72 THE VICTOKIAK NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV. 



Still exists in the Macedon region, where I have frequently seen 

 their burrows, but never met the animal itself. On examining 

 and skinning a dead one I was surprised to find it possessed a 

 rudimentary tail similar to that of a Koala. 



Kangaroos and Wallabies. — To list the animals of any 

 district in Victoria without a reference to the members of the 

 great genus Macropus would seem strange, but the fact remains 

 that in 1846 and later Kangaroos and Wallabies were never seen 

 in the area I am speaking of, the reason probably being that 

 owing to the open nature of the country they were easily 

 frightened or driven away by the first settlers in the district, in 

 1836. However, further to the north-west and north, in the 

 timbered country about Bullengarook and Macedon, occasional 

 specimens are still to be met with. I have been informed that 

 the disappearance of Wallabies is largely due to their having 

 become victims to that dreaded scourgeof the sheep-farmer, fluke. 



The Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Shaw. — This 

 singular mammal is still to be found on Jackson's Creek, 

 principally on that part adjacent to Glencoe, Red Stone Hill, 

 and the old Koorakoorakup station, portion of which is now 

 occupied by the township of Sunbury. Though the Melbourne 

 side has been settled for some seventy years, that section 

 of the creek is not nearly so bare of these curious creatures 

 as one would expect. In former times, though a Platypus 

 saw you before taking his dive, if you waited quietly he 

 would rise again not many feet from where the downward plunge 

 was taken. Now they seem to have learned the habits of man, 

 and once down they retire into their burrows. It seems to me 

 this strategy accounts for their survival on Jackson's Creek, for 

 had it not become alive to the sense of danger by this time it 

 would have become extinct. With regard to it, and birds also, 

 the law should step in. A gun license is required, though to 

 render it thoroughly effective landholders should be penalized 

 for allowing persons to shoot over their holdings without 

 permission. 



Fish. — The Blackfish, Gadopsis marmoratMs, Rich., was at one 

 time plentiful in our portion of the creek, and I once secured a 

 specimen weighing 2 lbs. 



In early years the creek was alive with Minnows (Galaxias, 

 sp.), and I remember three of us as boys taking twenty dozen in 

 one day with a cotton line and bent pin. Since the introduction 

 of trout and perch the Minnow has decreased, still there are odd 

 years when it is fairly plentiful. 



The fish known to us as the " Pute " was a very handsome little 

 fish, shaped like a carp, about two inches long, some with bright 

 yellow on under parts, others brown throughout, the fins and tail 

 red, mouth very small ; scales, for size of fish, large. They used 



