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26/12/94. Spend the morning squaring the camp.

The country immediately round Apollo Bay is comparatively flat, and there is no heavy timber close to the township. Consequently we see many birds of the plains, magpies, wattlebirds, &c. Going up the Barrum valley in the afternoon, we see a few common birds, white-shafted fantail, azure kingfisher, &c. The whiteshafted fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa, Gld.) of the ranges appears to be a much darker coloured bird than that round Geelong. (I have noticed the same peculiarity in the low hills surrounding Bendigo.)

27/12/94. We make our way to the Elliot, the next creek beyond the Barrum. We try a short cut across a flat, finding on the road a groundlark's nest, with three hard set eggs. We cross the other arm of the Barrum, and now find our short cut not a success, as we have to force our way through about a mile of very dense "Prickly Moses (Bursaria spinosa), growing about eight feet high, which, tearing our clothes and cutting our skin, tends to ruffle our tempers. We at last get clear of this, and determine to look next time before we leap. We now find ourselves on an easy track-the Otway telegraph line-which has proved a friend to us many a time before, and we keep to this till we reach the Elliot sawmill. This mill is in charge of Mr. Owen, who shows us over the machinery. We go down to the creek by a track, which bears a strong resemblance to a flight of stairs, and we are told that the only thing on wheels that ever went over it was a bullock waggon. We find it hard to believe that even a bullock waggon could pass here. After a look round, we return to the sawmill for lunch, our own supplies being supplemented by some Xmas. cake which Mr. Owen kindly sends out by the hands of his daughter.

We then start down to the coast, Mr. Owen having promised to show us some cray fishing. He amuses us by trying to catch a butterfly with his cray net, which is about an inch in the mesh. The bluff, where we strike the beach, after more sliding than walking, is covered with small sheoaks, like those on the Sheoak Creek near Lorne, but if possible even more stunted. The crays are very abundant, and we get a good bagful to carry home.

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We return to camp by way of the beach, and find the walking unexpectedly easy, as the greater part consists of low flat rocks, with occasional patches of sand and shells, and there are only one or two places of really rough rock. shells are in great abundance, but are mainly in fragments.

The

While we are sitting round the fire after tea at camp, Mr. Cawood pays us a visit, and invites us all down to a party at his house on the next night.

28/12/94. A stray black duck is observed on the creek as we are preparing breakfast, and is soon transferred to our pot, at the cost of a wetting to its eager pursuer.

The flies are very troublesome this year all along the coast, and in the shelter of the scrub round our camp they are almost unbearable. Some of those who are going to Mr. Cawood's to-night spend a great part of the afternoon dolling themselves, one in particular experiencing great difficulty in shaving, as he is compelled to use the bottom of a tin plate in lieu of a looking-glass.

Heavy rain all the evening.

29/12/94. The morning turns out beautifully fine and sunny for the first time since we started, so after our usual swim we start round the coast for Stoney Creek. A mob of blue cranes fly past as we leave the camp, and on the beach we see a few groundlarks and one or two silver gulls. When we reach the mouth of the creek, taking a glance round we see far up the valley what looks like a block of water suspended at a height of about 100 feet, giving promise of good things in store. We find the creek is not overgrown like most of those on this coast, and we work up along the bed. At about a mile from the beach we find some rapids, which we at first mistake for the Stoney Falls, but climbing these we work up higher. We make an intimate acquaintance with the forest nettle, which grows just at a convenient height to catch the face, and in about another mile we reach the Falls themselves, which are very fine. There is a deep gorge, with almost perpendicular walls, down the centre of which

A. E. BRATLEY, From London, and late with

McBean & Son, Melbourne.)

Practical Chronometer, Watch & Clock Maker, Jeweller, Optician. and Silversmith,

467, Moorabool St., S. Geelong, near Barwon Bridge. Watch Work a specialty. All kinds of Horological Work done on the Premises.

A Twelve Months guarantee given for all Watch and Clock Work.

26/12/94. Spend the morning squaring the camp.

The country immediately round Apollo Bay is comparatively flat, and there is no heavy timber close to the township. Consequently we see many birds of the plains, magpies, wattlebirds, &c. Going up the Barrum valley in the afternoon, we see a few common birds, white-shafted fantail, azure kingfisher, &c. The whiteshafted fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa, Gld.) of the ranges appears to be a much darker coloured bird than that round Geelong. (I have noticed the same peculiarity in the low hills surrounding Bendigo.)

