COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
261 
than pass through the puddles of water in its -isw. 
way*. Aug. s. 
The egret, that we had seen last voyage in 
the Alligator River, was also seen here; and 
white cockatoos were in large flights, but hawks 
were unusually rare. The bird, called by the 
colonists at Port Jackson, the “ native compa- 
nion,” ( ardea anti gone, Linn.) was seen where 
the natives were. As we returned, several alli- 
gators swam past the boat ; but they were neither 
so large nor so numerous as those of the Alli- 
gator Rivers ; the largest not being more than 
twelve or thirteen feet long. Upon seeing these 
monsters, we congratulated ourselves on our 
escape, for had we known of their existence in 
this river before we passed the night on its 
bank, the danger of being surprised by the 
natives, and the stings of the mosquitoes, would 
have dwindled into insignificance, in comparison 
with the presence of such voracious animals. On 
our return down the river, a snake was seen 
about five feet long, of a light red colour, but 
it escaped by gliding into the long matted grass. 
On the 7th we left the river, and proceeded to 7 . 
the westward ; round Point Hawkesbury, the 
land falls back, extending first in a south-west, 
and then in a west-north-west direction, until it 
* Hawke s worth, vol. iii. p. 125, 
