36 The Xaiinnal Park, Wihoii's Pmuwvfniv . f 



Vict. Nat. 

 Vol. XXXIV. 



THE NATIONAL PARK, WILSON'S PROMONTORY. 

 Satisfactory progress continues to hv made in the National 

 Park at Wilson's Promontory in opening up, by bridle tracks, 

 some o{ the more inaccessible gullies and beauty spots and 

 improving the tracks already established. The erection of 

 guide f)oarcIs in i)r(imiiient position along the various tracks 

 has bft'n much apj^U'ciated by visitors, who now ha\-e little 

 dithculty in linding their way to the various points of interest. 



The want of funds has unfortunately prevented the com- 

 mittee of management putting in hand several improvements 

 of special importance to the general public. These include the 

 erection of an acconnnodation house for tourists, which it is 

 proposed to establish in the vicinity of the Darby River ; (he 

 erection of a bridge over tlu' river suitable for \ehicular trafitic ; 

 and a large enclosure near the main (iitrance. where re])re- 

 senLatives of the various kinds of nati\e animals established 

 in the Park may l)e seen in their natural stale. 



The number of native animals and birds introducid is now 

 i()2. These include Kangaroos (tluee s])eeies). Wallabies (four 

 sjjecies), W(.)mbats (two species). Opossums (three species), 

 Echidna, Emus, Lyre-birds, Mallee-hens, Satin Bower-birds, 

 and Tortoises, none of which, with the exr.t'])ti()n of the Echidna, 

 were })reviously represented. With the arldition of the common 

 Black-tailed Wallaby, which was previously well estai)lished, 

 there are now five species of Wallabies in the J'ark. 



The Red and Orey Kangaroos have increased, while two 

 pairs of Emus, whicli have long made the Darby their home, 

 have reared twehc young ones during the last two years. It 

 is hoped that the Platypus will be introduced during the year, 

 and an endeavour is being made to obtain some Rock Wallabies, 

 whicli ari" becoming very scarce. 



Owing to the protection afforded them, tlu* Native Bears 

 have increased so largely in certain favoured localities that it 

 has been found necessary to thin them out. An extensive 

 tract of forest at Oberon Bay. consisting chiefly of Swani]) 

 Gums, Eucalyptus ovata, has been to a large extent destroyed 

 by them, necessitating their immigration to other parts. With 

 the object of rei)lacing these trees, seeds of Eucalyptus Gunuii. 

 Eucalyptus viiinnalis. and Eucalyptus chuiocaly.x are being sown. 



Portion of the sand-dunes on the north-west corner of the 

 Park, together wifh a rather serious sand-blow, were planted 

 with marram gra>s nearly two years ago. and the results have 

 been so satisfactory that it has been decided to continue the 

 planting each year. 



Fortunately, there is now littli' chance of rabbits obtaining 

 a footing on tlie Promontory, the only serious pest being the 

 fox, which, however, is beiirg kei)t well in cheek by >ystematic 

 poisoning.- -J. A. Kershaw. 



