THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA,

BY

JOHN GOULD, F.L.S., &c.,

66

Author of "The Birds of Europe,” “ Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains," "Monographs of the Toucans and Trogons," &c., &c.

It is not without a deep sense of the weight of the undertaking, that a Work is announced on the Ornithology of the Australasian portion of the Globe; nor, indeed, could the Author have ventured upon such a task, did he not possess peculiar advantages which inspire him with confidence as to its successful issue. The liberal manner in which his previous Works have been supported, gives him assurance that the present publication will meet a continuance of public patronage. Aware, however, that much remained to be done in order to complete an acquaintance with the birds of Australia, of which the forms are so singular and interesting, and whose habits, manners and general œconomy were almost unknown, the Author was induced to visit those Colonies, and has devoted nearly two years to the observation of them in their native wilds, and has succeeded in gaining a rich harvest of knowledge, the fruit of personal experience, together with a great number of new and highly interesting species. Their migrations, changes of plumage, food, manners and nidification, all that concerns their history, or guides the naturalist in the determinations of their affinities, will be accurately described, and so far as the size of the publication (Imperial folio) will admit, each will be figured of its natural size, and coloured after life.

The Work precisely resembles the Author's previous publications in size and manner of execution, and will be published, as nearly as possible, at intervals of three months, commencing with December 1840, in Parts, price Three Guineas each (to be paid for on delivery), containing Seventeen Plates, with descriptive letter-press of the species thereon represented; and at the end of the Work an additional page

splendid style as Mr. Gould's 'Ornithological Monographs,' corresponding in size and appearance with the Birds of Australia.' The drawings are executed in lithography by H. C. Richter, son of the water-colour painter, in a style that combines the accuracy of the naturalist with the feeling of the artist: the liveliness of the animals is a great charm in the delineations, and it is an excellence peculiar to Mr. Gould's publications. The colouring of the Plates too is delicate and painter-like ; they resemble original drawings rather than common prints."-Colonial Gazette.

In Australia, Mr. FAIRFAX, of the Australian Subscription Library, Sydney (who has portions of the Work for inspection), has undertaken to receive the names of Subscribers, deliver the Parts as they appear, and to whom the Author requests their subscriptions may be paid.

A few copies of the Author's other publications are still on hand, and may be had at the following prices :

The Birds of Europe, complete in twenty-two Parts, forming five volumes, 761. 8s.

A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains, with descriptive letter-press, 147. 14s.

A Monograph of the Ramphastidæ, or Family of Toucans, thirtythree species, with descriptive letter-press, 77.

A Monograph of the Trogonidæ, or Family of Trogons, thirty-six species, with descriptive letter-press, 81.

Icones Avium, or figures and descriptions of new and interesting species of Birds from various parts of the Globe, in similar Parts, at 17. 15s. each Two Parts published.

:

LONDON:-JOHN GOULD, 20 BROAD Street, goldEN SQUARE.

Printed by Richard and John E. Taylor, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

JOURNALS

OP

EXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERY.

CHAPTER I.

FROM GANTHEAUME BAY TO THE HUTT RIVER.

WRECK OF THE SECOND BOAT IN GANTHEAUME BAY-EXPLORE IN ITS VICINITY-ESTUARY AND SCENERY ABOUT IT -PROVISIONS DIVIDED-START FOR PERTH-GEOLOGICAL REMARKS-CROSS A DISTRICT OF RED SANDSTONE-PLAINS ABOUNDING IN THE WARRAN PLANT-SUPERIOR NATIVE PATHS AND WELLS-ESTUARY OF THE HUTT-DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AND

SCENERY-PROGRESS

OPPOSED

BY NATIVES-THE HUTT RIVER-FIRST HILLS OF THE

SOUTHERN IRONSTONE FORMATION.

A FEW moments were sufficient to enable us all to recollect ourselves: two men endeavoured to keep the boat's stern on to the sea, whilst the rest of us lightened her, by carrying every thing we could on shore, after which we hauled her up. The custom had always been for the other boat to lie off until I made the signal for them to run in, and it accordingly was now waiting outside the breakers. Her crew had not seen our misfortunes, owing to the height of the surf, which, when we were under it, shut us out from their view, and now perceiving that we were on shore, and the boat hauled up, they concluded all

was right; and, notwithstanding I made every possible. sign to them not to beach, running as far as I could venture into the sea, and shouting out to them,— my voice was drowned by the roar of the surge, and I saw them bounding on to, what I thought, certain destruction. We, of course, were all turned to render assistance. They, fortunately, kept rather to the south of the spot on which we had beached, and where it was much less rocky, so that the danger they incurred in reaching the shore was slight in comparison to ours; yet some of the planks of this boat were split throughout their entire length.

Whilst all hands were employed in endeavouring to repair damages, I ascended a hill to reconnoitre our present position, and found we were in a country of a pleasing and romantic appearance, and although the land was not good, the nature of the soil made me aware that we were most probably in the vicinity of a large tract of better quality; indeed, this was the only part of South-west Australia in which I had met with the ancient red sandstone of the Northwest coast; immediately behind the sand-hills on which I stood was a thick Casuarina scrub, which sloped down into a deep valley, and beyond this rose lofty and fantastic hills. After I had for some time looked round on this scene, I returned to the party and received the report of the carpenters, who, having examined the boats, stated their inability to render either of them fit for sea. To this I had already made up my mind; and even if the boats had been uninjured, I doubt whether we could ever

COUNTRY ABOUT GANTHEAUME BAY. 3

have got them off again through the tremendous surf which was breaking on this part of the shore; whilst to have moved them to any distance would, in our present weak and enfeebled state, have been utterly impossible.

No resource was now left to us but to endeavour to reach Perth by walking; yet when I looked at the sickly faces of some of the party, and saw their wasted forms, I much doubted if they retained strength to execute such a task; but they themselves were in high spirits, and talked of the undertaking as a mere trifle. I gave orders for the necessary preparations to be made, and then started with two or three hands to search for water. On reaching the valley I have before-mentioned we found a small stream, and following this to the northward for about a mile, came out upon one of the most romantic and picturesquelooking estuaries I had yet seen: its shores abounded with springs, and were bordered by native paths, whilst the drooping foliage of several large sorts of Casuarina, the number of wild swans on its placid bosom, and the natives fishing in the distance, unconscious of our presence, imparted to the whole scene a quiet and a charm which was deeply felt by those who had now for so many days been either tossed about by the winds and waves, or had long been wandering over barren and inhospitable shores. We did not, indeed, find much good land about this estuary, but there were rich flats upon each side of it, whilst the nature of the rocks, and the lofty and peculiar character of the distant hills, gave promise of the