THE VANISHING EGG

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1935, Page 19 (Supplement)

THE VANISHING EGG

MYSTERY ON AUSTRALIAN RANCH.

HOW THE THIEF WAS CAUGHT.

Here is a little adventure from Australia, which happened at Mullaculla Station on the River Darling, where stiange things began to happen m the poultry run. Eggs which should have been in the nests were absent, so, _as nothing suggested robbery, two china eggs were put in the nesting-places as a quiet hint to the hens. But not only did the proper eggs continue absent; the china eggs disappeared! 't was difficult to imagine who or what the thief might be, for the ground Was

hard and without impression of footprints. In the dust, however, was a curious mark which it was thought might possibly have been made by a large snake. So watch was kept, and in due course there came waddling up what seemed a crocodile. A well-placed shot killed the robber, which proved to be a huge lizard.' Its guilt was manifest, for in its inside were the two china eggs, which it had gulped down in mistake for the genuine article. To round off the Australian chapter it must be added that white ants have invaded the Lord Mayor’s official parlour at Adelaide and, biting their way into a cabinet, have spoiled his lordship’s drinking-glasses by etching them all over with the astonishing acid which they secrete.