38 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



distance and then alight upon their shoulders, and sometimes 

 upon one's head. They fly very rapidly, and the whirring 

 sound of their wings before they alight is somewhat peculiar. 

 The nests of these pretty birds — often known also as smokers — 

 are made in the hollows of trees, and are somewhat difficult to 

 get at. 



The blacks, as a rule, do not seem very willing to collect 

 zoological specimens. In fact, I believe that their good pastor 

 in some way discourages such matters, as it was with some 

 difficulty that I obtained the few eggs which I purchased for my 

 son on my return from Albacutya, although I paid a good price 

 for them, at which they (the blacks) seemed much pleased. 



These people can now make fair wages among the selectors, 

 at fencing, clearing, etc., and thus they are to some extent 

 independent of the itinerant naturalist. I purchased a very 

 good stone tomahawk, which had probably belonged to some of 

 their now defunct ancestors. 



I had a desire to obtain for a friend in Europe a skeleton of 

 an aboriginal native, and, although there are many to be 

 obtained near the mission station, I could not venture to 

 broach the subject to my worthy friend the superintendent, as I 

 have a vivid recollection of my reception at my own house when 

 I was on a former occasion indiscreet enough to unpack one 

 from Northern Queensland ; my wife remarking that, although 

 she was willing to encourage in every reasonable way my love 

 for natural history, I must "draw the line" at human skeletons. 



In my former paper, I mentioned the fact of a very large 

 nest of the wedge-tailed eagle which I saw near Mud-brim 

 Spring. I may add that situate about 12 feet or so above the 

 former nest was a nest of some large hawk. I am not aware 

 whether the smaller nest was in use, or whether the birds had 

 quarrelled (?) with the usual result, the survival of the fittest. 

 It seemed strange to me that two birds of prey of different 

 species should have occupied the same tree wherein to build 

 their nests, as there were other large trees in the vicinity. 

 Possibly some of our ornithological friends could give us their 

 experience in such matters, or at least explain the circum- 

 stance. 



The smaller kinds of mammals seemed very scarce. I saw 

 hardly any, save a large Padd_v-melon and a couple of kangaroo- 

 rats (?) or something very like them. Marsupial mice are found 

 in the north-west. 



Of the echidna I saw no traces, although I believe they are 

 to be found to the north-east of where I visited, as in 

 similar country on the Murray they are not uncommon. 



Opossums are not numerous in this district ; but about Pine 

 Plains, some distance to the north-east, they are plentiful, 

 and many handsome rugs of excellent quality are prepared by 



