34 
sive view. Numerous distant mountains of the Macdonnell Ranges 
are visible from W. 18° N., round by north to east. Mr. Giles’s 
two pine-clad hills bear 8.S.E. three-quarters of a mile off. Low 
hills, some being very distant, are visible from S8.S.W. to west. 
After taking a complete round of bearings I continued on a line 
of 388° 10’ across high porcupine sandridges. At one and three- 
quarter miles, after rejoining the main party, changed the course 
to 17° 40’ for two and a quarter miles, and then to 40° at three 
miles. During the mid-day halt Mr. Keartland shot and secured 
for the ornithological collection fifteen specimens of that most rare 
bird the Princess Alexandra parakeet (Polyteles Alexandre). 
When seven miles had been traversed the gum timber of Deering 
Creek came into view. By altering the course to 89° in the direc- 
tion of some very large gums we passed at half a mile the bend of 
the creek, and at one mile crossed to the eastern side of the 
creek, where we camped, having travelled in all seventeen miles 
over somewhat steep sandridges, here and there fairly well grassed, 
and all thickly clad with desert oak. Several fine kurrajong trees 
were seen to-day, and the pituri bush (Dubosia Hopwovdi), which 
is fatal to camels, was gathered. In places the flats between the 
sandridges are densely timbered with mulga. Deering Creek has a 
well-defined channel some 20yds. wide, and is lined with luxuriant 
gums. ‘The sand in the creek near our camp was quite moist, and 
we easily obtained sufficient water for all our purposes. A high 
and very prominent mountain, bearing 70° 20’, and distant eight 
and three-quarter miles, marks the commencement of the Mac- 
donnell Ranges. A conspicuous mountain, bearing 39°, distant 
seven and a half miles, I have named Mount Stirling, after Dr. 
HK. C. Stirling, C.M.G., the anthropologist and ethnologist of the 
expedition. The black boy, Mennawurta, procured a new species 
of tree lizard and two opossums. Several emus and dingoes were 
seen during to-day’s Journey. 
Sunday, June 17th.—Camp No. 33, Deering Creek; bar. 27°63in., 
ther. 25°; height 2,210ft. Leaving the caravan, with instructions 
to follow the creek in an easterly direction for some ten miles and 
then camp, Harry remaining as guide, I started with Professor 
Tate and Dr. Stirling for the high mountain bearing 70° 20’. Mr. 
Keartland will stay at this place with H. Edgar and a black boy 
until noon, to complete, if possible, the preservation of the whole 
of the specimens of the Princess Alexandra parakeet obtained 
yesterday, and then overtake the main party. After travelling five 
miles across sandridges overgrown with porcupine and patches of 
inferior grasses, and densely timbered with mulga, teatree ( Thryto- 
mene marsonneuvw), native poplar, peach tree (Santalum acumina- 
