DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-06-12
IN BUSH AND FERN.
'oho Oh Natures Marked and Peculiar Con-
tradictions in Australia.

" -'a'ureb marked and Peculiar Con-
tradictlons in Australia.
III Is strange thateven some Australian
WRITER'S unlntentionally perpetuate the
general European misapprehension as to
their country lin its fauna and for1D al
being land of universal contradict ms,
Arue, there are many such, but when
we ma even an accomplished writer
IKE Mr Marcus Clarke speaking of "our
trees without shade, our flowers without
perfume, we wonder if he and others
VINO express themselves similarly have
really observed more than the mere gen
eral aspect of a new and strange land
For, as matter of fact, there are nc
forests in the world whore so multiform
and continuous fragrance is perceptiblc
as in the bush" and fern" of Austria.
la; the flowers and flourishing shrubs
are often as eXquisitely scented as they
are brilliantly colored, and the acacia,
the palm, the fern-tree and many others,
afford grateful and delightful shade
from the scorching rays of the summer
sun. Moreover, the birds are far from
being universally songless. The mag
pie, or singing crow" has as full and
sweet note as our black bird, as well as
much more varied song; the lyre-bird
has as wonderful replicating powers as
the mOcking-bird of America, and a
much sweeter and finer music of its own:
and the gorgeously colored robins
have notes as thrillingly sweet
as any consort of Jenny Wren" in En-,
gland. But while it is true that there
are fewer song birds in Australia than
in any other country, it must also be
borne in mind that some of these, like
the lyre-bird and the bell-bird, are shy
of man and his haunts, and are thus
only occasionally heard, though in real
forest solitudes their voices, especially
in the morning, are frequent. The
writer remembers his aStOnishment
when he first heard magpie singing
from fragrant wattle-trce in full gold
en- bloom-a burst of native melody 50
unlike any thing he had been led to ex-
pect from this ''songless" land.
But of course, speaking generally the
contradictions of Australia are very
marked and peculiar, In the first place,
the sun, which to us has southerly
position in the heavens, and when in
the meridian reflects our shadows to the
north, is northerly to the colonists, and
i'll consequence at noon reflects their
shadows to the south. With them the
winds are the reverse of what we cxpc-
renCe. nD ouuuu INV, vlie'U ~ i4s0f'
brings cold; the north, that which
brings heat; the west-at least in
Queensland, New South Wales, Vic
toria and South Australia - is
not regarded as healthy in the sum,
mer and autumn, while in the same
colonies the east wind is pleasant and
exhilarating. Then, of course, as is
well known, the seasons are opposite OF
what they are with us--in July the win
ter cold reaches its maximum; Septem'
Der is the joyous spring month; Easter
occurs in the middle Of autumn; and
Christmas day or New Years day may
be reckoned as midsummer. From the
gum-trees the bark peels, and on theil
branches the leaves arc horizontal in
stead of vertical; there is native cherry
where the stone is found outside the
fruit: the bees are said to be without
sting; the swans are black; there are
birds that initiate the sounds of sutfoca
ton and demoniac laughter, the swisf
Of a stock whip, distant church bells
the cuckoo calls his cry by night, anc
the hoot of the owl is heard by day
there are huge lizards several feet II
length, and great hairy spiders; an ami
mal that is part fowl and part beaver;
bird that is apparently clothed with lon&
hair and is wingless, walking aboutlikt
an armless Fueg,an; there are animals
that stand or leap on two legs, and cal
put their young within them again a
will; there are dogs that never bark
and squirrels that apparently fy'-Wll
1:,.. Sl,o,,> ~ Uorpnr'C MaraZinp.