34 



IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



A tall dead gum tree, with horizontal bough stretch- 

 ing towards the creek, and forty feet above the 

 ground, was a favourite resort of the furred acrobats. 

 One would suddenly appear on the gaunt, gray limb, 

 creep to the end, gather itself together and leap lightly 

 into space. Dark in the moonlight, the animal's body 

 seemed to float for a moment, then glide swiftly down 



TIT -WARBLER FEEDING FLEDGLING. 



to a tree some distance away. One after another 

 would perform this feat an Austral night's entertain- 

 ment. We rarely saw a Flying-Phalanger in day- 

 light. A smaller species [Acrobates pygmxus], 

 known to Bush folk as the "Sugar Squirrel," was ob- 

 served occasionally. One was captured, and made a 

 charming pet. 



Day by day we discovered something new, bird, 

 flower, or insect. The riches of the Valley seemed to 

 be inexhaustible. That was before the district became 

 popular and received a new name. When we retired 



