Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/323

 " �o'rs o ugrt. 261 t.h_n__n pass through the puddles of water in its ism0. way . Ans. s. The egret, that we had seen last voyage in the Alligator River, was also seen here; and white cockatoos were i large flights, but hawks were unusually rare. The bird, called by the colonigts at Port Jackson, the "native compa- nion," (ard anon, Linn.) was seen where the natives were. As we 'returned, several all1. gators swam past the boat; but they were neither so large nor so humerus as those of the Alli- gator Rivers; the largest not being more than twelve or thirteen feet long. Upon seeing these monsters, we congratulated ourselves on our escape, for had we known of their existence in this river. before we passed the night on its bank, the danger ot' being surprised by the natives, and the stings of the mosquitoes, would have dwindled into insignificance, in comparison with the presence. of such voracious animals. On our return down the river, a snake was seen about five feet long, of a light red colour, but it escaped by gliding into the long matted grass. On the 7th we left the river, and proceeded to the westward; round Point Hawkesbury, the land falls back, extending first in a south-west, and then in a west.north-west direction, until it   Goodie
 * H,twrswoH, vol. iii. p. 125.

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