Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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11. Although There Is A Considerable Variety Of Reptiles, Snakes Do
Not Appear To Be Very Numerous.
The common brown snake and
death-adder are found; carpet snakes (a kind of 'boa'), appear to be
the most common, and grow to a large size.
They have been very
troublesome by killing our poultry at night. They seem to be
bloodthirsty creatures, frequently killing much larger animals than
they can possibly swallow, and are not satisfied with one victim at a
time. One which was killed in my fowl-house had three half grown
chickens compressed in its folds and held one in its jaws. A short
time since I was roused in the middle of the night by the piteous
cries of a young kangaroo dog, and on running out found it rolling on
the ground in the coils of a large carpet snake. The dog was
severely bitten in the loin, but in the morning was quite well,
proving that the bite of this reptile is innocuous. This snake
measured nearly twelve feet in length.
12. Crocodiles are found in numbers in the Kennedy River and a
lagoon, which has communication with its estuary. They are also seen
occasionally in the bays in Albany Passage.
13. Of the aborigines of Cape York I can say little more than has
already been so often repeated in descriptions of the natives of
other parts of the Australian continent. The only distinction that I
can perceive, is that they appear to be in a lower state of
degradation, mentally and physically, than any of the Australian
aboriginal tribes which I have seen.
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