked without hindrance for 20yds. further. Beyond 
that he could not go. Having exhausted all our stock of matches, 
and possessing no other materials for illumination, he was reluc- 
tantly compelled to return. Two ordinary grey bats only were 
driven by him from the cave. A large number of white bats and 
other animals, including dingoes, sought a retreat in the further 
recesses of the hill. A return to where the camels had been left 
was followed by our continuing on a bearing of 125° 30’ for three 
and a half miles to Deering Creek. Here we found the main party 
camped at a small rain water hole. The first two miles of our 
journey was over exceedingly rough stony ground; the last one 
