04 



NATIVE DOG. 



low hill on that side was our landmark, immediately 

 north of which we saw a considerable opening, out- 

 side of which were very heavy breakers, stretching 

 in a continuous line down the coast for several miles, 

 and a full mile from the shore. Passing through 

 the south end of these breakers, we pulled for the 

 foot of the hill, where we landed on the rocks about 

 lOh. 30m, a.m. This hill is a lump of granite, 

 about 500 feet high. We found a strong tide run- 

 ning out of the bight, which was entirely surrounded 

 by mangroves, among which were several inlets in 

 different directions. Taking the largest of these 

 inlets, we proceeded, but in two or three miles found 

 it getting gradually narrower, and winding very 

 much. One or two little open spaces now began to 

 shew themselves, consisting of hardened mud ; and 

 on one of these we shot a native dog. His general 

 colour was a rufous grey above, light yellow below, 

 with white cheeks. He measured :* nose to root of 

 tail, 2 ft. lO^in. ; length of tail, 1 ft. ; top of shoulder 

 to ball of foot, 1 ft. y in. ; girth round the chest, 1 ft. 

 8^ in. ; girth round skull (just before ears), 1 ft. 2 in. 

 lie was bold, coming up within 15 yards, and very 

 tenacious of life, requiring four charges of large 

 shot to kill him. He had nothing but lizards in 



* A much larger one was killed at Cape Upstart, quite black 

 od the back and sides, tawny yellow or tan on the other parts 

 of the body, lie measured: — Length of body and head, 3ft. 

 3 in. ; tail, 1 ft. '2 in. ; girth round chest, 2 ft. 3 in. ; height of 

 shoulder, 2 ft. ; length of head alone, 9 in . 



