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.

O
O O O
O O O O O
O O O

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