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           Andinsects!Grasshoppers,locusts,crickets,bees,fliesofallsizesandsorts,cicadas,gnats,dragonflies,giantmothsandsomanybutterflies!Thespidersweredreadful,hugehairythingswithalegspanofinches,ordeceptivelysmallanddeadlyblackthingslurkinginthelavatory;somelivedinvastwheelingwebsslungbetweentrees,somerockedinsidedensegossamercradleshookedamonggrassblades,othersdivedintolittleholesinthegroundcompletewithlidswhichshutafterthem.

           Predatorswerethere,too:wildpigsfrightenedofnothing,savageandflesh-eating,blackhairythingsthesizeoffullygrowncows;dingoes,thewildnativedogswhichslunkclosetothegroundandblendedintothegrass;crowsinhundredscarkingdesolatelyfromtheblastedwhiteskeletonsofdeadtrees;hawksandeagles,hoveringmotionlessontheaircurrents.

           Fromsomeofthesethesheepandcattlehadtobeprotected,especiallywhentheydroppedtheiryoung.Thekangaroosandrabbitsatethepreciousgrass;thepigsanddingoesatelambs,calvesandsickanimals;thecrowspeckedouteyes.TheClearyshadtolearntoshoot,thencarriedriflesastheyrode,sometimestoputasufferingbeastoutofitsmisery,sometimestofellaboaroradingo.

           This,thoughttheboysexultantly,waslife.NotoneofthemyearnedforNewZealand;whenthefliesclusteredlikesyrupinthecornersoftheireyes,uptheirnoses,intheirmouthsandears,theylearnedtheAustraliantrickandhungcorksbobbingfromtheendsofstringsallaroundthebrimsoftheirhats.