70 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



a swim. Black Oyster-catchers [H&matopus fuli- 

 ginosus} were parading the beach, uttering their 

 mournful notes. A downy chick was captured near 

 a rock, and photographed. It did not oiFer any ob- 

 jection, in fact, became rather friendly. 



NEST AND EGGS OF OYSTER - CATCHER. 



In "The Lost Tasmanian Race" Bonwick relates 

 that Walter, the son of "King George," a Tasmanian 

 native, presented to him "some pebbles in a bit of 

 rag." These were Killiecrankie "diamonds," gathered 

 on Flinders Island; they were the poor man's 

 treasure, and Bonwick cherished them as a memento 

 of his "friend Walter." Among the shingle at the 

 foot of Mount Killiecrankie, there were quantities of 

 these crystal-like pebbles, and we filled our pockets 

 with them. Some were large as marbles, others the 

 size of a pea; they varied greatly in shape, the 

 majority being very "rough diamonds." Real treasure 



