t^ 



166 M. Lesson on the Natural History of the 



lis of Shaw), entirely black, with a very flat shell, and a long 

 neck, is also found in Macquarrie River. This species does 

 not draw its head under the carapace, but lodges it upon one of 

 the sides, between that part and the plastern, which thus afford 

 it protection. The pretty Rainette dorSe of Peron, a Physa 

 (P. australis), and a LymncBa with a very brittle-shell, enriched 

 our collections. 



On the banks of this river I observed a species of Lapwing 

 which was extremely wild. It is called the Spur-winged Plover 

 by the English, and is probably the Charadrlus pectoralis of 

 Cuvier. The colonists know a reptile with a very slender body 

 under the name of Thread-Snake, the bite of which is followed 

 by almost instant death ; and I have been assured that horses 

 will not live beyond fifteen or twenty minutes after being bitten 

 by it. I am not aware that this serpent is mentioned by any 

 author, and it would be interesting to confirm its existence. 



We have not thought it necessary to give any particular ac- 

 count of the general aspect of the country. Details of this na- 

 ture would be out of place here ; and we prefer briefly mention- 

 ing some of the geological objects which we had an opportu- 

 nity of seeing during our short stay at Sydney. We shall, in the 

 first place, make a few remarks on the race of the human species 

 which inhabits this country. To judge by his external appearance 

 and intellect, the native of New South Wales would seem to have 

 been degraded from the true rank of man, and to approach the 

 nature of the brute. Whatever may be the opinions of writers 

 with regard to their history, and the numerous differences by 

 which they have supposed them to be separated from other 

 tribes of the black race, after having properly considered our 

 data, and viewed them in every light, we here state the result of 

 our reflections, without attaching any other importance to it. 



The Australian Negro race, which is peculiar to New South 

 Wales, does not appear to us to differ in any thing essential 

 from the Oceanic Negro race *, of which the Papous alone form 

 another somewhat distinct branch. It presents the most perfect 

 similarity of form and external characters to the inhabitants of 

 New Britain, New Ireland, and very probably to those of New 



• The melanitic species, Homo melanianus of M. Bory de St Vincent, Art. 

 Homme, in the Diet. Class, d'Hist. Nat. 



