THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 107 



foul of these spiteful trees, but experience, however, soon taught 

 me to keep a look-out for them. A good remedy was to apply- 

 cold water, which eased the burning pain and checked the 

 swelling. 



A truly parasitical plant is the Fig tree, Ficus australis. 

 Although a specimen may assume gigantic proportions and tower 

 above its fellows, yet it has done so at the expense of some other 

 tree. Figs in all stages of their existence are seen in the scrubs. 

 The seed is carried by birds, and may be deposited in a hollow, 

 or in a " calabash," or clump of Staghorns. Finding sufficient 

 nourishment, it germinates and thrives. The roots make their 

 way downwards, enveloping the tree trunk with fibres until they 

 reach the ground. These roots afterwards become as iron bands, 

 and effectually strangle the host tree, which in time rots out, 

 leaving the skeleton frame-work of thickening roots as a trunk to 

 the Fig tree. The final stage is reached when the trunk has 

 grown solid, and the branches tower above and o'erspread the 

 other trees as a gigantic umbrella, bearing tons upon tons of 

 purplish-black fruit, upon which the Fruit Pigeons and other 

 frugivorous birds feed. The Fig tree grown in the open affords 

 excellent shade ; similarly does the Bean tree, which is also 

 remarkable for the long pods of enormous beans it bears. The 

 Native Pine is found on the outskirts only of the scrub, growing 

 on an exposed ridge or hillside. 



The native animals of the " Big Scrub " are not numerous. 

 They are, briefly, the Dingo, Paddymelon, Bandicoot, Flying Fox, 

 and Ant-eater (Echidna). The small Wallaby (I do not know 

 why it is called " Paddymelon ") troops out in dozens towards 

 evening to feast and fatten on the farmers' crops. 



Of lizards there are two kinds, the Iguana and a long jet black 

 species frequenting the rotting logs in the scrub. Snakes are 

 not uncommon ; the poisonous species are the Black and the 

 small "Bandy-bandy." The Carpet and Tree Snakes are non- 

 poisonous. One day I came across a Carpet Snake about 8 feet 

 long lying prone and immovable. It had evidently just taken in 

 a week's provisions in the shape of a " Paddymelon," judging by 

 the thickness of its abdominal region. If ever a snake was 

 gorged that one was ; but for darting out its tongue now and 

 again there was not a movement. This species is especially fond 

 of pilfering in the poultry yards, making raids during the hours of 

 darkness. The Tree Snakes, of which there are two species, the 

 brown and the green, are termed Whip Snakes by the local 

 people on account of their long, thin, tapering bodies. They 

 create great alarm sometimes by coming about the houses, or into 

 the roof of a barn, for instance, where they can easily procure 

 their food, which consists solely of Tree Frogs. These green 

 tree-climbing frogs are indeed a nuisance, and are found every- 



