55 



Of this series, perhaps, the most striking is lig. 1 of pi. 

 xi., which measures about twelve inches in height, and is 

 painted in white pipeclay, such as is used for personal orna- 

 mentation at ceremonies. It represents a woman in a pecu- 

 liar attitude, with her arms thrown apart, and one leg in a 

 position strongly suggestive of the stamping movement of 

 corrobborees. The arms and hands, too, look as if the artist 

 had intended them to convey the same idea ; for, as has been 

 already alluded to on page 41, in the corrobboree dance of 

 the gins, a long skein of vegetable strings is often held be- 

 tween the hands and worked backwards and forwards in a 

 way which, from a distance, resembles the action of a fiddler's 

 bow. No facial or other detailed features were discernible 

 on the figure, and it is, therefore, doubtful whether the draw- 

 ing is intended for a front or back view. The extraordinary 

 large breasts suggest that it represents an adult. It will be 

 noticed that three fingers only are given to each hand, while 

 the toes are not differentiated. 



Large drawings of crocodiles are plentiful. The best 

 finished is shown in fig. 2 of pi. xi. It measures five feet 

 three inches in length, and is drawn in red ochre, while its 

 outline is defined with white pipeclay, made into a paste 

 with water, and dabbed on with the finger. The head and 

 tail are decidedly apparent, the latter tapering, the former 

 being marked by a bulge on the upper surface to indicate 

 the prominent frontal bone of those reptiles. The limbs are 

 not divided into separate segments, but are shown as straight, 

 outwardly directecl members of unequal length, and termin- 

 ating in each case in five claws, this number being correct for 

 the fore, but one too many for the hind, limbs. 



Fig. 3 of the same plate delineates the same animal in 

 red ochre only, but it is more crudely drawn. The limbs are 

 without claws, and resemble more the paddles of a turtle in 

 shape. ■^" 



Several other forms of a similar type, with very slight 

 modifications in design, and varying in length from three to 

 five feet, are among the group. Figs. 1 and 2 of pi. xii. are 

 identical with that last described, except that, in the latter, 

 transverse bars have been drawn in yellow ochre, probably to 

 represent the rows of horny scutes. The alternate placement, 

 too, of the forelimbs of this design suggests motion. 



Fig. 3 of pi. xii. represents two crocodiles, the smaller, 

 done in yellow, being placed within the outline of the latter, 

 which is in red. 



* A * 'saurian type" of figure in red ochre on granite has 

 been recorded from Cloncurrv. Queensland, hv "NV. F ■Roth: 

 Ethnolodcal Studies, p. 116, pi. xiv.. fie 280. 



