VICTORIA 113 



VICTORIA 



Areas 4 — 7*. 

 A GREAT JUNCTION 



In this chapter reference is made to the southern 

 nesting ground of countless birds. We also find 

 here the permanent stations of birds that have a 

 northern origin, as well as others with an eastern 

 one. It is the great southern junction of Eyrean 

 and Bassian species. 



Map 46 shows several zones of bird life and the 

 influence of a mountain chain on a given migration 

 course. 



It has kept stationary birds divided, continuing 

 to make new species on both sides. Within a gap 

 of the mountain range we have a great bay (e) and 

 an ancient sunken river mouth (c). These have 

 provided feeding grounds for estuarine and coastal 

 birds. On the south side of the Otway Forest 

 there is a 40 inch rainfall, on the north 20 inches. 

 It has resulted in two types of birds, one loving the 

 wet, the other the dry. This portion of Victoria 

 is a remarkably interesting centre of animal life. 



