240 MR. G. BENNETT ON THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF 
the animals were filled with mud and gravel, among which comminuted fragments of 
insects and minute shell-fish could be plainly discovered. 
The various contradictory accounts that have been given on the authority of the 
aborigines (who may be supposed, from their so often seeking these animals for food, 
to be able to state their habits correctly,) as to the animal laying eggs and hatching 
them, induced me to take some pains to find out the cause of error; and being now 
perfectly satisfied that ova were produced in the uteri, I could the more readily deter- 
mine the accuracy or inaccuracy of the accounts which I might receive from the na- 
tives. I determined, however, not to question any who had been repeatedly questioned 
before on the same subject; but some time after, when I visited the out-stations in 
the Tumat country, where such questions had never been previously asked, I made in- 
quiries among the most intelligent. 
The Yas natives in the first instance asserted that the animals lay eggs, but very 
shortly afterwards contradicted themselves. To ascertain what dependence could be 
placed on them, I made a drawing of an oval egg, which was recognised to be like that 
of the Mallangong. I then made a drawing of a round egg, and that also was declared 
to be cabango (egg) of the Mallangong. It was also declared that ‘‘ old woman have egg 
there in so many days” (the number of which they did not know) ; that the young ones 
‘*tumble down”’; and that two eggs are laid in one day. An account subsequently ob- 
tained from a native, who appeared anxious to explain the fact, would lead to the belief 
that the animal is ovoviviparous ; but yet, from the difficulty they find in expressing 
themselves correctly in our language, we often misunderstand them. He asserted the 
animal to be oviparous, but when desired to procure the eggs he replied, ‘“‘ Bel cabango 
(no egg) tumble down; bye bye, pickaninny tumble down.” In the Tumat country the 
answers were readily and satisfactorily given; and afterwards more minute questions 
being put to them through my interpreter, the result was the same. ‘‘ Tambreet make 
egg tumble down?” was the first query I made. ‘“ Bel” (no) was the reply. ‘‘ No 
egg (corbuccor) tumble down; pickaninny make tumble down.” ‘This accorded with 
my observations, for it was at the season that this inquiry was made that the young 
Duckbills hereafter noticed were found, as if just brought forth, in the burrow. The 
natives are of course accurate in their observation of the breeding-season of animals, 
upon which their principal means of sustenance in this country depend. 
On showing one of the natives at Yas the preparation of the uteri, he recognised 
them as the place ‘‘ where pickaninny is made.’’ When he saw the small eggs in the 
uterus on the opposite side, (for the empty one was first shown him,) he first stared, and 
then said, ‘‘ Cabango, cabango”’ (egg, egg); but even with this before him no satis- 
factory reply could be procured from him whether the animal laid and hatched them. 
On the whole we may infer that no dependence can be placed on native accounts, but 
that naturalists must seek for information in their own investigations. 
On the following day (6th of October) the Yas River was much swollen by the con- 
il eaten 
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