KANGAROO RATS. 



327 



milliken, (milk,) bullock, and sheep, for white 

 feller come up here, drive away opossum and 

 kangaroo, and poor black feller get noting to 

 patta (eat,) merry, merry, get hungry," — a 

 very true tale, thought I. 



Kangaroo rats, called in the native language 

 " Kanaman," were numerous about this place; 

 they are lively playful little animals, and when in 

 confinement will drink milk and eat manna with 

 avidity ; their fur is as fine as that of the larger 

 species of kangaroo. It is said to be found abun- 

 dantly about the "Stringy Bark" ranges, form- 

 ing rude nests of the fibrous bark. At a beautiful 

 spot on the Wollondilly, not far distant from the 

 plains, and at a part of the river forming even at 

 this, the summer season, a fine sheet of water, 

 called "Karoa" by the natives,* the "Burriol,"or 

 musk ducks, with their young, the "Gunarung," 

 or wood-ducks, as well as other kinds of water- 

 fowl, were seen in great numbers ; and occa- 

 sionally, about the marshes, the native com- 

 panion, or Curaduck of the aborigines. 



* The name of the native that accompanied me was 

 " Buru, birrima,'' which he said he received from the name 

 of the place where he was born. This appears a common 

 method among the aborigines of bestowing names upon 

 persons, as well as from any personal defect. The native 

 name of Mr. Bradley's farm i» " Bungee," and his little child 

 born there will usually be known by that name among the 

 aborigines. 



