a complete account of the settlement-第35节
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ch might be sticking up among it to wound them and impede their course。
＇*I once found in the woods the greatest part of a kangaroo just killed by the dogs； which afforded to three of us a most welcome repast。 Marks of its turns and struggles on the ground were very visible。 This happened in the evening； and the dogs probably had seen us approach and had run away。 At daylight next morning they saluted us with most dreadful howling for the loss of their prey。＇
Our methods of killing them were but two； either we shot them； or hunted them with greyhounds。 We were never able to ensnare them。 Those sportsmen who relied on the gun seldom met with success； unless they slept near covers； into which the kangaroos were wont to retire at night； and watched with great caution and vigilance when the game； in the morning； sallied forth to feed。 They were； however； sometimes stolen in upon in the day…time and that fascination of the eye； which has been by some authors so much insisted upon； so far acts on the kangaroo that if he fixes his eye upon any one； and no other object move at the same time； he will often continue motionless； in stupid gaze； while the sportsman advances with measured step； towards him； until within reach of his gun。 The greyhounds for a long time were incapable of taking them； but with a brace of dogs； if not near cover a kangaroo almost always falls； since the greyhounds have acquired by practice the proper method of fastening upon them。 Nevertheless the dogs are often miserably torn by them。 The rough wiry greyhound suffers least in the conflict； and is most prized by the hunters。
Other quadrupeds； besides the wild dog； consist only of the flying squirrel； of three kinds of opossums and some minute animals； usually marked by the distinction which so peculiarly characterizes the opossum tribe。 The rats； soon after our landing； became not only numerous but formidable； from the destruction they occasioned in the stores。 Latterly they had almost disappeared； though to account for their absence were not easy。 The first time Colbee saw a monkey； he called 'wurra' （a rat）； but on examining its paws he exclaimed with astonishment and affright； 'mulla' （a man）。
At the head of the birds the cassowary or emu； stands conspicuous。 The print of it which has already been given to the public is so accurate for the most part； that it would be malignant criticism in a work of this kind to point out a few trifling defects。
Here again naturalists must look forward to that information which longer and more intimate knowledge of the feathered tribe than I can supply； shall appear。 I have nevertheless had the good fortune to see what was never seen but once； in the country I am describing； by Europeans… …a hatch； or flock； of young cassowaries with the old bird。 I counted ten； but others said there were twelve。 We came suddenly upon them； and they ran up a hill exactly like a flock of turkeys； but so fast that we could not get a shot at them。 The largest cassowary ever killed in the settlement； weighed ninety…four pounds。 Three young ones； which had been by accident separated from the dam； were once taken and presented to the governor。 They were not larger than so many pullets； although at first sight they appeared to be so from the length of their necks and legs。 They were very beautifully striped； and from their tender state were judged to be not more than three or four days old。 They lived only a few days。
A single egg； the production of a cassowary； was picked up in a desert place； dropped on the sand； without covering or protection of any kind。 Its form was nearly a perfect ellipsis； and the colour of the shell a dark green； full of little indents on its surface。 It measured eleven inches and a half in circumference； five inches and a quarter in height； and weighed a pound and a quarter。 Afterwards we had the good fortune to take a nest。 It was found by a soldier in a sequestered solitary situation； made in a patch of lofty fern about three feet in diameter； rather of an oblong shape and composed of dry leaves and tops of fern stalks； very inartificially put together。 The hollow in which lay the eggs； twelve in number； seemed made solely by the pressure of the bird。 The eggs were regularly placed in the following position。
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The soldier； instead of greedily plundering his prize； communicated the discovery to an officer； who immediately set out for the spot。 When they had arrived there they continued for a long time to search in vain for their object； and the soldier was just about to be stigmatized with ignorance； credulity or imposture； when suddenly up started the old bird and the treasure was found at their feet。
The food of the cassowary is either grass； or a yellow bell…flower growing in the swamps。 It deserves remark； that the natives deny the cassowary to be a bird； because it does not fly。
Of other birds the varieties are very numerous。 Of the parrot tribe alone I could； while I am writing； count up from memory fourteen different sorts。 Hawks are very numerous； so are quails。 A single snipe has been shot。 Ducks； geese and other aquatic birds are often seen in large flocks； but are universally so shy； that it is found difficult to shoot them。 Some of the smaller birds are very beautiful； but they are not remarkable for either sweetness； or variety of notes。 To one of them； not bigger than a tomtit； we have given the name of coach…whip； from its note exactly resembling the smack of a whip。 The country； I am of opinion； would abound with birds did not the natives； by perpetually setting fire to the grass and bushes； destroy the greater part of the nests； a cause which also contributes to render small quadrupeds scarce。 They are besides ravenously fond of eggs and eat them wherever they find them。 They call the roe of a fish and a bird's egg by one name。
So much has been said of the abundance in which fish are found in the harbours of New South Wales that it looks like detraction to oppose a contradiction。 Some share of knowledge may； however； be supposed to belong to experience。 Many a night have I toiled （in the times of distress） on the public service； from four o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock next morning； hauling the seine in every part of the harbour of Port Jackson： and after a circuit of many miles and between twenty and thirty hauls； seldom more than a hundred pounds of fish were taken。 However； it sometimes happens that a glut enters the harbour； and for a few days they sufficiently abound。 But the universal voice of all professed fishermen is that they never fished in a country where success was so precarious and uncertain。
I shall not pretend to enumerate the variety of fish which are found。 They are seen from a whale to a gudgeon。 In the intermediate classes may be reckoned sharks of a monstrous size； skait； rock…cod； grey…mullet； bream； horse…mackarel； now and then a sole and john dory； and innumerable others unknown in Europe； many of which are extremely delicious； and many highly beautiful。 At the top of the list； as an article of food； stands a fish； which we named light…horseman。 The relish of this excellent fish was increased by our natives； who pointed out to us its delicacies。 No epicure in England could pick a head with more glee and dexterity than they do that of a light…horseman。
Reptiles in the swamps and covers are numerous。 Of snakes there are two or three sorts： but whether the bite of any of them be mortal； or even venomous； is somewhat doubtful。 I know but of one well attested instance of a bite being received from a snake。 A soldier was bitten so as to draw blood； and the wound healed as a simple incision usually does without shewing any symptom of malignity。 A dog was reported to be bitten by a snake； and the animal swelled and died in great agony。 But I will by no means affirm that the cause of his death was fairly ascertained。 It is； however； certain that the natives show； on all occasions； the utmost horror of the snake； and will not eat it； although they esteem lizards； goannas； and many other reptiles delicious fare。 On this occasion they always observe that if the snake bites them； they become lame； but whether by this they mean temporary or lasting lameness I do not pretend to determine。 I have often eaten snakes and always found them palatable and nutritive； though it was difficult to stew them to a tender state。
Summer here； as in all other countries； brings with it a long list of insects。 In the neighborhood of rivers and morasses； mosquitoes and sandflies are never wanting at any season； but at Sydney they are seldom numerous or troublesome。 The most nauseous and destructive of all the insects is a fly which blows not eggs but large living maggots； and if the body of the fly be opened it is found full of them。 Of ants there are several sorts； one of which bites very severely。 The white ant is sometimes seen。 Spiders are large and numerous。 Their webs are not only the strongest； but the finest； and most silky I ever felt。 I have often thought their labour might be turned to advantage。 It has； I believe； been proved that spiders； were it
