in the country. Much land is also given up to the raising
of hops, which recalled the thrifty fields of Kent, in England. There
were seen here immense expanses of oats, which are mostly cut
green,--that is, just before ripening,--for fodder. Together with these
several interests, there were also plenty of copper and tin mines being
worked; and we were informed by good authority that one third of the
total area of the colony is believed to be occupied by gold-bearing
quartz. Extraordinary as this assertion appears, it is fully credited by
the author.

A most curious and remarkable example of birdlife and bird-instinct was
pointed out to us, in the instance of what is known as the bower-bird.
This peculiar little creature builds a cunning play-place, a tiny shady
bower, which it ornaments with vines and high-colored feathers of other
birds, besides the yellow blossoms of the wattle-tree and dainty ferns.
In this ingeniously devised sylvan retreat the feathered architect runs
about and holds a sort of carnival, to which he apparently invites
others of his tribe. At all events a select company come hither and join
the builders for an hour or so, chirping vigorously and strutting about
together in a most ludicrously demonstrative manner.

Scarcely any of the animals found in other countries were native to this
land. There were no apes, no ruminants, no lions, tigers, or wolves. We
were told about the wild dog, already spoken of, familiarly known as the
"dingo," which is such a serious pest to the sheep-raisers, and which
closely resembles the Scotch collie. This creature is the wildest and
fiercest animal found in the Australian bush, evincing a destructive
propensity merely for the sake of spilling blood. Its habit is to kill a
dozen sheep when it attacks a flock, though one would more than suffice
to satisfy its hunger. It seizes the unresisting victim by the throat,
and its fatal work is quickly accomplished. A price is placed upon the
head of the dingo by Government, and there is a class of men who are
particularly fond of hunting it, and who obtain a living by waging a
constant war upon the species. Undoubtedly this animal was introduced
here by Captain Cook when he landed a second time in the country, and a
century of wild life has given to it a new nature. The hunters of the
dingo also make rabbits a special object of onslaught, for which
Government pays a liberal premium of so much per brace, the heads being
require