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THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER A Monthly.Bulletin_devoted to. matters ofintere-st to The Sidney Bushwalkersf, 5 Hamilton Street, Sydney -..——–'-.– No, 120 DECEMBER4.:l9 - Price 6d.
Editor: ,Clare Kinsella Production: ,Yvonne Rolfe Asst,, Grace Jolly . Asst. Alice WybOrn Bus, Man, -John Johnson Sales 84.11bs, Betty Dickenson. - CONTENTS 7
Snakes and Ladders Coolamine The Beautif4-Princess. Letters fTOM.the,Lads Things generally.: Goodman's Advt. . What Paddy' Says and drives the Ants deep underground, Outside the tall_sun fades the ehabby mallee, the stony drift-sand shrivels the drab sparse plants: s,. there's not a cloud in all the sky:to cast a shadow On the ti-emulous plain. Stirless the windmills, thirsty cattle standing -despondently about the empty. tanks stamping and tosing their heads, , in torment of the _flies from,%dawn:to dark. For ten parched dayi it has been like thie and, although I ,love the. desert,-I have'found mybelf, . dreaming:. cf-upright4tims 1:7 a mountain. 'creek where the red 1Diii-ania blooMs,. . where bell-birds chime through the morning iiistb . . and gre enness can 14de fxom the sunl. ' of rOck-laoleb: where- the brUmbies slink . like 'swift cloud-Sha'dows from the gidgi-scrub. . , to drink when the moOn is low. FLEX.4.bREH fiUDS ON in- ' “IN THE WIND'S -TEETH”. _ ,: : .
. .:;*. “..;:. - ' Page by'bavid D. Stead , 2 by iari Wyborn 3 5 7 9. , *4 . 9
IO.
:- SNAKES (AND LADDERS). or A Few Notes About our Reptiles. By David D. Stead. You have read in these pages of strange things - Tigers, Orangutans, (although in the S.B.W. one usually hears “ARANG ATANG”) rabbits, and many other wonderful animals, and now I propose to tell you some facts about our reptiles and the evolutionary stages (and ladders) by which they develop from the even simpler forms of life which preceded them in Geological history. As mnny of you are doubtless aware, the earliest back boned or vertebrate animals were the fishes. Our present knowledge of the stages by which life has (-Leveloped, is largely dependent on fossil remains which have been found. We 17now very little from such remains regarding the immediate ancestors of the first bony fishes, It is probable that they were swimming croaeures which gradually developed hard nortions around their mouths - the beginnings of teeth. The cartilaginous fishes, which still exist as sharks and stingrays, were, no doubt, one of the intermediate stages in the development of bony fishes from the (:)ft boneless creatures which preceded them. Many of our st*pgreye have rough prickly plates covering the roof and floor of the mouth, and at the lips these give way to the flattened tooth-like scales which cover most of the body, The n:Ixt main point in the upward development of animal life, was an am.1)-n one rblated to the newts (which still exist in a number of forms) wh:-Th liud adapted themselves to living on land, but which, like the present day am?hibians, needed to live in and near wet places. This lowest form of land vertebrate, although it had become adapted to breathing air, still returned to the water to reproduce its kind, possibly in a similar manner to that in which the frogs and other amphibians today lay their eggs in water.. The Age of the Amphibia was the Carboniferous Age or the Age of the Great Coal Swamps, when all life was centred in and around the swamps and lagoons, This exceedingly fertile period in the World's history was followed by what must have been a great successidn of dry ages, which are represented in the rock formations to-day by great deposits of sandstones and similar rocks in which there are very few fossils of any kind, These overlying deposits commenced the processes of compressing and petrifying the trnasseE.; of swamp vegetation which had apparently existed for such long periods, which form the great coal deposits of the present time. During these long, hard ages of changed Conditions, the great variety of ampnibious life which had populated the Earth 4 under,went enormous changes to rreet alterations in their environment. Tbs study of Geology indicates that following the long ages of temperature eY!?