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           However,todrovecattlewasnotrequiredofher;Paddyattendedtothathimself.

           Butthedogsneverceasedtofascinateher;theirintelligencewasphenomenal.MostoftheDroghedadogswerekelpies,coatedinrichbrownishtanwithcreamypaws,chestsandeyebrows,buttherewereQueenslandbluestoo,larger,withblue-greycoatsdappledinblack,andallvarietiesofcrossbredsbetweenkelpieandblue.Thebitchescameinheat,werescientificallymated,increasedandwhelped;afterweaningandgrowing,theirpupsweretriedoutinthepaddocks,andifgoodwerekeptorsold,ifnogoodshot.

           Whistlingherdogstoheel,Meggieshutthegateonthemobandturnedthechestnutmaretowardhome.Nearbywasabigstandoftrees,stringybarkandiron-barkandblackbox,anoccasionalwilgaonitsoutskirts.Sherodeintoitsshadethankfully,andhavingnowtheleisuretolookaround,lethereyesroamindelight.Thegumswerefullofbudgies,skawkingandwhistlingtheirparodiesofsongbirds;fincheswheeledfrombranchtobranch;twosulphur-crestedcockatoossatwiththeirheadstoonesidewatchingherprogresswithtwinklingeyes;willy-wagtailsfossickedinthedirtforants,theirabsurdrumpsbobbing;crowscarkedeternallyandmournfully.Theirswasthemostobnoxiousnoiseinthewholebushsongrepertoire,sodevoidofjoy,desolateandsomehowsoul-chilling,speakingofrottingflesh,ofcarrionandblowflies.Tothinkofacrowsinginglikeabellbirdwasimpossible;cryandfunctionfittedperfectly.