^"'iqi^'^'l T.ORD. A Tril^ In the National Park of Tasmania. lOI 



may always find in the Tasmanian National Park large sections 

 of country where the orij^inal flora and lanna may be observed 

 and studied. We are apt to forget how very quickly our native 

 plants and animals are decreasing in numbers. Every year bush- 

 fires sweep large areas of country, destroying many species both 

 of the animal and tlu' \-egetable kingdom. The gun, the snare, 

 and poison cart all do their work, and this sanctuary for our native 

 animals lias not been jM'oclaimed a year too soon. Of our 

 mammals, tht' thylaeine or marsupial wolf [Thylacinus cyno- 

 ccphalus) and the Tasmanian devil {Sarcophilus harrisi) are now 

 met with only in the most unfrequented localities. Our forester 

 kangaroo (.1/. major, var. fitliginosus) is now only to be found on 

 a few closely-guarded estates, whereas in years gone by this 

 magnificent species could be noted from sea-shore to mountain-top 

 all over Tasmania. Our phalangers have been allowed to be 

 slaughtered wholesale for the sake of the skins, and the platypus 

 {Ornithorhynchiis analinus) has met with the same treatment. 

 The latter species is now noticed only in the distant lakes and 

 streams. Our avifauna has suffered most of all. Our distinctive 

 Tasmanian Emu {Dromaius diemenensh) has been exterminated. 

 The gun, the poison cart, and the thoughtless boy have all 

 assisted to denude the island of some of its most valuable economic 

 birds. And, to make matters worse, the Indian Dove {T. ferrago), 

 the Goldfinch (C. cardnelis), the Tree and House-Sparrows (P. 

 montanus and P. domesticiis), and the Starling (S. vulgaris) have 

 been introduced, with the result that they are rapidly driving 

 many of our native birds from their nesting haunts and feeding- 

 grounds. Having been in contact with man for centuries, these 

 introduced species rapidly adapt themselves to the settled areas 

 at the expense of our native birds, which every year are decreasing 

 in number and are being driven further into the bush. It is good 

 to recall to mind, therefore, that here we have a sanctuary 

 where both our feathered and furred friends of the forests may 

 breed in peace, safe from the gun and the poison cart, and with, 

 a vigilant ranger to protect them against any other attacks of 

 man, the destroyer. 



It was along the overgrown secticjn of the track that we noticed 

 the Large-billed Ground-Thrush {Oreocincla macrorhyncha) quietly 

 hopping from one moss-covered rock to another in search of land 

 snails or other prized articles of diet. At various places along 

 the trail could be noticed the " dining tables " of this species. 

 A small rock, projecting sharply from the fairly clear pathway 

 of the track, seemed to be the favourite spot. Around such were 

 small heaps of the broken shells of the land snail. The Thrush, 

 having secured his snail, apparently makes for the nearest 

 " table " and breaks the shell by bringing it sharply in contact 

 with the rock. The silent manners of this species were in marked 

 contrast to those of the Whistling Shrike-Thrush {Colhtricincla 

 selbii) whicli had been observed earlier in our journev. The 

 latter bird attracts considerable attention l)y reason of its 