27/12/94. We make our way to the Elliot, the next creek beyond the Barrum. We try a short cut across a flat, finding on the road a groundlark's nest, with three hard set eggs. We cross the other arm of the Barrum, and now find our short cut not a success, as we have to force our way through about a mile of very dense "Prickly Moses (Bursaria spinosa), growing about eight feet high, which, tearing our clothes and cutting our skin, tends to ruffle our tempers. We at last get clear of this, and determine to look next time before we leap. We now find ourselves on an easy track the Otway telegraph line-which has proved a friend to us many a time before, and we keep to this till we reach the Elliot sawmill. This mill is in charge of Mr. Owen, who shows us over the machinery. We go down to the creek by a track, which bears a strong resemblance to a flight of stairs, and we are told that the only thing on wheels that ever went over it was a bullock waggon. We find it hard to believe that even a bullock waggon could pass here. After a look round, we return to the sawmill for lunch, our own supplies being supplemented by some Xmas. cake which Mr. Owen kindly sends out by the hands of his daughter.

We then start down to the coast, Mr. Owen having promised to show us some cray fishing. He amuses us by trying to catch a butterfly with his cray net, which is about an inch in the mesh. The bluff, where we strike the beach, after more sliding than walking, is covered with small sheoaks, like those on the Sheoak Creek near Lorne, but if possible even more stunted. The crays are very abundant, and we get a good bagful to carry home.

[blocks in formation]

We return to camp by way of the beach, and find the walking unexpectedly easy, as the greater part consists of low flat rocks, with occasional patches of sand and shells, and there are only one or two places of really rough rock. shells are in great abundance, but are mainly in fragments.

While we are sitting round the fire after tea at camp, Mr. Cawood pays us a visit, and invites us all down to a party at his house on the next night.

28/12/94. A stray black duck is observed on the creek as we are preparing breakfast, and is soon transferred to our pot, at the cost of a wetting to its eager pursuer.

The flies are very troublesome this year all along the coast, and in the shelter of the scrub round our camp they are almost unbearable. Some of those who are going to Mr. Cawood's to-night spend a great part of the afternoon dolling themselves, one in particular experiencing great difficulty in shaving, as he is compelled to use the bottom of a tin plate in lieu of a looking-glass.

Heavy rain all the evening.

29/12/94. The morning turns out beautifully fine and sunny for the first time since we started, so after our usual swim we start round the coast for Stoney Creek. A mob of blue cranes fly past as we leave the camp, and on the beach we see a few groundlarks and one or two silver gulls. When we reach the mouth of the creek, taking a glance round we see far up the valley what looks like a block of water suspended at a height of about 100 feet, giving promise of good things in store. We find the creek is not overgrown like most of those on this coast, and we work up along the bed. At about a mile from the beach we find some rapids, which we at first mistake for the Stoney Falls, but climbing these we work up higher. We make an intimate acquaintance with the forest nettle, which grows just at a convenient height to catch the face, and in about another mile we reach the Falls themselves, which are very fine. There is a deep gorge, with almost perpendicular walls, down the centre of which

(From London, and late with

A. E. BRATLEY, McBean & Son, Melbourne.)

Practical Chronometer, Watch & Clock Maker, Jeweller, Optician. and Silversmith,

467, Moorabool St., S. Geelong, near Barwon Bridge. Watch Work a specialty. All kinds of Horological Work done on the Premises. A Twelve Months guarantee given for all Watch and Clock Work.

the water comes in one leap. On a rock below we observe the inscription-"Stoney Falls. 192 feet." After boiling our billy and taking a photograph, we start the ascent of the side of the gorge, and find it difficult enough, as in addition to its exceeding steepness, the surface is very friable, and we can hardly get a footing. Landshells abound-chiefly Paryphanta (sp.), Hadra victoria, Rhytida (sp.), and Helicarion verneauxii-and we collect a good number. After a stiff climb we reach the top of the hill, and observe a few birds about. They had been conspicuous by their absence in the gully, which had struck us strongly, considering how they abound in the beds of most of these creeks.

The bright sunny morning has now gone and the sky is rapidly overcast as we make our way west to Wild Dog Creek. We work up the creek a little and then start back, and by the time we reach the beach again, the rain is falling fast and we are pretty well soaked. To add to our comfort we find a strong cold wind blowing in our faces as we return to camp.

The tents have suffered in our absence, and we spend the evening after fixing up the tents drying our clothes before the camp fire.

30/12/94. Turns out again a magnificent morning, but with the recollection of yesterday's discomfiture we put not our trust in sunny skies.

After breakfast we start for Anderson's Creek to collect a few ferns to take back with us. This creek turns out a very poor one, both vegetable and animal life being very meagre, and after two or three hours of it two of us have had enough, and make back for the Barrum across the hills. We had come here by the beach, a distance of about three miles, so we are much surprised on being brought up by the Barrum not far from the tents within the mile. We try the creek once more for fishing, but with no results, which is extraordinary, as abundance can be obtained anywhere on the surrounding coast at anytime. While we are fishing we notice a pair of reedy birds (Calamoherpe Australis) on the bank. Returning to camp in response to numerous hails, we find the rest of the

W.

ANNEAR,

CABINET MAKER,

Y.M.C.A. Buildings, Ryrie Street, Geelong, (opposite Post Office.)

Furniture made to any Design. Pictures Framed in any Style.

Venetian Blinds made to Order.

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