Western Range, Tasmania . 
123 
tion, determined to watcli them: he then saw one 
apparently attack a hen, which had chickens, and, while 
it engaged her attention, its companion seized and carried 
off one of her progeny. The combatant crow, observing 
the success of the stratagem, immediately left the hen 
and joined the thief. 
The Den is a large basin, the bottom of which is a 
perfect flat, and it comprises altogether nearly 8000 
acres : but this includes a portion of the sides of the hills 
that surround it. The Lake River flows through it, and 
after much rain forms a considerable stream; whereas 
after a series of dry weather it scarcely flows at all at 
this part, though a fine stream at Connorville, on the 
way to which it is increased by other rivulets. As there 
is scarcely a tree near the only house that is here, and 
even the sides of the Den arc very lightly wooded, one 
can see some distance from the building; and this seems 
to have been the reason why the owner placed it where 
it stands ; so that the inmates might be enabled to descry 
any of the Aboriginals if they approached. Notwith¬ 
standing this precaution, the latter murdered, some 
years since, a woman and her two children ; having pro¬ 
bably watched until they observed the husband quit the 
place. This was in revenge of the brutal and most in¬ 
human murder of two native women some time pre¬ 
viously by the Convict servants. 
Since the capture, some months ago, of a family of 
natives, it is supposed that none now exist in the Colony. 
This family was sent to Flinder s Island, to join those 
sent there long since; and, as the number is gradually 
decreasing, there will in all probability, at no very 
remote period, be not a single individual left of the black 
race of this Colony. 
From the Den I found the ascent to Lake Arthur so 
rough, and the ground so entirely covered with loose 
