lder, and, bounding
forward with his utmost speed for a few paces to give impetus to his
blow, the kiley quits his hand as if it would strike the water, but when
it has almost touched the unruffled surface of the lake it spins upwards
with inconceivable velocity, and with the strangest contortions. In vain
the terrified cockatoos strive to avoid it; it sweeps wildly and
uncertainly through the air, and so eccentric are its motions that it
requires but a slight stretch of the imagination to fancy it endowed with
life, and with fell swoops is in rapid pursuit of the devoted birds, some
of whom are almost certain to be brought screaming to the earth.

But the wily savage has not yet done with them. He avails himself of the
extraordinary attachment which these birds have for one another, and,
fastening a wounded one to a tree, so that its cries may induce its
companions to return, he watches his opportunity by throwing his kiley or
spear to add another bird or two to the booty he has already obtained.

MODE OF KILLING WILD-FOWL.

The various kinds of wild-fowl with which the rivers and lagoons of
Australia abound afford a never-failing supply of food to the natives,
and many are the arts to which they have recourse to entrap these wary
birds. During the period of the moulting season they catch many black
swans. Some of the young men lie for hours in ambush on the banks until
the unconscious swans have ventured so far into shallow water that they
can run round them and cut off their retreat. When this auspicious moment
arrives, with loud shouts the men dash in, and whilst one party
intercepts the birds, so that they cannot get into the deeps, a second
soon runs them down. In the same manner they take the young cygnets; and
these I believe to be as good eating and as delicate an article of food
as any country can produce.

It is also an interesting sight to see the natives creep after wild-fowl,
and under cover of the reeds and bushes get so near that they can either
spear them or catch them with a noose. A reedy lagoon lies at your feet,
almost surrounded by rocky cliffs and dusky woods; there are some small
open spaces of water, but generally it is so thickly overgrown with high
reeds that it looks rather like a swampy wood than a lake; in the
distance you see curling up a thin cloud of blue smoke, which indicates
that a native encampment is at hand. The forms of many wild-fowl are seen
swimming about among the reeds, fo