306 FLY CATCHERS. 



I also observed a swamp oak* growing from the 

 trunk of one of these trees, having quite a parasiti- 

 cal character ; the former being about twelve feet 

 high, and the latter full forty, both in a flourish- 

 ing condition. An animal, called "Water-rat" 

 by the colonists, and Biddunong by the abori- 

 gines, burrowed in the banks ; but I was not 

 able to procure a specimen. There are also two 

 species of the Kangaroo-rat found about this part 

 of the colony; one called " Cannamung," and 

 the second, a larger species, called " Talbung" by 

 the blacks. 



About the river's banks an elegant species of fly- 

 catcher, " Birinberu" of the natives, was nume- 

 rous, burrowing for some distance in tlie sand, 

 where it lays its eggs, and produces young. It is 

 about the size of a lark, of beautiful and varied 

 plumage, migrating from this part of the country 

 in the winter, and returning in the summer to 

 build about its old haunts. I examined several of 

 the burrows, which were situated on a sandy flat, 

 near the river ; the entrance was two inches and 

 a half at its broadest diameter, continuing of a 

 breadth seldom exceeding three inches, to the 



* An excellent ley for soap, is made from the " swamp 

 oak," when burnt ; and a ley is also procured at the island of 

 Tahiti, in the South Seas, from the Casuarina equisetifolia for 

 a similar purpose. 