-tms, glacial cold, and the submersion of the Coal Swamps under the great r f rr.Indstones, there was a r:Iversion to moist warm conditions in rllich forms of animal and plant life were established. Fossil remains are this period of 7ertebrated animals that laid eggs which,instead of hatching into tadpole-like forms needing to live for a time in water, _3 developed within the egg to a stage at which they could liVd in air from the moment of hatching. The gill breathing mechanism had disappeared and the gill slits only appeared as a phase during the development of the embryo even as the human embryo passes through this stage to this day. These new forms of life were the reptiles. A combination of favourable conditions resulted in a vast period in which warm conditions prevailed, during which innumerable reptilian forms ruled the Earth. It is con- sidered by some Geologists that this, the Mesozoic Period or the Age of Reptiles (on account of the great diversity of form and superiority over all other types of,animal life), mayhave lasted :for some two hundred - million years. Some .he reptile forms which inhabited the Earth during the Mesozoic Period pei-sist to this day, but most of them died out. There were the Dinosaurs of many types, some of them attaining a length of almost 100 feet. These were all herbivorous, but there were aloo great carniverous reptiles, like the Tyrannosaurus which preyed upon its great vegetarian cousins. There were fish lizards and there were flying lizards, but before the so-called Age of Reptiles came to an end, most of these types had died out, or were giving way to other types of life which ultimately developed into the birds and mammals of more recent Geological times. The historian, the Geologist, and the Zoologist would probably writhe in agony at the impertinence of attempting to deal with the Age of Fishes, the Carboniferous Period and the Age of Reptiles in one page. To-day, the distribution of reptiles over the Earth's surface is very limited and the number of types is small. The only forms left are the snakes, the tuttles and tortoisesf the crocodiles and alligators, and the lizards. It is proposed to deal only with Australian reptiles, here, and next month, I hope to tell you some truths and explode some fallacies about snakes. COOLAMINE by Allan Wyborn. Coolamine Plains country from the Bimberi Range is a fascinating pattern of open grasslands and heavily timbered ridges. From this western boundary of the Australian Capital Territory, the mighty Mount Jagungal provides a background for the plains, rising to 6,755 feet. Although the mount is forty miles to the south we could clearly see a pink mantle of snow draping the shoulders of this “crouching lion”. Mount Bimberi, 6,267 feet, was the farthest we went along the Brindabella Range. Going down through Murray Gap we came to the Goodradigby River at a lovely spot where all was verdant and tranquil. The swift murmur- ing river cut its way across the valley floor in a twisting channel. We crossed and climbed up on to a plain covered in rich clover pasture, at one end of which was a deserted homestead called “The Pockets”-, once the residence of Tom Taylor, From here a well worn stock route led across the green flats of Cooleman Plain. At Seventeen Flat we tried to make friends with a group of splendid horses, which had been running free for a good while judging by their condition and tinidity. The best we could do was a ekyline photo. from a distance of thitty feet. Cave Cxcok runs through deep limestone gorges and is of such considerable size tkt, -',:-Fclo nts of the district call it the Upper Goodradigby River, although it oily a large branch, Here we explored the Blue Pool Nimilar, in ccan1.7 c that at Jenolan), and several of the caves, A forlorn prospectors hut as a reminder that several gold mines w2re once worked here. We found :ator that this nart is a recreational reserve, and that themain caves_ are furdher upstream. , Topping a ridge about a mile further on, we s v1 several cottages and a cluster of sheds situated at thit neater *.end of a delightful open plain, with the silvery thread of 6.creek winding its way across it, So this was Goolamine Plains! a truly delightful spot, Expecting to find quite a number of: pebple we were ,surprised that'only'two lived there. They were Mr and Mrs. Fred Bridle, who were managing this sheep station of 2500 acres, carrying 2,700 sheep. It is a'freehold property surrounded by snow leases, from which all stock are removed by the end of March, before the winter Sets in.. We learned 'that sometimes snow lies feet deep on this 4,300 feet high plain for five' months of the year. During this time connection is made with' the outside world on skis, or as they call them,. snowshoes. Horses often bog up in deep snowdrifts. The Bridles Droved to be-a very. hospitable couple. Evidently they tad never come upon walkers before, or rather walkere had never visited-them, and as evening was drawing near, we were eaPily prevailed upon to stop for qe night, They obligingly saddled up horses for us, as Alice was longing to get into the saddle again after many,years away from horseriding. - After a satisfying dinner we were joined by one, Billy Jemmett, an old timer who had ridden over from Rules Point to help drove some sheep. He was a great yarnspinner, and a very lleasant evening was spent listening to his reminiscences, some of which are worth repeating. Billy was n Boer War veteran of stocky build, with large moustache and clad in flannel shirt, corduroy breeches and leather leggings. Many were his experiences. He was an animal lover, and it was his conviction that animals had their own language' with which they were able to transmit any. variety of thoughts. Take his horses; one of them had only to see him coming 'across the paddock with the saddles and would canter over to the other. “He's coming to get us, let's make a break for it down the creek!”