oo i\oies. Ivol. XXXIV. 



belief that the Austin origin is true, for he remcmlicrs that 

 the wave of rabliits which spread over the Western Dishict in 

 the early seventies seemed to come from the direction of 

 Winchelsea. This is to a certain extent confirmed by a para- 

 graph which appeared in the Richmond A ustralian of 31st 

 December, 1850, and is quoted by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard in a 

 paper, " Gleanings from the Richmond Australian, 1850-61," 

 read before the Historical Society of Victoria in June, IQ12. 

 It reads as follows : — " The Lightning has brought an excellent 

 addition to the live stock of the colony — viz., 66 partridges, 

 4 hares, and 24 wild rabbits. They are for Mr. Thomas Austin, 

 of Barwon Park." At the time the paper was read a gentle- 

 man in the room confirmed the statement by saying that he 

 was present when the rabbits were liberated. 



The Melbourne Zoological Gardens. — A number of 

 recent additions to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens are 

 figured in the Australasian of 7th July ; they include speci- 

 mens of the Livingstone Eland from East Africa, the Duiker 

 (deer family) from South Africa, White -fronted Capuchin 

 (monkey) from South America, Kolbe Vultures (Africa), Coyote 

 (North America), European Wolf, and a pair of young Camels 

 from Mildura. In a recent note the director, Mr. W. H. D. 

 Le Soucf, C.M.Z.S., says : — " Several Tiger Cats have been 

 obtained from Tasmania lately. These animals are now very 

 scarce in Victoria ; they seem to have decreased in numbers 

 like the Native Cats, but it is difficult to assign a cause. A 

 Tasmanian Devil is also on \new that has three young ones in 

 her shallow pouch. The little ones can he seen when the mother 

 is lying on her side, as they are not fully enclosed hke the young 

 in the pouch of the Kangaroo. The newly-arrived pair of Wapiti 

 Deer, from America, are growing fast. It is many years since 

 these animals have been exhibited in Victoria. The Elephant 

 house is being improved, and visitors will soon be able to see 

 this popular animal witliout any intervening fence, as a ditch 

 is being made in its place. Two Canadian Lynxes have also 

 been added. Australia is fortunate in not having such animals 

 wild, for they are even more destructive to game than domestic 

 cats gone wild, and that is saying a good deal. The collection 

 of Australian parrots has received several notable additions, 

 and the flight aviary is well filled with honey-eaters, especially 

 the Lunulated. These birds bred last year, as well as the White- 

 plumed." 



" Made in Germany." — This legend was found branded on 

 the stock of a rille captured on Gallijx'li by an Australian 

 soldier. When carefully examined, it was found to be made of 

 Australian stringy-bark ! — Mr. R. T, Baker, F.L.S., of the 

 Sydney Technological Museum, at the Forest League meeting. 



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