Volume 14 Australasia - dana ward's homepage

FAUNA OF AUSTEAIJA. 875the European, but, viewed as a whole, it presents less marked features than theorder of mammals. Doubtless Australia has its emus, its casowaries, and variousspecies of mcijalojjodius,which does not hatch its eggs, merely covering them withbrushwood; but most of the birds found on this continent belong also to theIndonesian and Asiatic zones, thanks to the faculty of flight by which they crossthe intervening marine spaces. Birds of graceful form and gorgeous plumageare scarcely less numerous than in New Guinea and the Moluccas ; those whosefood is nectar and honey are relatively the best represented, for Australiaabounds in flowering trees and shrubs. Nevertheless, whole groups, such asthe families of vultures, the pheasants and magpies, are absent from this regionof the globe.The crocodile is found only on the seaboard facing the Malay Archipelago, butthe venomous species of snakes are very numerous. Other zoological orders, suchas fishes, insects, molluscs, also present special types with a great diversity offorms, but already much modified in their general distribution since the introductionof corresponding European species. Even the forests and thickets, formerlyseldom enKvened bj- the songsters' notes, now constantly echo with the music ofthe new arrivals from the mother countiy. Indigenous plants and animals alikehave been thrust into the background by the intruding species, just as the Australianhimself retires before the strangers of white stock. Not only have theEnglish brought with them all the European domestic animals, but since 1846they have even imported the Asiatic camels with their Afghan and Baluchidrivers. Thanks to these human and animal immigrants, accustomed to cross vastdesert wastes, expeditions have been successfully undertaken, which but for themwould have been impossible.Inhabitants of Acstualia.The aboijiginal population before the establishment of the first British settlementshas been conjecturally estimated at from one hundred and fifty thousand totwo hundred thousand. But even were it three or four times more numerousAustralia would none the less have to be considered as at that time almost uninhabited,regard being had to its vast extent. All the tribal groups thinly scatteredover this boundless region everywhere presented great resemblance in type andspeech ; hence most anthropologists agree in looking on the natives as belongingto a common stock, constituting a well-marked independent branch of the humanfamily. Nevertheless, it seems probable that before the Eurojican immigrationpeoples of diverse origin, either driven before the storm or following long familiarmarine routes, had reached the Australian mainland and intermingled with theprimitive populations.During his exploring expeditions across the north-westernregions George Grey noticed in all the tribes the presence of individuals withrelatively light complexion, who seemed to w'ield a certain authority over theirfellow tribesmen. According to Grey these warriors represented an element ofIndonesian origin, and even their dogs, quite different from the Australian dingo,