There goes one;" and he pointed to where a dark, swift-winged bird was hovering about a tree evidently in quest of moths.
"Why it flies like the goat-sucker does at home," said Nic, pausing to watch the bird.
"To be sure it does.

It is a relative, only bigger.

You'll find plenty of birds that bear a resemblance to our own." "And animals ?" "No.

Birds are most plentiful, and in great variety; quadrupeds are scarce, and very peculiar.

This, you know, is the land of the kangaroo, and we have varieties of that curious beast, from tiny ones we call rats, right up to the giants which stand up taller than the biggest man." The sun had set, the great stars were shining out through the clear air, and night was coming on fast, with the cries of the birds sounding strange and even awful in that loneliness.
"Tired out, Nic ?" said his father; and the boy started and stared.
"Why, you were asleep, Nic.