-On one occasion while droving sheep, he noticed a dog disappear for a while; coning back guiltily the dog barked to the other dogs and at the first op6ortunity they went off in a bunch to where Billy later found the remains of a she -p they had killed. Then the white cockatoos post a sentry high in a tree to watch over their kind feeding on the ground below. At the first sign of an intruder a special warning tells the others to get aloft quickly, as someone unknown is approaching. Tame pets often show great understanding. Once Billy was confined to bed. for days; living alone and being weak he became very hungry. Probably his cat realised this for it brought in a nice big rat and helpfully deposited it . v4 Billy's . . We were to beguiled in front of thehuge,Open fire by tinny tale04 that it was well past midnight beforf? we retired' to cos* bedroom with -a lp,tive four poster bed and heavy walltbyskin quilt, Such luxuriea for 4. btellwalkerel . ; Next morning we Ad farewell to' our three friends, my rud#ac with extra food in the shape of a billy full of fresh eggs, home made brawl awl Ze we left Coolamine Plains With 'pleasant memories of our ztay. THE BEAVIVUL PRINC:;;SSLIVFTH.F;ILL STOP It is Yuletide again and the tedUtitul Princess comma Elizabeth comma who has been banished from the land is *etY happy becluse she has the most beautiful cake in the whole land. Stay, gentle reader, while I tell you him the Beautiful Princess comill Elizabeth comma came to have the most beautiful cake in the. whole I will tell you her story. “Once Imonta-time there was an extremely beautiful. 'young maiden named Elizabeth who was really a princess in disguise. Nobody knew she was a Princess,- not even her father or her mother, Only Elizabeth knew she was a PrincessIbut she was bound by an oath to the Leprechauns never to tell anyone. She knew that she was so very beautiful that a wicked ogre would seize her and take her . off to his lair if it were known that she was a princess as well as being so very, 1,-ary beautiful, so she never told anyone. Now children, in the land there the Beautiful Princess comma Elizabeth comma lived were two Fairy Godinothers whc Jidn't have a Godchild. No thee two Fairy Godmothers saw the beautiful mai3n Elizabeth and they said One to another “Now there is a maiden Who is worthy of our affection - one who is pure and noble as well as beautiful Let us have her for our Fairy Godchild.” So that is how the Prindess Elizibeth (who was the only one who knew she was a Princess) became the Fairy Godchild of the two *dry Godmothers, Now the two Fairy Godmothers were named Hilda M. and Annie K. the full names being Hllda Matftaficence and Annie Keenly (that it the way it is spelt in the land where they lived, Most other places spell it Queenly but here it is with a “kw”), These two Fairy Godmothers Watched over the beautiful Princess comma Elizabeth comma and kept her in the straight Rnd narrow way. At times the Princess thought it was very dull; but she knew her Fairy GodmOthers knew what was best for her. When the Princess was growing up her father (Who was not the King) fell upon hard times and the voor little princess was sent to Work for a dreadful ogre called the Public Service. There she was forcod to 14R:irk With horrid men who wo:re shiny navy blue suits and with horrid women who were silly and the PrIiiciqss after a time became quite desolate and melancholy. After a long, long time,-.Then she had almost become resigned to her fate she was released from the dredful ogrets employ and sent to work for other people. There she toiled and was more or less'hanpy until a dreadful plague occurred throughout thc land. The bead man in a neighbouring country decided that the the land where tbe Beautiful Princess lived had too much Wealth and too muc',1 And7 and he decided to make war on the King of the land whete our Beautiful Princess lived. The King called up his henchmen and they all got upon their tanks ad in their aeroplanes (they used those instead of fiery in that land) and away they went to war. The King saw that hi c enemies - eo very strong, so he sent a mes;,age to all the women of his land asking the7; -e help. He did not want them to charge into battle on a tank or in an sa.1-.