5 MARCH 1927, Page 13

An Australian mining prospector, now in this country, has some

wonderful tales to tell of the acuteness of the senses of the native races. It was noted in the War that an English country labourer could detect an aeroplane many miles further off than the townsman or clerk ; but he is myopic compared with the Australian natives. There is no question that they can see the stars quite distinctly in clear daylight, and guide their long migrations by their aid. Good sight is a marked quality in the white population of Australia, but the blacks, living always on those immense plains in that clear air are, as eagles, though in physique they are not an excep- tionally well.developed race. They cannot, for example, compare with the Zulu or Maori in build. The particular tribe in question dwell towards the north of that marvellous country above the Horse Shoe bill of iron in Western Australia, a country that some day will be one of the richest in the world, though then it may be hardly a native will be left to mark the change. The tribes diminish steadily, as in Canada.