The Zoologist — May, 1870. 2137 



So tightly do they hang by the claws that they may even be shot dead 

 and yet not drop, obliging their persecutors to climb the tree to gain 

 possession of the dead body. They have a peculiar odour, in spite of 

 which the blacks eat them, and declare them to be savoury and 

 palatable. Dr. Leichardt and his party, when crossing the continent 

 of Australia, found them good eating. But was this possibly a case of 

 Hobson's choice ? 



There is a little bird, called by the colonists the " silver-eye," which 

 likewise shows much taste for fruit, doing a deal of damage according 

 to its smaller powers, but nothing when compared to that occasioned 

 by the ravages of this huge h&i.— George Smyth Powell; New South 

 Wales, Fehruary, ISm.—From the ' Field: 



The 'Singleton Times' also gives the following account of a recent 

 exterminating expedition to the haunt of the flying foxes at Black's 

 Mountain : — 



After hobbling our horses with a stirrup-leather on some good grass 

 on the top of the mountain, we proceeded down its rather precipitous 

 sides, and soon our eyes were as much astonished as they were 

 gladdened by the sight of many acres of trees literally black with 

 foxes. More Ihan half of our company commenced operations; but 

 after about a quarter of an hour's tremendous slaughter we had the 

 mortification to see that nearly every one of the flying foxes was on the 

 wing, and a wonderful sight it was. The bush was about a mile and 

 a half long, and the whole length and breadth of it was nothing but a 

 vast cloud of foxes, wheeling and hobbling, and " bobbing round " and 

 round. At the lowest calculation there could not have been less than 

 fifty thousand, and I believe that if that number were doubled it would 

 be nearer the truth. Our party had by this lime got pretty well spread 

 all over the ground, and for some time, wherever two or three of the 

 foxes tried to fasten on a tree, they quickly came to grief, and some 

 of our party brought them down on the wing. This exciting state of 

 affairs lasted until a little past noon, when the call sounded of " Come 

 to camp." The call was quickly complied with, and ample justice 

 was done to the eatables provided. After half an hour's rest, away we 

 started, and now " the fun grew fast and furious." The foxes were 

 completely tired with their unusual exertions of the morning, and 

 would only fly from tree to tree, and in many instances from one side 

 of the tree to the other ; and all that the sportsmen had to do was to 

 load and fire, which they did as fast as their guns would allow them, 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. V. 2 B 



