56 WILLTK—A Sketch of thr Life of Sunnifl Wlnt>- 



in a mound to hatch in the same manner as the allied species 

 in Australia. The Casowarv we did not see, although I saw 

 numerous traces of it and also its eggs. Quail and Finches 

 I saw none nor did I see any country suitable for them. There 

 was only one duck, the Ttulonia radjah of Australia. Two 

 cormorants, one all black and the other black and white. 

 Several cranes were seen and collected, most of them Austra- 

 lian. Amongst them the well known Nankeen Heron 

 (Nycticorax coiedonicus) . Perhaps amongst the aquatic 

 birds none was more remarkable than the large brown rail. 

 It is a fine bird as large as an ordinary fowl, but not so low 

 set for they had fairly long legs. The natives call it "Sai-air". 

 and its beautiful large red eyes, the bright green bill and legs, 

 as well as the blending of the soft brown and grey of the 

 plumage claims the admiration of the naturalist, but the most 

 remarkable thing about the bird is its tongue, its loud dis- 

 cordant craking is heard everywhere, where the land is low 

 and wet. The slightest noise is taken as an excuse for a fresh 

 outbreak, the report of a gun. or one man calling to another is 

 sufficient to set a couple of them going at the top of their loud 

 voices, but the bii-d is a difficult one to see or shoot. It is 

 found in the thickest of the underbrush, and its long powerful 

 legs carry it noiselessly from all danger. The natives some- 

 times catch I hem in snares which is the surest way of 

 obtaining them, for while a man with a gun is struggling 

 through thorny \'ines, these active birds have not the slightest 

 difficultv in evading him. 



— Fish.— 



Fish in the waters around the Arus are plentiful and 

 varied; they were seen in schools everywhere round the coast. 

 The water at night was alive with them, and an incessant 

 splashing was kept up, but to our surprise and disgust they 

 would never take a bait, although we frequently tried, and 

 although the vessel was surrounded by fish every night we 

 never on any occasion caught a fish with hook and line. The 

 natives catch large quantities. Their plan is to take a canoe 

 near to the edgo of the reef, and by the light of a fire spear 

 them, or wade in shallow water with lighted torch in one hand 

 and a spear in The other. The natives did not care to sell 

 their fish. All the time we were at the Arus they did not 

 offer a fish for sale, but when off the island of Trangan I pur- 

 chased two small fish out of half a boat load by offering more 

 than their worlh of tobacco, but could get no more. The fish 

 T have seen with the natives are varied in species. Many of 



