330 THE WOMBAT. 



animals indicative of their presence ; but they 

 can but seldom be seen, as they remain in the 

 burrows during the day, coming out to feed at 

 night. 



One of these animals kept at " Been," in the 

 Tumat country, alive and in a tame state, would 

 remain in its habitation until dark ; it would 

 then come out, and seek for the keelers or milk 

 vessels ; and should none be uncovered, would 

 contrive to get off the covers, bathe itself in the 

 milk, drinking at the same time. It would also 

 enter the little vegetable garden attached to the 

 station, in search of lettuces, to which it evinced 

 much partiality ; if none could be found, it would 

 gnaw the cabbage-stalks, without touching the 

 foliage. Although numerous in the more distant 

 parts of the colony, they are difficult to procure, 

 from the great depth to which they burrow. 



Having passed the " ploughed ground," Bong 

 Bong, Mittagong range, &c. I continued, through 

 a country parched by the summer heats, or having 

 a burnt aspect, from the custom among the set- 

 tlers or natives, of setting fire to the dried grass. 

 The scorched and arid appearance of the land, as 

 my journey led towards Sydney, was wretched, 

 compared with the beautiful verdant plains and 

 ranges I had left in the Tumat, Murrumbidgee, 

 and Yas countries. The harvest was for the most 



