15 
clue to the time of the last visitation of the locality by the 
kangaroo. 
Opossums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), “ waiyoda,” are found 
inhabiting the large eucalypts that line the watercourses in many 
parts of Central Australia. They are hunted by climbing the 
trunks of the gums and seizing the opossum in, or driving it 
from, the hollow in which it is concealed. This is often a feat 
of great skill when the tall, smooth trunks of the gums are taken 
into account. The usual way of accomplishing it is to cut 
successively a series of small holes in the bark with the 
embedded flint (*kunndi") of the spear-thrower, one above the 
other, and thus gradually escending to the first limb of the tree 
by virtually clinging to the bark with their toe and finger nails. 
Another method adopted by them is to light a big fire at the 
base ofthe tree and wait until the tree collapses by being burnt 
through. The opossum, if it does not leave its shelter to be 
speared, is easily captured in the hollows of the tree and killed. 
The slow-moving native hedgehog (Zchidna aculeata) or 
“tchele ” falls an easy prey to the hunter. 
Dingos (Canis dingo), “ papa," are keenly hunted and eaten ; 
they are usually speared ata waterhole. The dingo is also tamed 
and “domesticated” when taken young. (See Plate IX., fig. 1.) 
They are, however, of no use for hunting, but are greatly fondled 
and fed up by the natives. Even the semi-civilized blacks retain 
this weakness. At Stuart’s Oreek a wurley (native shelter) that 
was inhabited by three females came under observation. Sleep- 
ing with them, and under the same blankets, were no fewer than 
fourteen dogs. 
Rabbits, which are now plentiful in the southern Musgrave 
and Ayers Ranges, are à welcome and easily attained source of 
meat supply. The comparative scarcity of this animal in the 
Tomkinson and Mann Ranges is a proof of the keenness with 
which it is hunted there by the natives. They are either speared 
or killed by hurling sticks* and stones after them when in flight, 
or are unearthed from their burrows. Extensive diggings for 
rabbits were encountered throughout the trip, and whenever 
natives were accompanying the caravan they would never hesitate 
to examine the burrows for fresh tracks. 
Snakes and lizards of all descriptions form daily meals. They 
аге mostly captured by hand. Seizing the snake or lizard by the 
tail the native rapidly whirls it above his head, and thereupon 
dashes ıts skull upon a stone or log. In one case, I observed a 
gin (native female), who had caught a large lizard, and was 
not prepared for the meal, to tie the lizard by one of its legs to a 
bush, and thus keep it alive until she was ready to cook it. They 
* A small kind of specially prepared stick known generally among the 
whites as a waddy was found to be in use in the Tomkinson Ranges. 
