Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate (Vic. : 1845 - 1847), Wednesday 2 July 1845, page 2


WONDERFUL DISCOVERY OF A NEW ANIMAL—In our last number we gave an account of the finding of a fragment of the knee joint of some gigantic animal, which, from there being no such animal hitherto known to exist in Australia, we supposed to be the fossil remains of some early period. Subsequent information, however, coupled with the fact that the bone was in good preparation, and had altogether a "recent" ap-pearance, has induced us to alter our opinion. On the bone being shown to an in-telligent black, he at once recognised it as belonging to the "Bunyip," which he declared he had seen. On being requested to make a drawing of it, he did so without hesitation. The bone and the picture were then shown separately to different blacks who had no opportunity of communi-cating with each other; and they one and all recognized the bone and pic-ture as belonging to the "Bunyip," repeating the name without variation. One declared he knew where

the whole of the bones of one animal were to be found; another stated his mother was killed by one of them, at the Barwon Lakes, within a few miles of Geelong, and that another woman was killed on the very spot where the punt crosses the Barwon at South Geelong. The most direct evidence of all was that of Mumbowran, who showed several deep wounds on his breast made by the claws of the animal. Another statement was made, that a mare, the property of Mr Furlong, was, about six years ago, seized by one of these animals on the bank of the Little River, and only escaped with a broken leg. They say that the reason why no white man has ever yet seen it, is because it is am-phibious, and does not come on land except on extremely hot days when it basks on the bank ; but on the slightest noise or whisper they roll gently over into the water, scarcely creating a ripple. We have adduced these authorities before giving a description of the animal, lest, from its strange, gro-tesque, and nondescript character, the reader should have at once set the whole down as fiction. The Bunyip, then, is represented as uniting the characteristics of a bird and of an alligator. It has a head

resembling an emu with a long bill, at the extremity of which is a trans-verse projection on each side, with serrated edges like the bone of the stingray. Its body and legs partake of the nature of the alligator. The hind legs are remarkably thick and strong, and the fore legs are much longer, but still of great strength. The extremities are furnished with long claws, but the blacks say its usual method of killing its prey is by hugging it to death. When in the water it swims like a frog, and when on shore it walks on its hind legs with its head erect, in which position it measures twelve or thir-teen feet in height. Its breast is said to be covered with different coloured feathers ; but the proba-bility is that the blacks have not had a sufficiently near view to ascertain whether its appearance might not arise from hair or scales. They de-scribe it as laying eggs of double the size of the emu's egg, of pale blue colour ; these eggs they frequently meet with, but as they are "no good for eating," the black boys set them up for a mark, and throw stones at them.

We intend in a few days, to give a lithographic fac-simile of the draw-ing made by the Black, so that our bush readers may be enabled to ques-tion the blacks in their own neigh-bourhood, and should any new facts be elicited, we shall take it as a favour in any one who may transmit an ac-count of them to us for publication. THE CHACE.—Although we do not give regular reports of the va-rious "meets" of the Corio Hounds, it is not from want of interest in the sport, nor yet from want of runs and incidents worth chronicling. The lhst two days were particularly satisfactory ;—that at Ormond's on the River Leigh, was one of the most decisive affairs that has occurred, in this part of the colony at least,—two foxes having been killed in succession after sharp runs, and the whole field home to breakfast before eleven o'clock ! On Monday last, at the Breakwater, a still more stirring suc-cession of sport was experienced ; for after speedily obtaining a strong scent, and a speedy run, the hounds ran into one of the largest dogs that has ever yet been sacrificed to Diana ; from the thickness of the fog which hung upon the trees, however, a number of the field got thrown out ; but such mishaps only act as an "acid in the bowl." After this feat, the hounds fell upon the scent of another dog, which after a run of four miles was crossed by that of a kangaroo, to which the dogs gave the

preference, and away they went on the third chase as if the first two had only whetted their appetites ; here several of the field who had been thrown out in the first run, joined in the chase, and their horses being comparatively fresh, had an oppor-tunity of making ample amends for their first disappointment ; but even for them the chase became a trying one, for it was not until twenty-three miles were passed that the kangaroo (a fine doe) was killed. We would not be doing justice, if we did not state that the hero of the day was Mr R. N. Clark, who notwithstanding the thick mist and the heavy tim-bered country, (interspersed with honeysuckle scrub, and "punch-bowl water-holes,") kept close to the hounds till the third chase was well advanced, when "blood and corn" were obliged to give way under the severity of the pace. A few such day must amply compensate for any disappointment when good luck hap-pens not to be in the ascendant. The Aphrasia has been running in the Geelong and Melbourne trade, almost without intermission for the last three years ; and it is therefore time that she should undergo a course of thorough repair. This the proprie-tors have resolved upon doing ; this day's trip to Melbourne being the last that she will make for the next five or six weeks, after which she will re-commence running "like a giant re-freshed with wine !"