92 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



One begins with long drawn a-h, then the others 

 strike in. It is quite easy to distinguish the different 

 voices, "hah-hah," "hah-hah," mingled with "haw- 

 haw-haw," " hoh-hoh-hoh," in rapid succession, then a 

 lull followed by another outburst, till the forest rings 

 again with their merry peals. 



" Is it a laugh ? " Well, now, please don't ask too 

 many questions. I don't know. 



You remember the story of the colored brother who 

 was expatiating on the creation of man, and said, 

 " When de Lawd made Adam outen de clay, He stood 

 him up agin de fence to dry." " Hold on dah, brudder," 

 said a sable hearer, " how'd dat fence come dah so 

 nice and handy ? " " Will you please to shut up ? " 

 responded the preacher ; " a few questions like dat'd 

 spile de best theology in de wuld." 



I do not know whether the noise of the laughing 

 jackass is the outcome of merriment or not. It may 

 be that under any form of excitement he would make 

 the same sound. I have had very good opportunity 

 for observing them in the cage, in the forest, and in 

 the yards about residences, and, as far as my observa- 

 tion goes, the bird only makes this noise when he is 

 in a pleasant inood, so I suppose we may regard his 

 laugh as not only strongly resembling that of our own 

 race, but as also meaning about the same thing. 



