33 



while the Moa of New Zealand has only been checked from 

 expanding into some horrible prodigy by the fortunate fact 

 of its bones having been secured as unimpeachable witnesses 

 of its true nature and dimensions. 



But on the other hand, the history of the Golden Fleece 

 guarded by dragons, the object of the expedition of Jason and 

 of the Argonauts, is the result of an entirely different opera- 

 tion of the mind, and may be well considered (as suggested 

 by Sir Redmond Barry) as being merely an allegory depictive 

 of the jealous care with which the diggers at Colchis con- 

 cealed a productive placer, and of the methods used by thein 

 for the purpose of collecting fine gold, viz., by placing sheep- 

 skins in the streams as is done in South America with ox-hides 

 for the same purpose at the present day. 



It will be unnecessary for me to illustrate my meaning by 

 other examples, and I, therefore, pass at once to the confession 

 that I have never considered the question of the Australian 

 Bunyip as completely disposed of, but have always fancied that 

 a satisfactory explanation of the tradition of the natives, might 

 some day be arrived at by the discovery of some species 

 hitherto unfamiliar to us. 



In regard to the northern portions of the continent there 

 is no great difiiculty in the matter — the presence of huge, 

 hideous alligators would explain this or any other horrible 

 story. But the belief in the Bunyip was just as prevalent 

 among the natives in parts hundreds of miles distant from any 

 stream in which the alligators occur, and among tribes who 

 could have no communication with those to the northward. 

 Some other animal must be sought for, therefore, as the source 

 of the story in these localities. And the question then resolves 

 itself into whether this should be some already known animal 

 appearing in unusual haunts, or an undescribed species. 

 With a view to the consideration of these points, I now place 

 the Society in possession of statements in regard to which I 

 cannot, of course, pledge myself further than by expressing my 

 personal belief in them. 



Having heard rumours, ever since my arrival in this colony, 

 of some large and unusual animals being occasionally observed 

 in the lakes in the great central plateau, I had often projected 

 a trip of exploration to them, which circumstances have con- 

 tinuously prevented. However, I always bore the point in 

 mind, and, therefore, when passing the evening at Constable 

 McPartland's hut at the Picton, while on an expedition to the 

 Cracroft, knowing that he had been for a long time stationed 

 at the Great Lake, I made enquiry whether he had seen any 

 strange animals in the lake. He told me instantly that he never 

 had himself, but his son, who was much more about the lake, 



