250 RAMBLES BY RIVERS. 



eaten with infinite relish. There always appears to us somewhat of cruelty 

 in keeping any animal of this kind in confinement, where not only is it 

 deprived of its requisite food, but is unable to follow its natural habits 

 and instincts, and what food it does get, is doled out at prolonged and 

 irregular intervals, by the hand of some child to whom it has been 

 given as a pet. They are remarkably fond of being noticed, and when 

 scratched on the head, utter a low sort of growl, expressive of their 

 gratification. 



Singularly lazy is this creature in all its movements, crawling from bough 

 to bough, with its young one grotesquely holding on to its neck, and even 

 when fired at, it scarcely deigns to notice, certainly does not attempt to 

 evade the danger. 



Down the River a few hundred yards, and we reach a pretty well- 

 timbered hillock, which is a favourite resort for holiday folk, who pic-nic 

 here on festive days, — we notice shells of the oyster in abundance, which 

 has evidently existed here in former days, but no trace of any beds can 

 be now discovered by the enterprising fishermen who reside here about; 

 and on the stones we get fine specimens of the Acorn Shell, or Balanus; 

 and largely too, boughs of the flowering Pomaderris. A little picturesque 

 island next meets the eye, endeared to many from its being chosen as a 

 burial-site in early days for their relatives. Further on, we come to 

 Bethungall, where reside more hospitable friends, to whom we never fail 

 to pay our respects in passing, and from this point it is an easy walk to 

 the caves on the coast, only discovered within a very few years, — we shall 

 allude to them in a future paper. Herds of Wallabies frequent this 

 neighbourhood, and even now the Emu is occasionally met with, finding 

 abundance of food in the young shoots of the Brake Fern, (Pteris escu- 

 hnta.) On the high banks here, where flourish some gay flowering plants, 

 the Fish Hawk rears its young, and the native Cat's tracks are conspicuous 

 everywhere. The Cormorant, (Phalacrocorax leucogaster.) with its olive 

 brown plumage and white breast, mopes on any snag which may rise out 

 of the water, taking flight for a few yards as our boat disturbs him, but 

 anon perching again the moment all is quiet. The pretty Night or 

 Nankeen Heron is abundant, and also the Little Blue Crane, with 

 occasionally the White Egret. 



Passing under Mr. Burke's residence, we catch sight of — 



"The sea! the sea! the open sea! 

 The blue, the fresh, the ever free." 



Before we reach it, let us lie quiet awhile: here is the spot for a 

 naturalist to enjoy himself; but be still, and let us light our pipes, for 

 the keen air blows in from the coast. Look out on yonder mud bank, 



