212 FAUNA OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 



natives. There are several species of nuts which are 

 common in all the western districts I have mentioned from 

 King George's Sound northward, of which I have learned 

 the native names of two kinds only — the bi-u or bay-i-o 

 and the mad-dah. The latter is obtained from the zamia 

 palm, and if it is eaten before it is perfectly ripe and has 

 been well dried, it is very apt to produce the symptoms 

 of incipient poisoning. 



The " swamp-oak," called by the natives the yi-em-bak, 

 is a most useful shrub to them. The bark is thin and 

 paper-like, and is used for a great variety of purposes, 

 particularly to make water-bags and vessels of, to make 

 waist-cloths, and to cover their huts when they are at 

 the trouble to construct the latter. 



Among the smaller plants the dandelion is so widely 

 distributed that I think it must be indigenous ; but I could 

 gather no certain information on this point. The flowers 

 are often very large, and the plant grows in great masses 

 in some of the retired spots north of Champion Bay. 

 Near the settlements it is kept down by the farmers, with 

 whom it is no favourite. There is also a species of mallow 

 that is certainly indigenous; and the New Zealand flax 

 {Phormium ienax) is very abundant everywhere in the 

 west ; north of the Gascoyne large patches of the desert 

 in the interior are covered with it 



I now conclude the chapter with some account of the 

 birds of the west coast — one of its most important features, 

 from the naturalist's point of view. Near the sea, and 

 for a considerable distance from the mouths of the larger 

 streams, when they have water in them, are many gulls. 

 All those mentioned as having been seen in the Great 

 Bight are found on the coasts of Westralia, and in 

 addition the great sooty-petrel is found on some of the 

 small islands. Formerly the Abrolhos swarmed with 

 them. A few are still there, and they are found, as 

 wanderers, on many different parts of the coast ; but I do 

 not think they breed elsewhere than on the Abrolhos on 

 this side of the continent 



Pelicans are also found on these coasts, and they 



