348 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



one very thin light-yellow feather projects upwards in a 

 graceful curve from the head. 



On our return to Creswick's Creek, a distance of some ten 

 miles through the bush, we came close upon two kangaroos 

 that were seated upon a fallen gum-tree. We were within 

 twenty paces of them, but, being on horseback, they were out 

 of sight in the forest before we could bring our guns to bear 

 upon them. One was a very large one, of the sort termed 

 an "Old Man." 



The hospitable gold-commissioner who presided over these 

 diggings, and in whose tent I passed the night, had provided 

 an unexpected treat for us in the shape of two native deli- 

 cacies, which appeared that evening at the mess-table. One 

 was soup made from the tail of the kangaroo (one having 

 been brought into camp by some natives), and the other a 

 roasted wild turkey, or bustard, purchased from the same 

 source. Both were excellent in their way, the former very 

 much resembling ox-tail soup, but the latter was, without 

 exception, the best roti I ever tasted in my life. The fol- 

 lowing morning we had some very good sport in the bush 

 with some small terriers and other dogs belonging to my 

 host, after kangaroo rats (an animal about the size of a 

 rabbit, and a kangaroo in miniature), which inhabit hollow 

 trunks of trees, and upon being bolted afford sometimes an 

 excellent run. We also killed in the same manner, and by 

 the same means, a species of genet, called here the native 

 cat, but which is more of the ferret or weasel genus. On 

 my ride homewards to Ballarat the same afternoon, and by a 

 short cut through the forest, I observed a very large black 

 snake, full twelve feet in length, and very thick in the 

 centre, travelling at a rapid rate through the open ground. 

 Having nothing but small shot with me, I thought it better 

 not to interfere with its movements, and allowed it to pursue 

 its course unmolested. 



