217 



Pheasants place theirs deep in the sand, for which purpose a hole 

 is scratched out and two eggs deposited, and covered over ; a 

 little distance away it does the same, and so forth until finished, 

 the sun effecting the hatching. The young ones appear in pairs 

 above ground, and at once commence to search for their food. 

 The Emu hen gets her eggs also hatched by the sun, but she 

 takes a good deal of care of them, and when hatched takes the 

 young under her protection, and they follow her about. The 

 Turkey acts in the same manner, but appears only to lay one 

 egg ', the young one she takes about with her by carrying it upon 

 her back. The food of the Turkey is gum secreted by various 

 trees and shrubs, and caterpillars of the nest-building kinds ; the 

 Pheasants eat snakes, &c. Pigeons of various sizes occur almost 

 everywhere ; and the red-legged Water-Hen is also found here 

 and there, besides Ducks, Pelicans, Spoonbill-Geese, Snipes, &c. 

 Black and white Cockatoos are not wanting either, and fill the 

 air with their discordant cries. Most plentiful of all are, per- 

 haps, the various parrot and sparrow-like birds. For all of these 

 the natives have names, amounting to about 43 kinds in all, 

 among which are several Hawks. Nor must we forget the Crow, 

 which can endure frost and heat. There are also a considerable 

 number of night-birds, such as Owls. 



Caterpillars of various kinds sometimes infest the country, 

 especially after rain. A peculiar kind, called Weba, is a favorite 

 article of diet with the natives. There are also various species 

 of beetles and other insects. One species is a favorite food of 

 the natives, who call it AJknenera. AVherever Euccdyj^tus ros- 

 trata occurs, the latter (a species of cicada) come out of the 

 ground, have leathery wings, and are larger than cockchafers. 

 The males have a sort of drum on each side, connected by a 

 channel across the underside, the whole being covered by a valve, 

 through the opening of which they produce a continuous, shrilly 

 vibrating noise. 



The flies here are very bold and importunate, like angry bees, 

 and can scarcely be kept off', especially attacking the eyes. 



The mosquitoes are also sometimes a great nuisance ; and 

 spiders, centipedes,, scorpions, ants, etc., abound, but their venom 

 does not appear to act fatally, although causing great pain. 



II. THE ABORIGINES. 



1. Physique and Diseases. 



There is probably scarcely a country where the aborigines are 

 so few in number as in Central Australia. Sometimes one may 

 travel for days without meeting a single one. During our resi- 



