256 K. H. MATHEWS. 



blackfellow generally goes up a creek or river when spear- 

 ing fish, because the water which is made muddy by wading 

 into it is washed down the stream into the rear, and does 

 not disturb the fish higher up. Besides, it is easier to 

 see the animals in the clear, undisturbed water. 



During my rambles among the aborigines of western and 

 northern Victoria, I gathered some hunting customs, a few 

 of which are as under : — The wild turkey of the plains is 

 timid and watchful. The following is one of the devices 

 employed by the natives in catching them : The hunter 

 provides himself with a little bird and ties its legs together. 

 He lays it on the ground in an open space which he knows 

 is frequented by turkeys. A plant or shelter of bushes is 

 made a little way off, behind which the man hides. A 

 string reaches from him to the bird, which continues to 

 flutter its wings. A turkey feeding on the open ground 

 adjacent sees the bird, and being tempted by curiosity, 

 comes up to it. The hunter with one hand gradually hauls 

 in the string with the bird attached, and the turkey follows 

 till it comes within reach of a noose fastened to the ex- 

 tremity of a small tough wooden rod which the hunter 

 holds in his other hand. The turkey is so intent upon 

 watching the fluttering little bird that it does not perceive 

 the proximity of the end of the rod. The blackfellow 

 dexterously passes the noose over the turkey's head till it 

 reaches the upper or small part of the neck. The hunter 

 then twists the rod round and round in his hands with great 

 rapidity. This twists and tightens the noose and chokes 

 the bird without making much noise or disturbance, and it 

 is dragged quietly into the bough screen. Perhaps another 

 turkey, following its companion at a little distance may be 

 snared in the same way. 



If the turkey, which belongs generally to the Guro-gity 

 phratry, be too shy or wary to approach the " call-bird," 



