" NATIVE COMPANION," 405 



strait, and in the afternoon a party went on shore 

 near Cape Hotham. We found the country very 

 poor and sandy, and elevated about fifteen feet 

 above high water mark. Despite this, the white 

 gum-trees appear to thrive, growing in great abun- 

 dance, about thirty or forty feet high ; there were 

 also others of a difi*erent kind, besides a few palms. 

 The rocks were red sand and ironstone blended 

 together. In some places I noticed it had the same 

 glazed and vitrified appearance, as before remarked 

 by me at King's Sound, on the N. W. coast. 



Mr. Bynoe, who was of the party, added to his 

 collection of birds, a kingfisher, and a specimen of 

 a glossy species about the size and colour of an 

 English blackbird; others were seen and killed, but 

 all common to other parts ; the most rare of the 

 latter was the large cream-coloured pigeon I have 

 alluded to, soaie few pages back. The white ibis 

 with a black neck, plentiful in King's Sound, and a 

 large bird, a species of crane, were also seen. The 

 latter was of a French grey hue, with the exception 

 of the head, which was black and of the shape of a 

 bittern, commonly known among the colonists by 

 the name of "native companion." It is diflficult to 

 imagine how this name could have originated, as 

 there is no instance of the natives making a pet of 

 anything, except the wild dog of the country, and 

 of that only, it is probable from its utility in 

 procuring them food. On visiting this place a few 

 days afterwards, to repeat the observations for the 



