CLIMATE OP AUSTRALIA. 
337 
to which, in the hope of relief, they had dragged themselves, 
there to fall and die ; trees are cut down for the sake of the 
twigs as fodder ; the flocks are driven to the mountains, in 
the hope that water may there be found, and every effort is 
made to avert the impending ruin ; but in spite of all that 
can be done, the loss is extreme. At length a change takes 
place, rain falls abundantly, and the plains, on which, but 
lately, not a blade of herbage was to be seen, and over 
which the stillness of desolation reigned, become free with 
luxuriant vegetation. Orchidecz, and thousands of flowers 
of the loveliest hues are profusely spread around, as if nature 
rejoiced in her renovation, and the grain springing up vigor- 
ously, gives promise of an abundant harvest. This change 
from sterility to abundance, in the vegetable world, is ac- 
companied by a correspondent increase of animal life ; the 
waters become stocked with fish, and the marshy districts 
with frogs and other reptiles, host s of caterpillars and other 
insects make their appearance, and, spreading over the sur- 
face of the country, commence the work of devastation, 
which, however, is speedily checked by the birds of various 
kinds that follow in their train. Attracted by the abundance of 
food, hawks, of three or four species, in flocks of hundreds, 
depart from their usual solitary habits, become gregarious 
and busy at the feast, and thousands of Ibises (Ibis spinicol- 
lis) and other species of the feathered race, revel in the pro- 
fusion of a welcome banquet. It must not, however, be im- 
agined that this change is effected without its attendant hor- 
rors ; the heavy rains often filling the river beds so sud- 
denly that the onward-pouring flood carries with it every 
thing that may impede its course, and woe to the unhappy 
settler whose house or grounds may lie within the influence 
of the overwhelming floods ! 
So little has as yet been ascertained respecting the clima- 
tology of Western, North- Western, and Northern Australia, 
that it is not known whether they also are subject to these 
tremendous visitations ; but as we have reason to believe 
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