The weight of this animal was one hundred and sixty pounds. On the inner side of each knee-joint I observed a collection of several hundreds of worms,[112] long, thin, and of a white colour, inclosed in a cyst of cellular membrane, through which they could be seen. It was situated external to the knee-joint. I dissected a cyst as perfectly as possible, and placed them in spirits; at the same time regretting that I had no means of preserving the joint with the cyst attached entire. Similar worms are said to exist in the stomach and intestines of the animal. These cysts, I understand, are not uncommon; some persons have asserted that they have never killed a kangaroo without them, whilst others declare they are more common in males than in females,[113] and are found in two kangaroos out of three.
When examining the body of the kangaroo last killed, the attack of mosquitoes, horse-flies, and others, nearly obliged us to abandon our game, for portions of the animal were almost immediately covered with white maggots, (the “blow flies” in this country are viviparous,)[114] and on the conclusion of my investigations, we were glad to take our departure, and leave the carcase to myriads of tormenting insects that were fast increasing from all directions. I observed the molar teeth of the two female kangaroos had a layer of metallic substance incrusting them, and could readily be knocked off; it resembles the “golden teeth” often observed in sheep and other herbaceous animals.[115]
The aborigines have a custom of preserving human fat. I observed it among the Yas, Murrumbidgee, and other tribes. They show it with reluctance to Europeans. I could not ascertain the motive with certainty. Some said it was as a charm—others that it was used in the cure of diseases: that it is applied to the latter purpose I believe, from having seen it smeared over or near the place at which a patient complained of pain, or had received injury. The fat is not taken from particular individuals, that from any human body being considered equally efficacious. The aborigines, when young, have the foot arched, becoming flattened as they advance in years;[116] and the children, as among all savage, and perhaps even civilized, races, when able to provide for themselves, are careless of parental regard or protection.
It is surprising with what facility the natives ascend, in pursuit of game, trees of large circumference, without a branch to aid them except near the summit, merely by making small notches with their tomahawks upon the trunk, in which the feet are placed. I even saw a female ascend a lofty tree for the purpose of taking a nest of the “Juliong,” or Rose Hill parrot, from the hollow branch or “spout” of the tree: she brought down in safety five full-fledged young ones. The natives eat them, as they do all living things. The eggs of this species of parrot are of a light bluish colour, with small, pale, brown spots. The young of all the parrot tribe were now abundant. One evening a sound met my ears, resembling the harmonious voices of swine at a distance; but it appeared the noise proceeded from a batch of young “Wagaras,” or cockatoos, in an adjoining tree, which were either disturbed by flying squirrels and opossums,[117] or, as a black “feller” observed, “’pose got no supper, merry hungry.”
The Emu, or New Holland cassowary, (Casuarius Novæ Hollandiæ, Lath.) were abundant about this part of the colony, more particularly at a place not far distant, called “Naganbilly.” It is, however, to be regretted, that the birds are becoming rarer as settlements advance, as they could be readily domesticated. The same remark applies also to the kangaroo and other animals, against whom a war of extermination seems to have been declared. The emu is principally valued for its oil. The natives in this part of the colony call them “Gorin,” and “Berebine.” The skin of a full-grown bird produces six or seven quarts of oil, clear, and of a beautiful bright yellow colour: the method of extracting or “trying” the oil, is to pluck the feathers, cut the skin into pieces, and boil it; but the aborigines prefer the flesh with the skin upon it, regarding it, as the Esquimaux do the flesh of whales and seals, as a highly luscious treat. The oil is excellent for burning; it produces no disagreeable smell: it is also considered a good liniment for sprains or bruises in horses and cattle, either alone, or when stronger stimulating properties are required, mixed with turpentine.
The emu crops herbage like the cow or horse, and possesses great keenness of vision. The flesh is eaten by Europeans, and preferred by some to the kangaroo: the rump part is considered as delicate as fowl; the legs coarse like beef, but still tender: the fibula bone of the leg is used as an ornament by the natives. The best time to hunt these birds is at an early hour in the morning. They are swift of foot; but when once the dogs get up to them, they are speedily overthrown and dispatched. The formation of their nest is simple: they usually select a situation, in a scrub, upon the hills, where a space is scraped similar to those formed by brooding hens; sticks and leaves, which alone form the nest, are left round the cleared place: here the eggs are deposited without regard to regularity, the number varying from nine to thirteen; and it is a curious circumstance, that there is always an odd number; some nests having been discovered with nine, others with eleven, and others again with thirteen. It is now ascertained beyond doubt that the eggs are hatched by incubation. They are of large size, and of a beautiful bluish green colour.
Among other extraordinary animals furnished to the naturalists in this interesting country, is the Echidna, or “native porcupine,” the Nickobejan and Jannocumbine of the natives. It inhabits mountain ranges, burrowing with extraordinary facility; and at this season (December) produces its young. It forms a link between Hystrix and Myrmecophaga, differing but little in external characters from the genera Manis and Myrmecophaga; a new genus has been therefore formed for it—Echidna, in the order Edentata, tribe Monotrema. It was named Myrmecophaga aculeata, by Shaw; at the same time that he considered the external character sufficiently distinct to place it in a new genus. He thus correctly describes the animal.
“The whole upper parts of the body and tail are thickly coated with strong and sharp spines. The snout is long and tubular, having only a small rictus, or opening, at the tip, from whence is protruded a long, lumbriciform tongue, as in other ant-eaters. The nostrils are small, and seated at the extremity of the snout: the eyes are small and black, with a pale blue iris. It burrows with great strength and celerity under ground when disturbed; it will even burrow under a pretty strong pavement, removing the stones with its claws, or under the bottom of a wall. During these exertions, its body is stretched or lengthened to an uncommon degree, and appears very different from the short or plump aspect which it bears in its undisturbed state.”
At Goulburn Plains, the natives brought me a young living specimen of this animal, which they had just caught upon the ranges: they called it “Jannocumbine,” and fed it upon ants and ants’ eggs. It was often taken to an ant-hill, to provide itself with food: from being so young, it had an unsteady walk, and was covered with short sharp spines, projecting above the fur. On expressing a fear to the natives of not being able to keep it alive, they replied that “it would not now die, as it had prickles on:” meaning, I suppose, that it could feed and provide for itself, not requiring the fostering care of its parents. On asking whether it was a male or female, they examined the hind feet for the spurs, and, seeing them, declared it to be a male. It sleeps during the day, running about and feeding at night. Its movements are tardy, the principal exertions being made when burrowing. When touched upon the under surface, or uncovered parts of its body, or when attacked by dogs, it rolls, like the hedge-hog, into a spherical form, the prickly coat forming a good defence against the canine race, who have a decided aversion to have their noses pricked. When attacked, it has been known to burrow to a great depth in a surprising short period of time. I do not think that either this animal, from its coat not bearing caresses, or the large lizard, called Guana, from its repulsive form, will ever be admitted into the nursery of favourite animals by the ladies of the colony.
The Echidna is eaten by the natives, who declare it to be “cobbong budgeree” (very good,) “and, like pig, very fat.” Europeans who have eaten of them, confirm this opinion, and observe that they taste similar to a sucking pig. This animal, when scratching, or rather cleaning itself, uses only the hind claws, lying in different positions, so as to enable it to reach the part of the body to be operated upon. The animal is pentadactyle, the two first claws of the hind feet being long, the first the longest; that of the great toe the shortest: they seem to have the power of erecting their spines, and, rolling themselves into a spherical form, making an excellent defence against many of their enemies.