CHAPTER XII 



A FEW GENERAL REMARKS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST 



OF AUSTRALIA 



I CONSIDER the yacht cruise described in the last chapter 

 to be one of the most important journeys I ever undertook 

 in the interests of natural science. I fear that the results, 

 the new information gleaned, were not in proportion to the 

 risk and expense incurred ; but I had the satisfaction of 

 seeing and examining a large extent of the coast of my 

 native land, of which I could never have had an adequate 

 knowledge from books and accounts alone. 



My fellow naturalists cannot fail to note that, in my 

 account of the waters of the Great Australian Bight, I 

 have omitted mention of many important genera of animals 

 inhabiting that region. I thought it best to devote a 

 chapter to those genera, the narrative being, as it is, much 

 broken by references to specimens seen under particular 

 circumstances, and consideration of space compels me 

 to skip over a description of many of the less interesting 

 creatures, or those which are fully described in other parts 

 of the book. 



All the native mammals, and most of the birds, of 

 Australia are considerably reduced in numbers, as a result 

 of the increase of man on the continent. Not only have 

 I reliable accounts of old settlers and others for my 

 guidance, but I have a distinct recollection that in the 

 days of my youth many animals, and birds especially, were 

 much more numerous than they are at the present day, or 

 have been for many years past. In the older settled parts, 

 and in the vicinity of the great towns especially, whole 



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