136 Something about Hooded Parrakeets and other Birds.


them; but in vain, they would not budge ! The result was that no

present, tobacco, knife, or anything else would tempt him to come

near me again, and that night he deserted us. He took me to be a

witch doctor.


There is yet another point that might interest some of our

members, belonging perchance to the Aquaria-keeping fraternity,

They would find these Billabongs and small water-holes veritable

treasure-troves. Nearly all saltwater fish may be caught in fresh¬

water, the reason is that in the rainy season these water-holes are

connected with creeks, which in their turn join the Mary or Daly

Rivers, emptying themselves into the sea. No doubt the fish find their

way up, and when the floods recede must stay in enforced confine¬

ment and accustom themselves to fresh water. But it is the smaller

species of fish, suitable for aquaria, which I want to draw attention

to. There is one species—“ Five Guns ” we called them—the shape

of a South American Chanchitos, but silver in colour, with five black

spots on each side, lessening in size from head to tail, the adult fish

about three inches. Then a little mud Carp, very small, between

one and one-and-a-half inches, in colour shining all shades of the

rainbow in the sun ; this Carp, like the Needle fish of evil remem¬

brance—which once stung by, one never forgets it—will bury itself

in the mud and lie dormant whilst the water-hole is dry and sun¬

baked. When the rains come, up comes the fish to enjoy new life.

And there are many more, small pied fish, greedily eating the

breadcrumbs one feeds them with, and others striped red and blue.

Every water-hole seems to have a gem of its own. But as this is a

bird-journal, I will say no more about fish.


Much to my regret, I had to leave the Territory before the

scheduled time, for Malaria,—the curse of the tropics,—proved too

much for me, and were it not for the recurrence, even now, of this

awful illness, I would have nothing but delightful recollections of

what was, with that one exception, a most interesting and very

enjoyable trip.



