The Delicate Little "Paddy Melon," A Small
Species Of Kangaroo, Turned His Gracefully-Formed Little Head, Beautiful As
A Fawn's,
And, startled at the strange figure in the verandah, stood
hesitatingly for a few seconds, and then, bending forward, bounded
Into the
scrub, the noise caused by the flapping of its tail being audible long
after the little animal itself was lost to sight. The white cockatoos,
alarmed by the outcry of the sentry - for, like the English rooks, they
always tell off some of their number to keep a look-out - who with
sulphur-coloured crest, erect and outstretched neck, kept up a constant cry
of warning, rose from the maize patch, the spotless white of their plumage
glancing in the sun, and forming a beautiful contrast to the pale
straw-colour of the under portion of their extended pinions. With
discordant screams they circle about, as if a little undetermined, and then
perch upon the topmost branches of the tallest trees, where they screech,
flap their wings, and engage in a series of either imaginary combats, or
affectionate caresses, until, the coast being clear, they are again enabled
to continue their repast.
A curious and indescribable wailing cry is heard in the air, singularly
depressing in its effect, and a string of some dozen black cockatoos flit
from tree to tree, the brilliant scarlet band on the tail of the male
flashing as he alternately expands and contracts it, to keep his balance
whilst extracting the sweets from the flowers of the 'Eucalypti'. Few
things present so great a contrast as the cries of these two birds - of
the same family, and so alike in everything but colour - and yet both are
disagreeable: that of the white variety from its piercing harshness, and
that of the black from an indefinable sensation of the approach of coming
evil it carries with it - at least, such is the effect it always has upon
me. On strolling to the paling and looking into the clearing - for
although my gun is in my hand, it is loaded with ball cartridge, and I do
not fire - the nimble little bandicoot scuttled away towards his hollow
log, looking so uncommonly like a well-fattened rat, that I mentally wonder
how I could ever have had the courage to eat one, and a flight of
rainbow-hued Blue Mountain parrots, who have held their ground to the last,
whirr up with a prodigious flapping of wings, and, alighting on a gum-tree,
can be seen hanging about the blossoms, head downwards, sucking out the
honey with their uncouth beaks and awkward little tongues, which seem but
badly adapted to such a delicate task. But I find I am digressing
terribly, and the gloomy winter days of England, which make the
recollection of a bright tropical morning so agreeable a task to
contemplate, must be my excuse.
After breakfast, I hurried down to the beach to see if Tom Frewin, the
skipper of the little cutter, 'Daylight', would be likely to keep his
promise, and have the vessel ready to start by noon.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 11 of 60
Words from 5239 to 5755
of 31542
