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Overview
Bootoolgah the crane discovers smoke by rubbing wood. His wife Goonur, the kangaroo rat, suggests splitting a stick and packing it with grass and bark to catch a spark. They cook fish secretly in scrub, hiding their firesticks in seed openings and carrying one in a comebee.
An owl and parrot observe them, prompting a gathering designed to distract the pair. Beeargah the hawk feigns illness and waits beside them. The Bralgahs’ comic dancing makes Goonur forget the carrier. Beeargah cuts it open, steals the firestick and lights grass while fleeing. Bootoolgah abandons pursuit when fire has spread throughout the assembled groups.
Origins & earliest records
K. Langloh Parker, Australian Legendary Tales (London: David Nutt, 1896), Bootoolgah the Crane and Goonur the Kangaroo Rat, the Fire Makers, pp. 24–29.
Records & interpretation
Complete selected English retelling inspected; Parker’s preface and 1896 title page checked.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Australian Legendary Tales: Bootoolgah the Crane and Goonur the Kangaroo Rat, the Fire Makers, pp. 24–29
Selected complete tale, not the whole collection, inspected.
Family & connections
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References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary collected textParker 1896: Bootoolgah the Crane and Goonur the Kangaroo Rat, the Fire MakersResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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