MOUNT BRACE. 



12 



is approached, and afterwards only elevates its 

 head above M^ater to watch proceedings, disap- 

 pearing again on the least appearance of danger. 

 It requires a good marksman, as well as much 

 caution, to secure a shot even at the small mark 

 the head of this bird presents. The female is 

 said to be smaller than the male. 



This estate is used by Mr. Cox principally as 

 a dairy-farm, and a quantity of cheeses are made 

 upon it, about which some of the men were at 

 this time employed. They had now sufficient 

 milk to make four cheeses, and expected soon to 

 increase to ten, daily. Mr. Cox informed me he 

 has made four tons of cheese on this farm in one 

 season, and expected, during the succeeding 

 one, to make nine or ten tons. The price of 

 this article of course varies at Sydney ; but it 

 has been sold at forty-six pounds the ton. 

 Attached to the neat little habitation at this 

 farm is a garden, which contains strawberries 

 and gooseberry bushes in a thriving condition, 

 and was rendered gay by many of our European 

 flowering plants in full bloom. 



The day after our arrival, (22d,) I ranged 

 about the farm, and was much pleased with its 

 situation. To procure an extensive view, I as- 

 cended an elevated hill, distant about a mile 

 from the house, and known by the name of 



