446 THE BOOMEEANG. 



height in the air, it suddenly returns in an elliptical orbit to 

 a spot near its starting-point. On throwing it downwards on 

 the ground, it rebounds in a straight line, pursuing a ricochet 

 motion until it strikes the object at which it is thrown. Birds 

 and small animals are killed with it, and it is also used in 

 killing ducks. The most singular curve described by it is 

 when thrown into the air above the angle of 45 ; its flight is 

 always then backwards, and the native who throws it stands 

 with his back, instead of his face, to the object he is desirous 

 of hitting."* Mr. Merry, a gentleman who resided for some 

 time in Australia, informs me that on one occasion, in order 

 to test the skill with which the boomerang could be thrown, 

 he offered a reward of sixpence for every time the boomerang 

 was made to return to the spot from which it was thrown. 

 He drew a circle of five or six feet on the sand, and although 

 the boomerang was thrown with much force, the native suc- 

 ceeded in making it fall within the circle five times out of 

 twelve. Eyre also says that this weapon is particularly useful 

 in war, " as it is almost impossible, even when it is seen in 

 the air, to tell which way it will go, or where descend. I 

 once nearly had my arm broken by a wangno, whilst stand- 

 ing within a yard of the native who threw it, and looking out 

 purposely for it."-f- Mr. Oldfield,{ on the contrary, speaks 

 much less favourably of the boomerang. It is, he says, but 

 little used in war ; nor do the natives " ever attempt to kill a 

 solitary bird or beast by means of" it. On the other hand, 

 in swampy localities, where waterfowl "congregate largely, 

 the boomerang is of essential use ; for a great number of them 

 being simultaneously hurled into a large flock of waterfowl, 

 ensures the capture of considerable numbers." According to 

 McGillivray, the boomerang is unknown on the north coast 



* United States Explor. Exped. t Trans. Ethn. Soc., New Series, 

 1. c. vol. iii. p. 264. 



t 1. c. vol. ii. p. 308. 



