158 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



they get through the wire netting, but when they have swallowed 

 two or three chickens are generally too bulky to get out again, 

 so are easily killed. 



We changed into the s.s. Gaho about midnight, and as we 

 steamed up the coast had a good view of the well-known Whit- 

 sunday Passage, as we passed through it a little after daylight, 

 and the reflection of the island on the mirror-like surface of the 

 water was very beautiful. The steamer called at Mackay, and 

 we reached Townsville on Saturday evening. Next morning we 

 walked, or, rather, scrambled, to the top of a high rocky hill 

 close to the town which is about 500 feet high. A very extensive 

 view is obtained from the summit, showing a large extent of low- 

 lying country near the town. About six miles out are chains of 

 rocky hills covered with timber, but no scrub was visible, and 

 away in the distance could be made out Alligator Creek, a noted 

 place for wildfowl and Crocodiles, or, as the latter are always 

 called in Queensland, " Alligators." On the hill on which we 

 were standing the stunted Eucalyptus was growing, with a few 

 coral trees. The small green cicadse were very plentiful, and 

 very noisy; a few butterflies were also seen, but only common 

 varieties. We returned by the sea beach, and on passing a small 

 lagoon near the town saw on it some Whistling Ducks. Shells, 

 as far as we could judge, were scarce. 



The day following we visited Acacia Vale, a large nursery and 

 fruit garden, about three miles out. While there we caught a Brown 

 Snake and killed it with nicotine from a tobacco pipe. We were 

 told that the cats here occasionally kill venomous snakes by 

 striking at them with their paws until they tire the snake out, and 

 then, watching their chance, bite them on the back of the head 

 and so kill them ; Lace Lizards are also said to kill small snakes. 

 We heard that a Carpet Snake 22 feet long had been killed 

 shortly before we arrived close to the town. They had here a 

 fine young specimen of the Queensland Cassowary, but, like other 

 specimens of its tribe, it coukl only be trusted when one was on 

 the other side of the fence. A small waterhole at one side of the 

 garden was covered with the blue-flowering water-lily, which 

 grows wild here, and is to be seen on most of the lagoons and 

 waterholes. 



We left the same evening for Cardwell, by the small steamer 

 Bitrdekin. Our first call was at Dungeness, a small township 

 built on the banks of the eastern entrance to the Herbert River; 

 and as it was high water we went up the river to the township, 

 fastening the steamer to the Mangroves on the bank. We were 

 soon away again and passed up Hinchinbrook Channel, formed 

 between Hinchinbrook Island and the mainland. The scenery on 

 the island is very fine, being mountainous and rugged, and several 

 of the peaks are over 3,000 feet in height, often being hidden 



