17 
has been fully described by its discoverer, J. M. Stuart. At 3 p.m. 
Mr. Horn departed on his return journey to Adelaide. A number 
of natives were camped near the station, several of whom I com- 
missioned to procure specimens of natural history for the biological 
collection. In the evening they brought me a large snake, a Moloch 
horridus, and several other lizards. ‘The camel-men also obtained 
a number of fish from the waterholes, amongst which no fewer than 
five varieties occurred. A large catfish—the only one caught— 
was unfortunately lost before it could be brought into camp. Mr. 
Keartland, the ornithologist, has been very busy with the birds 
near this camp, and the collection of skins is already assuming large 
proportions. , 
Thursday, May 24th, Her Majesty’s Birthday.—Camp No. 17; 
bar. 29:06in., ther. 33°. Idracowra is the native name of Chambers 
Pillar. and Udrat-namma for the old station near our camp. I pro- 
ceeded with Professor Spencer and Dr. Stirling to the waterhole, 
one mile south of the camp, in order to examine a large net which 
I had ordered to be placed there last night. We were fortunate 
enough to secure a catfish for the collection. Breaking up the 
camp we continued on the northern side of the river. At three and 
a half miles, over red sand and porcupine grass, we passed Idra- 
cowra new station (Boomdooma), now deserted. The track termi- 
nates here, and I shall for the future have to select a road for the 
caravan. A few natives were camped near the station. Examined 
a well on the north side of the river, about 20ft. deep, with 
apparently an unlimited supply of good water. The station con- 
sists of eight well-constructed log huts, which are enclosed by a 
wire fence. At nine and a half miles and twelve miles we passed 
several waterholes in the Finke, and at thirteen miles we camped at 
a long waterhole called Altalwey-nimma by the natives. A stock- 
yard has been constructed about half a mile to the west of this 
waterhole, at which I met Fred. Warman, a member of one of my 
former exploring expeditions. He informed me that he was camped 
at a large waterhole about three miles W.S.W. from here, near the 
Johnstone Range. The latter we purpose visiting to-morrow, in 
order to examine certain peculiar waterlines mentioned by Mr. E. 
Giles. From a high sandhill about one mile north of our present 
camp I obtained an extensive round of bearings to numerous hills. 
Mount Duff, I found, bears W.S.W., and is nine and a half miles 
distant. The country on both sides of the Finke river consists of 
high, steep, red sandridges, overgrown with porcupine grass and a 
few cassia bushes. Occasionally the overflow from the river forms 
a narrow flat, and here the vegetation is both abundant and of 
excellent quality. 
2 Z 
