Australian Natural History, 1425 



both these are good to eat. There being some very thick scrubs near 

 me, I accompanied a gentleman some days ago after these jumpers. 

 Between the brushes are patches of long grass, out of which the dogs 

 drove the animals, and we shot at them as they bounded, or rather 

 hopped past us at a rapid rate. It is something like rabbit-shooting, 

 for your aim must be quick and fire sharp, or a bush screens them di- 

 rectly. On this day we shot four different varieties of pigeon, all 

 beautiful. The " Paddy Melon " is about the size of a good hare. In 

 the interior the Wild Turkey, or as I judge from the description, a 

 species of the Bustard, is in plenty, and the real Kangaroo which 

 civilization has driven back. But all in all, it is astonishing how free 

 from indigenous beasts is this colony, at least what we know of it. 



There is a little Creeper smaller than the English ; his head, back, 

 and breast are bright scarlet; belly and vent ash-gray; wings black, 

 edged with dull white ; tail black. I have one, but not full-feathered, 

 as the scarlet on the back and breast is intermixed. 



The throat of the Laughing Jackass, [Alcedo gigantea ?) is white; 

 belly the same, with faint waves of brown ; vent white. The top of 

 the head is light and dark brown, and just over the eyes is a black or 

 dark brown stripe, reaching completely round the back of the head, 

 and under it round the back of the neck is the same colour as the 

 belly ; the back is a dark wavy brown, till reaching near the tail 

 where it is waved with light blue, which in certain lights has a 

 purplish cast. The tail is alternately barred with black and chestnut, 

 the end white. The quill-feathers are black with a white bar across 

 their centre, and the remaining part black-edged and waved with light 

 blue, as on the feathers above the tail : the beak is black, long, and 

 pointed ; under mandible flesh-colour. Male and female vary but 

 little in plumage. It is altogether a land fisher, feeding on snakes 

 and insects, and it is a great enemy to young birds and eggs, and is 

 frequently chased to a distance by a mob of the latter. I never saw 

 it frequent the water. It builds its nest in the hole of a tree, generally 

 selecting the large excrescence of the Termites, in which it scoops a 

 hole large enough for its purpose, and as far as my observation goes, 

 brings forth two young ones. It has a most discordant note resem- 

 bling a most diabolical laugh, long, loud and discordant ; hence its 

 local name, " Laughing Jackass." 



I have succeeded at last in obtaining for you a specimen of the 

 Platypus. This extraordinary animal, or fish, or bird, or a combina- 

 tion of the whole, was caught in a net in the Paterson River. The 

 blood has been saved by a young man to send to England, as some 

 IV 5 N 



