232 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



particularly the quaint and varied jargon of the Dacelo gigantea, 

 called in the country, the " Laughing Jackass." This is an instance 

 of the ridiculous misapplication of names in this country ; for, besides 

 belonging to a different class of the animal kingdom, its notes have 

 little or no resemblance to the braying of an ass, and it feeds upon 

 a very different kind of food, viz. : lizards and serpents. The bird is 

 common in this part of the country, but peculiar to New South 

 Wales. 



There are many native magpies, which have somewhat the appear- 

 ance of a crow. This bird frequents the neighbourhood of houses, 

 and its loud and crow-like note is the matin-call of the country 

 residents. In spite of its hoarse croak, it was spoken of by some as 

 a fine sinking bird. 



The wallaby, the smallest species of kangaroo, is common here, 

 as well as numerous opossums. On reaching the Wallondilly river, 

 the party stopped to hunt the Ornithorhynchus, which once abounded 

 there, and succeeded in obtaining specimens, although with much 

 difficulty. Proceeding on, they reached Strathara, the seat of Achlan 

 M'Alister, Esquire, to whose kind attentions the whole squadron are 

 much indebted. His property contains about sixteen thousand acres 

 of the most fertile land in the colony. The soil is composed of de- 

 composed trap rock, and has the appearance of a rich chocolate- 

 coloured mould, which retains the moisture well. The timber which 

 grows upon it is closer and heavier than in the sandstone districts : it 

 is principally Eucalyptus, of several species. The grass is thinly 

 spread over the ground, and the cattle and sheep require a great 

 range. One sheep to an acre is the allotment, and even in this pro- 

 portion they suffer in dry seasons. There are no running streams 

 of water on this estate; but, as has been remarked, the pools are 

 numerous, a most happy circumstance for the country, for from these 

 alone can the cattle be supplied. Argyle is the only place w T here 

 springs were seen in this part of the country, and they are scanty. 

 The crops of wheat were unusually good, but they were the first that 

 had been collected for three years. 



The variety of birds seen here, and the brilliancy of their plumage, 

 are characteristic of Australia. All the birds are remarkable for the 

 closeness of their plumage, and the neatness of their form ; many of 

 the species are peculiar to Australia, and are more nearly allied to 

 those of the western part of the Indian Archipelago than of any 

 other region. Even this analogy is extremely limited. Many of the 



