116 W. T. WYNDHAM. AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES: 



is derived from Billar a swamp oak tree. The beetle or cock- 

 chafer that is the mature form of the grub, lays its eggs in the 

 tree. This grub is good bait for fishing. The blacks eat both the 

 cockchafer and grub, roasted and raw. Another grub called 

 Yarungun derives its name from inhabiting yarrar gum tree. 

 The perfect insect is a very large handsome moth. The method 

 of a grub hunt is as follows : at the bottom of the gum trees on 

 the ground the grub's excreta is to be seen like saw-dust, and from 

 the size of the pellets, the size of the grub that drops them can be 

 judged. If considered worthy of trouble, the native examines the 

 trunk and boughs of the tree, and possibly finds a minute hole 

 about the size of a pea. If the grub is large, the bark most 

 probably will be slightly puffed up. Where upon the tomahawk 

 is used to chip the tree where the hole seems to be, and then with 

 a little hook, called in Ucumble Nilla, [of which this is a diagram] 

 the grub's hole is forced till the grub's •---«*-»— 



head comes into view and by giving a 

 slight twist with the finger and thumb, (it needs some practice) 

 the native will hook the grub by the head and pull him out neatly 

 and whole, if not sufficiently expert most likely he will be broken 

 and the hunter will have to lick up the gravey. These grubs are 

 most delicious, particularly when roasted. A similar moth is very 

 fond of laying its eggs in the roots of the wattle tree. The 

 aborigines find it both by the saw-dust and by seeing where the 

 bandicoots, and kangaroo-rats 2 6 have been scratching in en- 

 deavouring to get at the grub. All these larvae are known by the 

 name of Beeu, though the different species have a name of their 

 own. There is one in the ground that turns into the Cicada, 

 (commonly known as the locust) the blacks collect the larva as 

 they come out of the ground on a damp night in order to crawl 

 up the trees, throwing off their chrysalis state and turning into 

 locusts. They carry a torch for the purpose. 



It is a long while since I lived with the Ucumble tribe, and I 

 have consequently lost much of their language ; only a few of 

 them are still alive, and if I had time, I should much like to stay 

 with them and freshen my memory. 



Index. 



No. Ucumble Various Native Languages. 



1 Small native Bee — Cobbi 



2 Larger sized, Eastern Waters — Wo r ell, acid honey. 



3 Bumble Bee — Probiccullo. 



4 Large sort of Weasel — Murroe. 



5 Squirrel — Bunga 



5a Honey or Sugarbag — Narrow Gooney. 



6 Cyprus Pine — Toolgil. 



7 Green Head Ant — Goo nan. 



