216 



well. During the long-continued droughts many of them die 

 through want of feed. The dryness, and consequent poverty of 

 the country, is also evidenced by the indigenous fauna. There 

 are no large representations of it besides Kangaroos and Emus. 

 Of marsupials, the largest is the Kangaroo, called Arira by the 

 natives ; the second in size is the Uro, with the native name 

 Aringa ; the third is the Rock Wallaby, or Aroa of the 

 aborigines. Besides these there are others known by the follow- 

 ing native names : — Inmora^ Kwalha^ Iicuta, Kiveha, Tnunka, 

 Piitaia, Mota, Antina (the common Opossum), Tjilba, Gurra 

 (probably the Long-nosed Pouched Badger, Parameles nasutaj, 

 Tatja, Ruartja, Tokia (certainly the Garden Dormouse, Myoxus 

 nitella), Lukura, Inalinga (the Ant-eater). There is besides the 

 marsupials the Native Jackal, commonly called " Wild Dog," 

 but by the natives Knidja ; and a kind of cat, termed Lukaringa 

 by them. 



Of reptiles, the Lizards and Snakes are represented in fairly 

 large numbers. The natives have names for at least nine 

 different kinds of lizards, of which the largest, TjvMha, is about 

 eight feet long, and 22 inches wide from one foot to the other. 

 The others are called Loatjira, NtjWa, Baliaka, Irhanta, Takin- 

 jara^ Rena^ Ngendurharana^ Ntarita. Snakes, called Ajmia by 

 the natives, exist here in great numbers, of various colors, and 

 of considerable sizes, up to the thickness of an arm and a length 

 of eight or nine feet. The natives have names for 22 kinds, viz., 

 Lalfacalbula, Ilumpa la tiiincij Lanjararii itunana^ Xjurifja, 

 Kajnltaringa, MenkaUarina, Latuara, Re^iina, TJlfoimna^ 

 Warankula, Iljjaralea, Lalpalanana, Erulangalanana, Baraloat- 

 jira, Gulaia, Gnm'inga, Rata, Ilharaba, Rumhiirunga, Puta- 

 7na7iina, Urakurkargina, Ntadirha. Most of these are venomous. 



The voice of frogs is heard very rarely, still more rarely are 

 they to be seen. They live in the sand, and only appear above 

 ground after rain, and then exclusively at night. Their voice 

 lesembles more the bleating of a sheep than the croaking of 

 European frogs, and many new-comers are deceived by it. 



The fishes are called Irhunga by the natives, who name nine 

 different kinds, viz., Antahikiia (as large as a herring), Longul- 

 hara, Ntamantana, AvKmunta, Rabababa, Renginga, Lteniba, 

 Raltaralta, Kiualbila, and Ltjauma, the last being really crayfish, 

 but which they do not eat. 



Birds of great variety, of all sizes and colors, are to be met 

 with here, especially after continued rain and subsequent floods. 

 The largest bird is the Emu, called Ilia by the natives. There 

 are also some wild Turkeys, which the natives call Itoa, and a 

 few Pheasants, for which the native name is JVgamara, While 

 the Emus and Turkeys lay their eggs upon the ground, the 



