Transcription

                                                                           269
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
 

STRAYED AND WILD CATTLE AT SWAN RIVER SETTLEMENT FROM
NEW SOUTH WALES

 

At the formation of the Colony at Swan River In 1827 or 1828 the first settlers on proceeding about one hundred or one hundred & twenty miles from the Sea Coast into the interior found wild Cattle grazing in the bush. The Country at that distance is described as being better grazing Country than that nearer the Sea Coast.
Captain Hay who landed as a settler at the formation of th Colony at Swan River informed me, that he had seen these wild Cattle in the bush, and these were as the Colonists Concluded the progeny of strayed and wild Cattle belonging to the settlers of New South Wales.
The first account of strayed Cattle in this Colony
was in 1789 or 1790, & Some years afterwards the discovery of  a Wild herd happened at what has since been named the Cow Pastures, near
Camden in the County of Camden from the wild
Cattle having been found there.
The greatest width of this island is two thousand
five hundred miles and this is found to be between the Settlements at Sydney and Swan River, Consequently herds of wild Cattle must have gone over, and may be at present grazing
on the interveening [intervening]  Country -
 

AUSTRALIAN BUSTARD (it is Australis)

This magnificent Bird and only one of the genus at present known to exist in  New South Wales
is a very widely & generally distributed species; it is erroneously called by the colonists the wild Turkey.  In size it exceeds the European Bustard {otis tarda}, and stands when erect about three feet in height, it weighs from 15 to twenty pounds, its flesh is extremely delicate & well flavoured - The Bustard inhabits the extensive grassy plains & open waste lands of the interior, generally in pairs, they are shy & difficult to approach by a person on feet but may easily be shot from a horse or following in the wake of Cattle - Its plumage is by no means brilliant, the colours being of an olive brown, black & white, the upper part streaked irregularly with numerous narrow lines of black, the lower parts white, it is provided with a pouch to hold water.  It seldom flies, it walks slowly with its head erect - The male is larger that the female - Their food consists of seeds vegetables & insects -
 

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