A BAUBLE NEAR SYDNEY. 413 



the short burrows (averaging about six inches in depth) made 

 by the Bandicoots (Perameles obesula and P. nasuta) while in 

 search of their food, this consisting mainly of insect-larvse, 

 worms, and roots. On either side were also to be seen the 

 miniature white sandy tracks " winding their tortuous ways 

 along," made by those little "Macadams," the Ants. 



Here the bushes were almost alive with Common Sparrows 

 and Honey-Eaters (Meliornis novce-hollandice) , and the united 

 chirruping of their thousands made quite a tumult. While 

 speaking of this locality, I think I may presume sufficiently upon 

 the forbearance of the reader to relate a little incident which 

 occurred hereabout. I find, on referring to my note-book, that 

 it was on Sept. 27th, 1896. I had come down to Manly, and 

 walked from thence to " Curl Curl " Bay. When returning, and 

 on the look-out for birds and reptiles, I came suddenly upon a 

 small brown-coloured* Snake, which darted from me, and started 

 twisting and turning, a short distance away, in a most curious 

 and remarkable manner. Although I walked up and stood right 

 over it, so rapid were its movements, and so nearly did its colour 

 resemble the dead leaves with which it was surrounded, that had 

 it not been for an occasional glimpse of the ventral aspect (which 

 was of a dirty white hue) it would have been utterly impossible 

 for me to distinguish it. Now, all the time the Snake was 

 squirming about, doubtless trying to hide itself under the leaves 

 (and this is to me the most interesting part), it uttered a peculiar 

 little chirping sound, somewhat similar to the call of a young 

 bird. As I did not wish to kill it, I got a small pronged stick, 

 intending to catch it alive ; but the moment I touched it with the 

 stick it disappeared like a flash — whither, I know not — leaving me 

 blankly staring at the ground. I was quite dumfounded, as, 

 although watching the animal intently, I did not see it go. I 

 scraped the leaves off the ground for some distance around, but 

 did not discover any holes, and, though I hunted " high and 

 low," could not find any trace of the Snake ; I therefore came 

 to the conclusion that it had escaped altogether, the protective 

 coloration being greatly in its favour. I have only heard of one 



* I purposely say " brown-coloured," so as not to mislead the reader 

 into thinking that I mean what is commonly known here as the Brown 

 Snake (Diemertia superciliosa). 



