NEW SOUTH WALES. 267 



His property contains about sixteen thousand acres of the most fertile 

 land in the colony. The soil is composed of decomposed 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 proportion 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 where 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 Aus- 

 tralian species are said to be confined to peculiar districts, which they 

 only leave on emergency, from want of food, &c. 



Mr. Coxen, near Peuen Beuen, informed our gentlemen that several 

 birds had made their appearance around his dwelling that season, that 

 were not known within a hundred miles of his place before. From the 

 little that is know 7 n of the ornithology of the rest of New Holland, it 

 seems that the same general character prevails throughout the whole 

 continent, and there are grounds for believing that there is a complete 

 diversity in the species from those of New Guinea. As an instance of 

 this, it may be stated that none of the paradise-birds, so common in the 

 islands to the north, have been found in Australia; and what appears to 

 add strength to this opinion, is the fact that the land birds of Norfolk 

 Island are all known to be peculiar. 



The number of parrots that are seen is very great. They usually 

 occupy the tops of trees, and are remarkable for the rapidity of their 

 flight, particularly a green species, little larger than a humming-bird, 

 with which the trees occasionally swarm. Other birds, hardly known 

 to the ornithologist, are also numerous ; but Mr. Gould, who is eminent 

 in that department of natural history, is now engaged in making col- 

 lections, and will probably, ere long, give a full account of the habits 

 and economy of the Australian birds. 



The Australian wood-pecker is the famous bill-bird whose note is 



