THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



519 



THE INTRODUCTION OF EUROPEAN ANIMALS INTO AUSTRALIA. 



The extended introduction of useful animals into our 

 Colonial possessions, occupies, we are glad to perceive, 

 a large share of public attention, and will, we hope, 

 lead to ultimate beneficial results. 



The columns of the Times, which are usually avail- 

 able during the Parliamentary recess for the discus- 

 sion of topics of social and general interest, have 

 recently been made use of by Mr. Edward Wilson, of 

 Melbourne, who, in a very sensible letter, brings pro- 

 minently forward the importance of the introduction 

 and diffusion of European animals over the Australian 

 continent and islands. Without following Mr. Wilson 

 in the poetry of his subject, when he inquires, " Why 

 should the heart of our ploughmen not be gladdened 

 by the song of the skylark .■' and why should the 

 daughter of Australia, as she lingers with her lover 

 upon a moonlight evening, be deprived of one more 

 felicity, one more topic of corfversation, in the night- 

 ingale perched in the neighbouring thicket ?" we may 

 confine ourselves to the utilitarian and practical point 

 of view. 



When we see what has been already done in Aus- 

 tralia for the comfort and sustenance of man, there is 

 ample encouragement for further spirited exertion. 

 The country, soil, and climate are highly favourable 

 to the spread and support of living creatures. " It 

 is but the other day," remarks Mr. Wilson, " that 

 we got the sheep ; yet we already supply Great Britain 

 with the chief portion of her finer wools. The first 

 cow was imported within the memory of living man; 

 and now vast herds roam over millions of acres, from 

 Wide Bay to South Australia, and good judges are 

 beginning to ask whether the colonial cattle will not 

 bear a favourable comparison with the English ave- 

 rage. We have got the horse, unrivalled in the whole 

 world for his powei's of endurance ; for were the deeds 

 of our grass-fed stock-horses but whispered within 

 your well-kept English stables tlie narrative would be 

 roared down by a general chorus of incredulous horse 

 laughter. The ' time' of our races would compare not 

 very unfavourably with your own. And thus, with the 

 dog, cat, pig, domestic fowl, duck, rabbit, pigeon, 

 down to our old friends the common house-rat and 

 mouse, which, with their own amusing pertinacity, 

 stick by us with a fidelity worthy of a better cause, 

 and, multiplying exceedingly among us, give a home- 

 aspect to our colonial houses in their own ingenious 

 and significant style." 



The demand for mutton and beef and pork will 

 lead to improved breeds of these live stock. Poultry, 

 which have been little attended to, will greatly in- 

 crease, in order to keep pace with the demand. Tur- 

 keys, we perceive, are fetching 25s., geese 10s. to 12s., 

 ducks 6s., and fowls 5s. a-headin the Melbourne market. 

 Dairy produce is also brought to market on a very 

 limited scale, or such prices as these would not be 



realized in an old colony — fresh butter 3s. 6d a pound, 

 milk Is. a quart, and eggs 3s. Gd. a dozen. All 

 the cheese consumed, is also imported. The absence 

 of good roads, and the expense of transport from 

 distant farms to the town, has, doubtless, had something 

 to do with prices and supply. But the extension of 

 railways and common roads, the water communication 

 by steam on the Murray river, and other tributary 

 streams now available, will greatly facilitate the for- 

 warding of dairy produce to market, both to Adelaide 

 and Melbourne. 



In the matter of horses, of which Mr. Wilson speaks 

 so favourably, the demand for them for India, and 

 increased local wants which population brings with it, 

 will lead to great extension of horse-breeding. 



It appears that the flock of alpacas for Victoria 

 are to be sent out in the Goddess, which will sail in a 

 few days. They are under the charge of a competent 

 attendant, obtained from the Zoological Gardens. 

 There is no doubt other introductions of new animals 

 will follow. The Angora, or Thibet goat, which the 

 Cape colonists and the South Australians are now try- 

 ing to acclimatise, should also be introduced into Vic- 

 toria. We pointed out a few months ago the great im- 

 portance of these efforts for the future of Australia. It 

 is a great disgrace that the camel has never yet been 

 introduced into Australia. What an admirable beast 

 of burden it would prove for the use of the explorer 

 in the interior deserts, which have hitherto proved 

 so fatal a barrier to progress and communication 

 across the Continent ! The animal could be obtained 

 very cheaply in Algeria, Tunis, or by way of the Red 

 Sea. The colony of Victoria has ample funds at dis- 

 posal ; and what a benefit would a thousand pounds or 

 two be, laid out for such a purpose, conjointly with the 

 colony of South Australia, on public grounds, for the 

 introduction of the camel, especially for exploring pur- 

 poses ! We should then not imperil the lives of those 

 bold explorers who go forth to trace out the unknown 

 parts of that great island- continent, destined to play 

 hereafter a prominent part in the roll of history, and 

 whose coasts are now being rapidly filled up with popu- 

 lation, while sheep and cattle are depastured by mil- 

 lions over its widely-extended plains. 



Other suggestions are thrown out by Mr. Wilson de- 

 serving notice ; and certainly there is no reason why 

 the table of the colonist should not be supplied with an 

 occasional hare or pheasant, or why the alderman of 

 the antipodes should not have his salmon cutlet, or his 

 slice of venison, as well as his English confrere. The 

 introduction of game-birds has not yet been very suc- 

 cessful ; but then the attempts made have been only 

 partial, and on a limited scale. It is of no use to turn 

 adrift a dozen pheasants in the woods, and to call that 

 trying an experiment, in the proper acceptation of the 

 term. The game of Australia is at present very limited, 



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