252 R. H. MATHEWS. 



Fig. 1 shews the northern side of the tree, whilst Fig. 2 shews 

 the south-western side, hecause on these aspects of the tree the 

 marking appears more clearly than on the remaining sides. The 

 same kind of marking is continued all round the bole, and extends 

 up the tree to a height of about 14 feet. 



In Fig. 2 the camera was placed nearer the tree than in Fig. 1, 

 to give a larger picture on account of being the shady side of the 

 tree. This is the first illustration of a Pirrimbir tree which has 

 ever been published. Such a tree has never been even mentioned 

 by any previous author. 



The Search for Food. 



The ordinary, everyday methods of searching for the 

 different kinds of game, fish, plant food, etc., practised by 

 Australian tribes have so often been described by several 

 writers, that they will be passed over in this paper. But 

 the following contrivances respecting the procuring of 

 food have been gathered by me among the aborigines in 

 various places in New South Wales and Victoria. In 

 describing the contrivances employed in hunting, the 

 State in which they were observed will be mentioned in 

 each instance. It will be noticed that the exogamous 

 divisions of the people, and their peculiar superstitions, 

 are scattered through these customs. A few examples 

 collected from the natives of the south-east coast and 

 other parts of New South Wales will be given first, 

 followed by some interesting items from the aborigines 

 of Victoria. 



When the natives observe a whale, 4 murirra,'near the 

 the coast, pursued by " killers," mananna, one of the old 

 men goes and lights fires at some little distance apart 

 along the shore, to attract the attention of the "killers." 

 He then walks along from one fire to another, pretending 

 to be lame and helpless, leaning upon a stick in each 

 hand. This is supposed to excite the compassion of the 



