266 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



mulberries, grapes, pine-apples, oranges, &c, growing in the open air 

 The grounds are in beautiful order, and their reputation deservedly 

 great in the colony. 



Liverpool is a small town in this neighbourhood, fifteen miles from 

 Paramatta, to the westward. The government has here a large 

 hospital under the direction of Dr. Hill, to whose kindness and atten- 

 tion Mr. Peale was much indebted. This institution is open to the 

 disabled and sick of all nations ; is a large building, and admirably 

 kept. 



We are sorry that as much cannot be said for the " Wheelwright 

 Arms," at Liverpool, and other hotels in Campbelltown : a larger 

 supply of spiders, flies, and bed-bugs is seldom seen, than that with 

 which the bed-rooms swarm. 



In the neighbourhood of Liverpool, a dam is in progress at the head 

 of the tide-water of Cook's river, which empties into Botany Bay. 

 This is a noble work, and is intended for the purpose of giving Sydney 

 a supply of water, of which it is much in want. The work is performed 

 entirely at the expense of government, and the water is led for a Jong 

 distance by tunnel. 



While at Clifton, Mr. Peale made an excursion along the meander- 

 ing course of the Nepean river. He was much surprised at the 

 productions of the soil, although these were apparently every where 

 deficient of moisture; and also at the singular notes of the birds, 

 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 singing 

 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. 



