t ™ Nnfrs T Vlct - Nat - 



1 20 i\oies. L Vol XX xv. 



addition which might have been included would have been the 

 year of opening of each station, and so be an authoritative 

 record to be referred to when discussions arise, as they often 

 do, on such a topic. The work, which extends to just 100 

 pages, has been published by the Railways Commissioners, 

 and is on sale by booksellers at one shilling per copy. It forms 

 a companion volume to similar lists issued by the Railway 

 Departments of South Australia and Queensland. Another 

 work of a similar character which would be extremely useful, 

 and might well occupy the spare time of an enthusiast, would 

 be the origins and meanings of the names of the counties and 

 parishes of Victoria. 



The National Park of Tasmania. — In the Hobart Mercury 

 of 4th October last, Mr. J. W. Beattie, the well-known photog- 

 rapher, gives an account of a recent trip to the Tasmanian 

 National Park, which is situated near the terminus of the Der- 

 went Valley railway, about fifty miles north-west of Hobart. 

 The park is some 27,000 acres in extent, and includes several 

 alpine lakes, Mt. Field West (4,721 ft.), and other peaks, and the 

 Russell Falls among its scenic features. The vegetation also is 

 very fine, and the reservation should form a splendid haven for 

 native birds and animals. Mr. Beattie credits the park with 

 having scenery such as will satisfy the most exacting of Aus- 

 tralian trippers. 



White Swallows. — About the middle of November last year 

 I happened to be visiting at one of my father's farms at 

 Moorooduc, when I noticed an apparently white bird in an 

 ordinary Welcome Swallow's nest in a buggy-shed. On a closer 

 investigation I found that there were four young swallows just 

 ready to leave the nest, two of which were pure white with black 

 eyes, the other two being like their parents. I handled them and 

 showed them to others. When I put them back into the nest, 

 they flew out and round the place with their parents. Next 

 morning I could find only one, but as a Boobook Owl was noticed 

 in a pine tree not far away I presume it was responsible for the 

 missing bird. To-day I received a letter from my father in 

 which he mentions that the swallows had built again in the same 

 place, and, as before, two of the young are white. Should any 

 bird-lover be desirous of seeing these birds I will be pleased to 

 give directions as to finding the place, which is about two 

 miles from Moorooduc station, on the Mornington line. — G. J. 

 Flood. Titles Office, Melbourne, 14th October, 1918. 



