TORTOISES AND FISH 20d 



just now. These pieces which were dead lay flat, and a 

 few weeds had already established themselves among the 

 debris. As illustrating how the fauna of isolated islands 

 begins to obtain a footing, it may be interesting to record 

 that three species of small beetles — a lycosa, another spider 

 of minute size, and some gnats — comprised, as far as I 

 could see, the total permanent population of the islet 

 These, or their larvae, had probably been brought to this 

 small spot of land in the plumage of birds which had 

 chanced to alight there. 



To return to the mainland. 



All the rivers, marshes, and water-holes of the western 

 colony are more or less haunted by tortoises, the commonest 

 kind in the Champion Bay district and the country to the 

 northward being a small Chelodina^ or long-necked tortoise. 

 These Chelodinas — of which there seems to be two species 

 near Champion Bay, one of which is C. oblonga — are very 

 commonly turned up when one is digging wells in the 

 beds of the rivers, and they are almost sure to be found 

 in the wet water-holes, where they are sought for by the 

 blacks as an esteemed article of food. 



The fish found in the fresh waters of the same districts 

 are very insignificant in point of size, though some of 

 them are very numerous. I am not a very enthusiastic 

 disciple of Izaak Walton, and have not devoted much 

 time to what I think I have heard termed the "gentle 

 art " ; and therefore when I record that one of the largest 

 fishes I caught in a western river did not exceed ten or 

 eleven inches in length, I do not mean to say that 

 Westralian waters do not contain any bigger specimens. 

 If they do contain larger fish, considerable patience will 

 have to be expended in the task of finding them. 



The fish in question seemed to be a kind of bream of 

 rather singular appearance about the head, it having a 

 peculiar ridge, in which the nostrils were situated. A 

 much smaller fish from the same waters was notable on 

 account of its singular marking. It was of a dark olive 

 green colour on the back, gradually becoming lighter to 

 white on the belly, and on each side were three prominent 







