1 30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXlV. 



One does not expect much variety of avifauna in forest country. 

 Birds, as a class, prefer partially cleared or naturally lightly 

 timbered districts. On the reservoir a few Black Ducks, Anas 

 superciliosa, and Cormorants, Phalacrocorax gouldi, were peace- 

 fully enjoying themselves, despite the fact that a Brown Hawk 

 was gracefully circling overhead. There were no Swans, and on 

 inquiry I learned that they have not been seen on that water. 

 The following is a list of birds seen between Whittlesea and 

 Toorourong : — Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Graucalus melanops, 

 White-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina leuconota, Noisy Minah, 

 Manorhina garriila, Laughing Jackass, Dacelo (jigas, Magpie- 

 Lark, Grallina picata, Rosella, I'Latycerciis eximius, White-eared 

 Honey-eater, Ptilotis leucoiis, Brush Wattle-bird, Acanthochcera 

 mellivora, Crow or Raven, Scarlet-breasted Robin, Petroica 

 leggii, and Brown Hawk, Hieracidea orientalis. This, even with 

 the addition of a few others seen later, is a small number, and 

 doubtless when the advancing season brings profusion of flowers 

 and insects the count could be quadrupled, and correlative faunal 

 and floral values assessed. June is yet too early for the floristic 

 summons to the Mistletoe-bird, Loranthtm pendulus having 

 only young buds, but the presence at this early date of the 

 Brush Wattle-bird reminds us that this honey-eater has fallen 

 under suspicion as an agent for spreading the Mistletoe. 



From Toorourong northerly for some miles the effect of bush 

 fires was evident. At the time of a previous visit (1905) afire 

 had swept through a part of the forest land. Then theToliage of 

 the tall trees had been killed and the blackened trunks gave little 

 hope of revival. It was pleasing to note this spring that most of 

 the large trees had abundant leafage in clumps on the old 

 stems, in places much resembling gigantic Brussels Sprouts, 

 and, notwithstanding, or perhaps because of the fact that not 10 

 per cent of the original shade was available, the undergrowth 

 springing up in all directions was the beginning of another fine 

 shrubbery. Professor Ewart has told us that " bush fires .... 

 were probably frequent before the appearance of aboriginal man- 

 kind,"* and, with a scorched but recovering forest before us, we 

 could readily accept his suggestion of an evolved fire-resisting 

 habit saving these products of long growth from total destruction. 

 There should be little doubt, I think, that mysterious forest fires 

 are sometimes kindled by natural electrical agency. Possibly, 

 too, the heat generated by friction of dead limbs and trunks 

 grinding against each other during dry, hot weather is responsible 

 for some of the outbreaks. The Metropolitan Board of Works, 

 however, have increased the precautions with which they control 



* "Tree Planting and Forest Preservation," by A. J. Evvait, D.Sc, &c., 

 Journal of Agriculture, Vic, April, 1907, p. 227. 



