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NATURAL HISTORY.CLIMATE.

ABORIGINES.
NATURAL HISTORY.
North-Western Australia seems to be peculiarly prolific in birds, reptiles, and insects, who dwell here nearly unmolested, mutually preying upon each other, and thus, by a wise provision, setting the necessary check to their own multiplication.
DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS.
Of quadrupeds there are but few species, and of these the individuals, considered in proportion to the surface they roam over, are rare.

The only species I observed during a residence of five months were four of kangaroos, namely the large Macropus giganteus ?
of Shaw, two smaller kinds, one of which is the Petrogale brachyotis of Gould, and a kangaroo rat, which last is always seen amongst the rocks on the sea coast.

One species of opossum, a flying squirrel (Petaurista) two kinds of dog, of which one is new, rats, and a fieldmouse.