The Ferecity of Australian Alligators.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43352, 21 July 1908, Page 3

The Ferecity of Australian Alligators.

His Australia - any alligators ? Strictly speaking, the answer is “No;” and a writer in,the June issue of “ Life ” explains that the so-called alligators of Australia are really crocodiles. There are, it appears, two kinds—the estuary alligator, a fierce beast that attains the length of twenty feet, and frequents the mouths of northern rivers, and the fresh water alligator, a smaller variety, but still fierce enough to pull a bullock into the river and drown it. The writer, in the course of a very readable article, gives a most graphic account of how the alligator is trapped, and compares Australian with American methods. Of a dozen other special illustrated articles, the most valuable, not only on account of its literary style, but for its genuine historic interest, is Dr. Fitchett’s story of the first and only Australian revolution. This is one of a series of “ Strange Pages in Australasian History” that alone make “ Life ” worth buying every month, and it is to be hoped that the Commonwealth and New Zealand Education Departments will do something in the direction of making these chapters into a permanent history book. In a timely article, Kubelik, the world-famous violinist flyw touring Australasia, explains how his success has been achieved, arid incidentally discusses the question of what simplicity in music means. Percival Mackenzie, a versatile artist, gives readers of “ Life ” a lesson in the art of making smokepictures, and it appears from his description to be a very easy and charming method ot producing pretty little scenes. Mr, Mackenzie takes a dinner-plate and a candle, and twirling the former over the flame, secures the daintiest little landscape, that reproduces excellently. “Life” continues its policy of devoting a great part of its increased bulk to fiction, and prints in this issue a number of fine short stories, notably an illustrated yarn by Charles Nuttall that marks the artist’s first essay in fiction. There are so many good things in the departments of “ Life,” that it is difficult to do more than say that they keep a reader right abreast of all that is best in the varied phases of life—politics, literature, sport, travel, poetry, religion, and so forth. A new department may, however, be mentioned, as it offers to our readers e chance of contributing to “ Life.” The editor has opened what he terms a Clearing-House, and invites anything in the shape of correspondence, comment, criticism, or curiosity.. He asks readers anywhere in Australasia to send short, bright, interesting paragraphs about “things not generally known.” If any of our readers are amateur photographers, and secure pictures of natural curiosities —strange birds, beasts, or insects—they are invited to send them to “ Life,” and receive prompt payment far them at a fixed rate per photograph. This.department is one that adds value to an already indispensable Australasian magazine.