-uriane, but he asked them to be very good and do whatever they could to help. The king called it “doing their bit”. The King sent a special messonger to the Princess Eliz,3beth because he knew she would be such a very good worker and said “My name is George, I want you to go out and strike a blow for me against mine enemies,” The beautiful princess was very pleased that she should receive such condescension from the King and immediately girded up her loins and went forth to “strike a blow for George.” She put away all her feminine toys and was given three dresses, one blue to wear in the winter when it was cold, and two drab to wear in the summer when it waA hot, She thought it would be better to wear those terrible clothes as no?' one would recognise her as a servant of the King and thus know she was striking a blow for George. The Princess, being as clever as she was beautifull was sent on a very special and secret work and was sent all over the countryside striking blows (in a very secret way) against the King's enemies. She was sent to one spot where it was so wonderful that she gradually forgot shewas supposed to be wdrking against the King's enemies and began to think that it 'was her right and just due to have such joyousness. Her two Fairy Godmothers saw what was hep-oening and shook their heads about their Fairy Gadchild, but never once did they forFake her. They w tched over her all the time, were happy in her hapninesF and consoled her in her few mtments of madness. 7 Wben the King heard that the princess was forgetting to strike blows for him and was having too much pleasure, he became exceedingly angry and 8-id to ('D a special message) “You am supposed to be striking blows for me and 11(.. , me to resist mine enemies, instead of which you are always se-king ple_:..,u ue and have forgotten I am at war with a neighbouring giant. I had inteLde promoting you to a poczition of high authority but now you will have to wt until you learn to be a better hand-maiden,” And with that he banished he from the pleasant land where-she had been dwelling for so long and sent hc7: to work in a dreadful city whore she had to work in a harrid dungeon wjthout any air and she had to live on a tiny little verandah with lots of other maidens who were unwanted and unloved and she was exceedingly sad-and melancholy, but her two- Fairy Godmothers were still watching over her and they said “Poor Fairy Godchild, she is very cast-down, and sad, but it will do her good as she must never forget to strike blows for the King. Let us show her that she is not forsaken and let us send her a beautiful cakz to cheer her4-Up.” So the Fairy Godmother, Annie Kweenly, with advice from the Fairy Godmother, ' Hilda Magnificence, made a beautiful cake, which turned out to be the most . beautiful cake in the whole land and sent 'it to their Fairy Godchild, the beauT.iful Princess comma Elizabeth full stop. And that dear children is the s1-,ry of the beautiful Princess comma Eliz.-;beth comina and how she came to have the most beautiful cake in the whole land and the two very beet Fairy Godmothers. WOULD THE -CORRESPONDENT WHO WROTE *REQUES?ING AN OLD COPY OF THE BUSHWALKER ANNUAL, PLEASE CONFUNICATE WITH THE EDITOR, SYDNEY BUSHWALKER. 7. LETTEPS FROM THE LADS AND LASSES Letters were received from;- Doris Aliden Keith Bannell Max Nathan Olive Moriarty .Bill Burke Geoff Higson, Gordon Mannell BILL F,URKE 21-10144 Ever so pleased to receive your letter although you pice:eJ:%y eic,lib think so by the time I've taken to answer it. No excuse, just too Have just about m-,heved perfection in the art, so much so lee At I'm seriously considering slinging the job in, A good thing ia c. but one can get too much of it, d up the Ben a couple of times to write this but got sidetracked. Last time it was to hely a couple of pals with a few of ale. In difficulties tb polds and you know my soft hearted nature, just couldn't refuee whcn thealled on me for assistance, Probably that's why Im feeling so o.Ll t the moment almost inclined to tell you some wicked yarns but no, my reputa:tion must ietain untarnipd, Do you know Dunc. but I've hardly hoard one decent dirty yarn for weeks. I do declare that the lads are be- coming most puritanical. The nast month has seen the and fall of W.HBurke Pte., Due to the Sg. being unavoidably required eleewhore I was called upon to keep the buoinesF running. And…a most commendable job I made of it even if I do say it royself. Was quite a change to have to us the headpiece after being one of the cheep for so long However, betwe'n business and my social responsibilities I was compellA to foroPke_my customary two hour daily sunbake (do I hear a s7mpathetic sigh as. you read this?) Never mind, we Burkes were ever ones to . sufer for the common good, Previously mentioned social resnonsibilities wore rather onerous; apart from talking one of the local lassies into building me a chocolate sponge cake (um,um,um, even now my mouth waters when I think of it) I had to assistmy “chinas” in disposing of a bottle of ale