i9 Australian Life 



inducing them to lie down. The sequel is invari- 

 ably a terrific squabble, during which challenges 

 are thrown out and a fresh race is arranged. 

 Even quainter than a camel race is the goat-race, 

 peculiar, so far as I know, to the race-courses 

 of Northern Queensland, and not unusually the 

 brightest item in the day's programme of sport. 

 In dealing with the amusements of the bush, it 

 would be possible to dilate upon the sheep- 

 shearing contests that take place at the country 

 shows, and the competitions in riding buck -jump- 

 ing horses; also the rock-drilling matches that 

 may be witnessed in a mining-camp. They are 

 at least interesting as showing how the Aus- 

 tralian makes a sport of the occupation in which 

 he excels. 



For shooting and fishing in Australia, no 

 licenses are required, but the sportsman must 

 have a knowledge of the close seasons, and of the 

 birds and animals protected throughout the year. 

 Game is not everywhere plentiful, but the pursuit 

 of it affords a pleasant excuse for the best of all 

 Australian amusements, that of camping out. To 

 pitch a tent on the banks of a clear stream, with 

 plenty of good water-holes for bathing, and to 

 sleep on a thick couch of springy fern is a joy in 

 itself during the golden Australian summer. The 

 stream holds all sorts of wonders, crayfish, and 

 black fish, and little silver trout. A glimpse of 

 a platypus may sometimes be caught, if the 

 locality is a sufficiently remote one, and a sight 



