Dot and the Kangaroo

the aromatic bush filled the air, and every living creature made what noise it could, to show its joy in being happy and free in the beautiful Bush. Rich and gurgling came the note of the magpies,

cry of the peeweet; and gayer and more lively than all others

merrier sound. "Click-i-ti-clack, click-i-ti-clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, click-i-ti-clack," he rattled away as fast as he could,

branch, spreading his big tail like a fan, and clattering gai

lking of the weather, so as to conceal his astoni

ot in a few days, which will be very welcome to Kangaroos. I heard about you losing your Joey-my cousin told me. I was very sorry; so sad. Ah! well, such things will happen in the bush to an

little nearer to the Kangaroo

hem, although my cousin is intimate with the whole race. Take my word for it, they're most uncertain friends. Two Kookooburras were shot last

our Bush," said the Kangaroo; "one

d so this is really the lost little Human there has been such a fuss about!" added he

ay," said the Kangaroo joyfully, and Dot came a li

"there's nothing happens that he doesn

said the Kangaroo, "and I got int

"If you could fly, you'd be there almost directly!" Then the bird gave a long description of the way th

ld hear him singing this song, which s

i, click-

ack! clac

in such weat

blue, and a

, winter, wi

flight, chat

i, click-

that I hav

clack! cl

be happy, just

a motto, thi

, winter, wi

a toad, and

i, click-

ey they had made to find the Platypus, for there were the same beautiful growths of fern and shrubs. There were also great trailing creepers which hung down like ropes from the tops of the tall trees they had climbed.

ng! a bird

ore happ

arth, and see

swing

high upw

t the leav

st to my sw

ome from

ng! a bird

ore happ

squatting below, came to the conclusion that there was something very sweet ab

lly shiny plumage, flew to the tree from which Dot's creeper swing hung. Dot was so struck by the bird's beautiful

pretty bird

, so I have come to invite you to one of our assemblies which will take place shortly. Friend Kangaroo, we know, is o

roo; "I have not been to any of your parties for a long t

he middle of a meeting at the time the Wallaby brought the news, and we were so sad that we nearly broke up our assembly. But it would have been a pity to do so, really, as the young birds enjoy themselves

without a guide. It was carefully concealed in the most densely grown scrub. As they were pushing their way through a thicket of shrubs, before reaching the open space where the Satin Birds' bower was built, they beard an increasin

d the Satin Bird, "there is plenty of con

ing, or are they all talking?"

in Bird, "it would be impossible against the music

rickets to be quiet," said Dot, "no

Satin Bird. "No one would care to talk. You understand, i

io reached the place whe

oring of twigs, and upon that they had erected a bower about three feet high, also constructed

ast," said the Satin Bird with an air of great sa

re such a collection of ornaments for their pleasure hall. Several young bower birds came and joined in the chat, and Dot was surprised to see how different their plumage was from the sat

hich had been stuck here and there amongst the twigs. Others had collected the delicate shells of land snails, and put them round about

from a camp a mile away," said a bird,

" said another, pointing to the

bright piece of tin from a milk-can that was insert

are not to be compared with that beautiful object I found to-day

ruction was a strip of red flannel from an old shirt, a bedraggled red rag t

pieces of glass. She saw the old Satin Bird look at this ring longingly, so she pulled it off, and begged that it might be

!" exclaimed another. "Just the finish that our bower required," was a general remark, and a great many kept exclaiming, "So tasteful!" "So sweet!" "How elegant!" "Exquisite!" "It's a love!" "It's a dear!" and so on. A great deal more w

ly chasing each other. Then they would assemble in groups, and hop up and down, and dance to one another in what Dot thought a rather awkward fashion; but she was thinking of th

ittle hens, in a circle round them, watched their hops and steps with absorbed interest. Immensely pleased with himself, the young dancer would fluff out his feathers, so as to look as big as possible, and after strutting about, would suddenly shoot out a leg and a wing, first on one

he conversation of some of the old birds perched near her. A little party of

erly hen; and all her companions rustled their feathers, closed their beaks tightly, and nodded their heads

ower birds of this day can't be said to have any

ove them, and interrupted pertly, "Dear me, can't you good birds find anything more interesting to talk about than ancient history?" At this

l day but preen their feathers. Look at the over-studied arrangements of their wing flights, and the affected exac

ds take no pride in their feathers whatever, but devote all their time to studying the habits of out-of-the-way insects." A chorus of disapp

bout insects, when we live on berr

ts gives one the cr

laying at the Bower and preening their feathers," said an affectio

had first objected to untidy and studious young hens. "For my part, I never al

thers of the bower birds were perched. They were grave old fellows, arrayed in their

nother. "Oh! until these young fools have finished amusing themselves," answered its friend. The only satin birds who seemed to Dot to be interested in one another, were some engaged in discussing the scarcity of berries and the wrongs don

ho asked her if she cared to stay longer. The little girl said she had se

el tired; and, somehow, they seem to remind one of every

ng a little in her speech, for she

ere is always a deal of noise, so I s

t the bower place without any of the birds noticing their departure, for they

d here they met an Emu. As both Dot and the Kangaroo were

ow," replied the Emu; "

fe to drink to-night;" enqu

strained feeling between the White Humans and ourselves just now. In consequence, we have to resort to a li

for you?" asked the Kang

at camping grounds. Several have died. We were quite surprised, for hitherto there has been no better cure for Emu indigestion than wire nails, hoop

"that Emus were protected by the G

huge bird, "because we form

e Kangaroo, "and we

ve, when we add a charm to the scenery; and, moreover, each of our eggs will make a pound cake. But the time will come, friend, when there

the Kangaroo, "they

m, and we've learnt some capital sheep games from those dogs Humans drive them with. It's really exciting to driv

ep!" said Dot, "t

s one so? When one gets into a big flock, one has to dance, one can't help oneself. We had a great dance in

y kill you, if you

But this evening I will show you a new plan by which to learn if Humans are camped

until the Emu requested them to wait for a few minutes, wh

looked so clear and safe. "From his point of high ground," said the bird, "you

mitted a strange rattling cry. After disappearing from sight for a

mu, nodding at the dis

y brown grass of the plain. Soon she was quite sure that the little cloud was advancing towards her side of the plain, and in the direction of the tank.

of all that dust?

swered with a

heep?" asked Dot and the Kangaroo, now

nd will go to it without driving. Then we shall watch, and if they quietly drink and scatter, it will be safe for us, but if they see anything unusu

a long time," said the Kangaroo, full of admiration

ent when it came to the ground again. "Dear me!" it exclaimed, "the sight of those sheep is begi

the water, and with contented bleatings were slowly moving with a rippling effect across the dusty plain. The mob of Emu s

'm stationed here," whispered the bird, "to give a warning in case there is any

the opposite side of the sheet of water, there was no sheltering

eep were descending the deep slope of the tank, a Plover rose from amongst the bushes with a shrill cr

" cried the Plover from the bushes, screaming as they rose and flew away; and suddenly the flock of sheep broke and hurried back to the open plain. At the same instant Dot could hear the sharp barking of a sheep-dog, a noise that pr

the pouch, across the plain, and could see the mob of E

the grass will be wet enough to cool one's mouth. That pretty trick of ours was such a success that it is almost worth one's while to lose one's drink in proving it." Turning to Do

leaving Dot and the Kangaroo to pass an