whenever they called upon me, plus arranging for several parties, the most notable of which was naturally in hanour of my birthday of which more anon. Alas it is all over now and I'm a mere employee once more, .I think I warned you in my last letter that various nebulous thoughts were in the brain box regarding a party, Well they materialised. Half a dozen of the right people received the call, You know how these things are broadcast, stroll up to a man in the tent or on the mess parade and with one hand over the mouth, a Quick side whisper “shes right, seven” the alarm is given, One must be most_careful otherwise the “Pathfinder” and such like will invariably sniff the breeze and follow their noses until theyflaccident- ally” stumble on the set up, One just can't be too caraful in these army camps. The night went off O.K., thatAs apart from the bugler blowing reveille at . midnight - to save the boys getting up in the morning, at least thnt's what he told us, Next morning however waa another story, one didn't rise from the cot and it was only by a tremendous effort of will that I was able to and stagger into town for further supnlies. _Naturally I was blamed fe: evcrjthing, (Note:- Next Paragraph censored WED) Gin was our downfall T p:rorume you know a little about the wicked stuff, Due to the exigencies service and the Prevailing drought it had to fill in the gap between the last of the “good stuff” and oblivion: It performed its duty nobly. - b-n.. OM- 4* a Diodley is out on the pored ground at the moment endeavouring to teach a dog ezome ground drill “Saint” - ection leader - told him not to encourage mmegrels round the cam7). “Might be one” is the rely? “but at that he's get ire as much pedie7ree as you”, Spreso is still in hosPital, trust him to molle a good thing of it, an abcess formed rourCI a -cleee of t,;,eal-, L11. in his leg from the desert. Oh! hut they are hopeless tilts :::.a toon of mine, ther-'6 more fun in one day with them than a deaele the 0.C. Then informed by a 'friend” of the platoon -.he woeLcd. one of Our cerr,'Lal s for h..e (-13o and couldn't get him - that tive us ony a rabble, “a 1J.4.tTh reqzed re2haps, but the material is there”, just had some metal “meat” he efled to me ri c,ese if get hit by– IDeesarit thoe;:;iL, Aeae e,,zd a denonstration Lh o day, A :ee a oqueal lcag and loud if he stepped in front of one of them. Keep the fingers crossed and 'hope Tajo has noheFaiting for us next trip., I'm in disgrace at the moment - am the proud possessor of a pair of Pyjama trousers. The only ones in the platoon and so I've had to maintain a strict watch or they will end up on the nearest available fire. We have our conventions here too you know and one just can't flout them without paying the penalty. My transfer to the paratroops has been scrubbed - can't do without me in the Division. Quite a lot of releases have come through and I see Forde has promised us bigger, brighter and better times. Dudley's description of “Saint” would suit that man admire'ELy and I've run. out of news so its toodle-oo till next time, Till. MAX NATHAN - NORTEERN TERRITORY 17.10.44 The delay lan writing my a- -reciation fol re.:;ztzines the ComlAttee has sent me is due to one factor.. I'did went to ine7,..e an article on the North, but my efforts did not express what I wanted to e-%:,r e e-1 then I find that so much has been written in such E'.:Ei,zines as Wall eut that I feel there is little else to say. Of bushwalking th?re is very little I write because while the countryside is buehland and beautiful, it is fl-at and poorly etered and in iiy opinion. too not. Hitch-hiking is the best wey of getting round, at least for those of us who have not a car at our disposal and 140 miles on Sunday is no effort. It is more or less a code to pick up anyborly “on the road” although its against orders, and anybody who doesn't is a lousy-er,-, well anyway he's lou1:57. Food is no problem, prime Australian beef wrapned in tin is always at the kitchen or cant,en alon with 'Lronbound fruit and concentrated cow, Free meals are obtainable at any camp. The only way to “do” this country is by car, then one can visit jungles, swamps with wild fowl,…extensive billabongs, springs and rivers. However all I set out to do in this note was to ease my conscience by sayeiug “thanks” to the Servides Committee. I hope to be home soon and thereby ent t what ha become a bludge on Public EoneY, 01-:=P MORIARTY - DEni3OURNE 23,10.44 Would you please note my change of adr1c. I continue to receive the Bulletin and awereeiate it very much. I have just returnee from six months spent in America and the Pacific and expect soon to be en-tour again. With every good wish to the Club, MeIrrie. 