The Australian at Play 193 



swampy, and in holding ground, the buffalo, by 

 reason of his large flat feet, holds a distinct 

 advantage over a horse. It is the custom of the 

 riders to keep a respectful distance while pur- 

 suing their quarry through the swamps, but to 

 ride up to the animal's quarters when sound 

 going has been reached. Then a shot from a car- 

 bine or shortened rifle shatters the animal's spinal 

 column, and it is left to be despatched and 

 skinned by the aboriginal assistants who follow 

 in the horses' s tracks, while the shooter himself 

 rides on after the flying herd. 



The sportsmen who have introduced animals 

 and fish from the Old World are not altogether 

 to be congratulated upon the result of their enter- 

 prise. The streams have been stocked with 

 trout, which have thriven and eaten up the 

 native fish, and multiplied, only to treat with con- 

 tempt every lure in the shape of an artificial fly, 

 and to fall an ignominious prey to the boy who 

 baits with a local grasshopper. Foxes have been 

 introduced and have betaken themselves to the 

 hilly ground, where it is impossible to hunt them. 

 They have become a pest to the farmer, and every 

 Australian shoots a fox on sight as readily as he 

 would a snake. The depredations of the rabbit 

 in Australia are well known, and in some dis- 

 tricts, hares are almost as great a nuisance. The 

 house-sparrow and the Indian mina were surely 

 unnecessary, even to the sportsman, but they are 

 there, and it is impossible to get rid of them 





