Here in Australia we have the satisfaction of knowing that when we say water
rat we mean water rat. Kenneth Grahame fans who experience a gush of
nostalgic pleasure at seeing our chap hopping among the weeping willow roots
by LBG, should remember that 'Ratty' was not a rat but a vole. Moreover the
original wind-penetrated willows were probably not weeping willows but the
white willow of Europe, one variety of which became valued under the name
'cricket-bat willow'.
After introduction to Europe weeping willows were cloned from cuttings.
There is a story that in the 1820s an early NSW settler took cuttings from
weeping willows growing beside Napoleon's grave at Saint Helena and these
gave rise to the willows along the Molonglo, long before Canberra was
thought of. (My authority here is a little volume "Plant Immigrants and
Stowaways" by Alexander McTaggart, 1945). More recently male and female
willows of various species were introduced and apparently they have
hybridised like mad.
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Compston
Sent: Saturday, 2 January 2010 1:09 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: water rats
Anyone wanting to know more about the water rat seen at Norgrove Park
should go to Google water rats. Pass by all the references to the TV
series of that name till you come to
Australian Water Rats! Tropical Rain Forest, North Queensland.
Good information there. We also have seen the one at Norgrove Park.
It appeared to be hunting in the reeds beside the bridge nearest to
Dawes Street--Printers Way corner. Also some time ago, we saw one
beside the bridge at Jerrabomberra Wetlands
Elizabeth
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