170 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



Whip -snake, cropping up playfully in your wood-heap, amicably 

 on your verandahs, and irreverently in your pew at church. 



And the frogs. After rain one's sleep is banished by 

 serenading choirs soprano frogs, alto frogs, tenor, bass, and 

 double-bass frogs, a bell frog, and a talking frog that goes 

 beyond them all. The most beautiful frog I ever saw was the 

 "green and gold" of Tasmania purest emerald green, with 

 vivid metallic-yellow gold markings. 



Birds. One shrinks from tackling bird-lore in a general 

 paper. It is a subject that deserves far more adequate 

 treatment. Here are just a few interesting items. The Emus 

 represent one of the oldest types of bird life in Australia. Two 

 species survive out of four, which were common at the beginning 

 of the last century. The Tasmanian kind became extinct soon 

 after the military authorities took to feeding the garrison on it. 

 There will probably be no wild Emus after another generation ; 

 but it breeds in confinement, and is easily tamed. It is inter- 

 esting to watch a bun slowly gliding down a yard of Emu's neck. 



The Brush Turkey (Catheturns Lathemi] has a habit of 

 incubating its eggs in a scientifically-constructed hot-bed made 

 of decaying leaves. Quails, several Plovers, and the Bronzewing 

 Pigeon are the chief quarry of sportsmen. A beautiful Crane 

 too often falls to the gun ; it is very nice to eat. 



In Queensland there are fine Spoonbills and Pelicans, and Ibis 

 in great numbers. The blackfellows catch the Pelicans by 

 standing in the water up to the chin, with their heads concealed 

 by floating litter. When the birds swim around they are seized 

 by the legs. The Black Swans form enormous flocks at some 

 seasons of the year. I once saw a vast multitude flying north- 

 wards, and heard their voices overhead far into the night. 



The Native Companion {Antigone Australasiana), a big stately 

 Crane-like fellow, is worth mentioning as being also found in 

 India. Amongst other peculiar Australian birds are the Parrots and 

 Cockatoos, the Jackasses, the great Night -jar or More-Pork, the 

 Spine-tailed Swift, and the Penguins. Hawks and Owls are largely 

 Represented ; in Tasmania there is a beautiful white Goshawk. 



