198 THE VICTOaiAN NATURALIST. 



travelling through these ranges, covered in parts with dense and 

 almost impenetrable scrub and undergrowth, would have been 

 very great, and under our circumstances was altogether out of the 

 question. Again, from what could be learned of the country to 

 the south of Oberon Bay, the prospects seemed still more favour- 

 able. Here the character of the country seems to change, the 

 vegetation becomes richer and more varied, with well timbered 

 guUies, which remind one more of many parts of Gippsland, and 

 would no doubt well repay careful search. To have pro[jerly 

 investigated these parts, however, would have necessitated a much 

 longer time being spent than was at our disposal. As one of the 

 chief objects of the Club, in urging the permanent reservation of 

 the Promontory, was to preserve the native fauna, it was wisely 

 decided that no shooting would be permitted during the trip. 

 The list of birds appended therefore only includes such as could 

 be identified on the spot. It can readily be understood that 

 many species cannot be correctly identified without a much 

 closer examination — in fact, without shooting a specimen — but I do 

 not think that very many additional species would have been 

 added to our list had this restriction not been decided upon. 



Mammals. — The mammals met with during our stay were 

 extremely few. Dingoes, or as they are more commonly known, 

 wild dogs, are plentifully distributed all over the promontory. 

 Several were seen, and their tracks were to be met with in every 

 direction. These were particularly noticeable on the beach, which 

 they evidently visit regularly in search offish, &c., which may be 

 washed up. By reason ot their numbers they must be responsible 

 for the destruction of great numbers of the indigenous animals, 

 and particularly wallabies, the bones of which, together with 

 those of Native Bears and an occasional Blue-tongue Lizard, were 

 frequently met with. The wallabies, particularly, must have had 

 a hard struggle to exist in the presence of such an enemy, and it 

 would seem to be folly to attempt to preserve our indigenous 

 fauna here until something is done to reduce or altogether 

 exterminate this pest from the Promontory. Owing to inter- 

 breeding with the domestic dog, a typical Dingo is now a rarity, 

 if one is really to be found. They vary in colour from reddish- 

 brown to black, but it is said to be difficult to obtain a good skin 

 owifig to the prevalence of mange. Foxes and hares have 

 obtained a footing here, the former of which is becoming fairly 

 numerous among the sand dunes along parts of the coast. 

 Rabbits have not yet found their way here, though it can only be a 

 matter of a short time before they will be firmly established unless 

 precautions are soon taken to prevent them. The body of a Fur 

 Seal, Euotaria cinerea, was found on the beach near the Derby, 

 which bore evidence of having provided a recent meal for the 

 Dingoes, while it served to provide us with a nice series of one of 

 the carrion beetles, Su2orinus Icetus. Portions of the skull and 