9. THINGS G3NERALLY One of the high-lights of October was the fifth annual Federation Re-union. This was held at Lconay on the Nepean the week-end of 2Sth and 29th. The Federation Re-union has always been such a success that it has become a regular date for lots of folk, This year there was a large attendance and altogether eleven clubs were represented, Those people who left town early on Saturday morning with the fixed ideas perhaps of picking the best caming spots, may have lived in splendid isolation for a couple of hours, but after that, they were entirely surrounded. Saturday afternoon Leonay looked like the site of a popular Revivalist meeting and by night time there wasn't a tent pole to be had. A great deal of hard work must have been done in the afternoon by those responsible for the camp firs for there was no stinting of firewood and the night being rather cool a fire we indeed a'very handy thing to have around the camp. Unfortunately the glere from this fire rather prevented one from seeing the deep excavations which the rabbits or wombats had thoughtfully studded here and there, but aftor a few unpleasant incidents such as the odd disappearance: of a performer or two now and againinsomething“ was done, The show had to go on.It was a very bright show too. Jack Watson was Master of Ceremonies and conducted the singing with great vim. Several clubs put on items so variety was not lqcking, JS-oppor was served at 10 p m. but there was no -indecent rush,several ipeople were seen to be h. nging back, The formal concert concluded with the advsnt of cupper after that time it was a free for all ae,e1 this went on till the early hours of the morning, fo:' moot -people was a day of visiting, competitions and signing tht; bouk. There vao a tree climbing competition between clubs which L-ea;ly would rather not say anything about as the memory of our President s-:;Iek up a tree, unable to advance or retreat, is one that no member cares to recall, One could only stand with averted eyes as 1-..e was gently led down and placed carefully on the ground. Unfortunately, Cameraman from Pix magazind, Who was present at the re-union did not get pictures of this. YOUR OPTOMETRIST F. GOODMAN, M.I.O. Ortomet td Oi jan 20 Hun-Ter Street., Sydney Tel: /0438 Modern methods e eye examination and eye training Careful Spectacle Fitting Fixing an appointment will facilitate the reservation of time for giving you -proper attention, but should you be (2' unable to ring us beforehand, your visit will be welcome at any time you may choose to call. (') 10, .. BACKYARD BUSIFALKING It is marvellous how one thing leads to another. Our friend the apiarist (fan mail again!) kindly brought round an object lesson on what an excess of pollen means to a beekeeper. It was a frame which is thought- fully put into the hive by the beekeeper for the bees to build the comle in. Inste-9d of the comb being full of that delectable quintessence of nectar which we prosaically call honey, it was full of pollen (mixed into a cement like mixture with honey), As a work of art it was a masterpiece. It resembled a miniature tesselated pavement of glorious tints of yellows and browns, But alas to the jaundiced eye of my friend it only represented so much wasted honey and bee-hours of fruitless labout. Returning to the bush garden however, the last few weks have been one of constant anxiety for the tender seedlings. The land has a fairly steep c slope to the NW and conFequently it gets the full force of the afternoon sun. A few waratahs succumbed to the heat and blistering westerlies but the three survivors are doing well and growing steadily, The flannel flowers seem to like the heat (but are grateful for an occasional extra-pluvial drink) and the seedlings are now a couple of inches high. New seedlings which are doing well are Christmas bush, broadleaved bakea, and species of casuarina not yet identified which is not represented in our bit of bush. A cymtidium (orchid) which was planted in a rockery has sent out a spray of dainty blooms and from nowhere at all (apparntly) a ground orchid made its appearance. It was a handsome little fellow about seven inches high with several flowers. The striking part of the flower was the labellum which was covered with purplish hairs. Hurried refer=:nce to “Orchids of N.S.W.” extracted the infnrmation that its family name is “Calochilus” (Beardies to common folk - on account of its w1aickers4 Tragedy overcame the romr,nce of the wrens. After building a marvellous little home, roof and all with entrance through an attic window, eggs were laid, youngsters hatched, and then alas! A neighbour's cat decided his meal was ready. By way of com,)ensation however, we have dic,covered another nest sfe out of harm's way on the branch of a peach tree. In it are three tiny blue eggs, Here's hoping, XXXXXXXXXXXX Paddy takes this op-oortunity of wishing all walkers a happy Christmas and a good New Ye3.r. PADDY PALLTN, 'Phone B3101, 327 George Street SYDNEY. Cam-o Gear for Walkers.