Art. XIII. On the “ Bunyip" of Australia Felix. By Mr. 
Ronald C. Gunn.* 
( With Three Plates.) 
From time to time for many years various indistinct reports have 
been received from the aborigines of Port Phillip, of the existence 
of a large amphibious animal, inhabiting the rivers of that colony, 
and called by different tribes by the names Bunyip or Bunyup, 
Katenpai, Kayan-prati, Tumutba, Tunatpan, &c., but no traces 
of it have been seen by any of the white inhabitants. The state¬ 
ment of the aborigines relative to the Bunyip is, that it is of the 
size of a bullock, with a head and neck like an emu’s, and a mane 
and tail like a horse’s. In their rude drawings of it they give it 
two tusks, or front teeth, curved downwards; and feet like those 
of a seal; they say that it is oviparous and burrows, commencing its 
burrow under water, and working upwards until it is above the 
water level, where in a chamber, accessible only through the water, 
it deposits its eggs, which are as large as a bucket, enclosed in 
a membranous skin like a turtle’s, and not in a hard shell. They 
say that it eats black-fellows, and all are afraid of those deep 
holes in the rivers which it inhabits,—but its usual food is crayfish 
or lobsters (very abundant in the large rivers in that colony) and 
roots. Many other particulars are furnished by the blacks, but 
they do not all agree either in their drawings or details, so 
that much uncertainty prevails as to the existence of this 
wonderful animal, although many attach a considerable degree 
of credit to the assertions of the aborigines. During last month 
(January), however, Athol Fletcher, Esq., found a skull on the 
banks of the river Murrumbidgee, which all the natives to whom 
it was shown called a Bunyip’s, and as it was unlike that of 
any animal with which he was acquainted he brought it with him 
to Melbourne. No other bones of any description were found 
with it. There it has excited much interest; and as it will 
probably be forwarded to London by an early vessel, I was very 
much gratified to have the opportunity afforded me of examining 
* An unavoidable delay which has taken place In publishing the present number of the 
Tasmanian .internal has enabled ns to introduce this article with its illustrations_ Ed. 
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