h an ample supply of food, the theory is very
probably correct. Poison will be the only method of destroying or
reducing the numbers of the iguana, who, robber as he is, yet has his
good points, as has even the sneaking, blood-loving native cat--for both
are merciless foes to snakes of all kinds; and 'tis better to have an
energetic and hungry native cat and a score of wily iguanas working
havoc among the tenants of your fowl-house than one brown or an equally
deadly "bandy-bandy" snake within half a mile.

In that part of New South Wales in which the writer was born--one of the
tidal rivers on the northern coast--both snakes and iguanas were
plentiful, and a source of continual worry to the settlers.

On one occasion some boyish companions and myself set to work to build a
raft for fishing purposes out of some old and discarded blue gum rails
which were lying along the bank of the river. Boy-like, we utterly
disregarded our parents' admonition to put on our boots, and, aided by a
couple of blackfellows, we moved about the long grass on our bare feet,
picking up the heavy rails and carrying them on our shoulders, one by
one, down to the sandy beach, where we were to lash them together.
Presently we came across a very heavy rail, about eight feet long,
twelve inches in width, and two inches thick. It was no sooner up-ended
than we saw half a dozen "bandy-bandies"--the smallest but most deadly
of Australian snakes, not even excepting the death-adder--lying beneath!
We gave a united yell of terror and fled as the black and yellow banded
reptiles--none of which were over eighteen inches in length nor thicker
than a man's little finger--wriggled between our feet into the long
grass around us. For some minutes we were too frightened at our escape
to speak; but soon set to work to complete the raft. Presently one of
the blackfellows pointed to a tall honeysuckle-tree about fifty feet
away, and said with a gleeful chuckle, "Hallo, you see him that 'pfeller
goanner been catch him bandy-bandy?"

Sure enough, an iguana, about three feet in length, was scurrying up the
rough, ridgy bark of the honeysuckle with a "bandy-bandy" in his jaws.
He had seized the snake by its head, I imagine, for we could see the
rest of its form twisting and turning about and enveloping the body of
its capturer. In a few seconds we saw the iguana ascend still higher,
then he disappeared with his hateful prey among the loftier branches. No
doubt he enjo