180 Gabriel, Mutton-birds and Penguins, Phillip I. [v^xxxv. 



cerned. The fact that foxes in Victoria are more prolific than 

 in England makes the question a very serious one, and one that 

 should be faced without delay. 



[The Argus of 27th March contained a notification that a 

 reward of one pound per head is to be offered for foxes killed 

 on Phillip Island.— Ed. Vict. Nat.] 



Physiography of the Melbourne District. — Readers 

 interested in local physiography will find two useful and well 

 thought out papers in the recently issued part of the Proceedings 

 of the Royal Society of Victoria (vol. xxxi., new series, part i.) 

 They are by Mr. R. A. Keble, on " The Significance of Lava 

 Residuals in the Development of the Western Port and Port 

 Phillip Drainage Systems," and by Dr. C. Fenner, D.Sc, on 

 " The Physiography of the Werribee River Area." In the 

 former the author reconstructs the district before the time of 

 the volcanic activity, showing the supposed position of the 

 valleys afterwards filled up by the lava flows, and then discusses 

 the development of the new streams as shown on our maps of 

 to-day. Dr. Fenner's paper is a very extensive one, and deals 

 minutely with every feature of an area of about 1,500 square 

 miles, and, like Mr. Keble's, is well illustrated with sketch-maps 

 and diagrams. It gives an interest to the Werribee which 

 hardly existed before, and accounts for the sudden and great 

 differences in level which are the main features of the watershed 

 of the Werribee and its tributary streams. 



Scenery Preservation. — In some respects the Government 

 of New Zealand is far ahead of the Commonwealth or any of the 

 State Governments of Australia. It has an eye to the future, 

 and in preserving the scenery will in years to come earn the 

 gratitude of untold generations. The latest report (to 31st 

 March, 1918) on scenery preservation, by the Lands Depart- 

 ment of the Dominion, shows that 24 reserves, covering 21,639 

 acres, were added to the list of such reserves during the previous 

 twelve months. New Zealand now possesses 505 reserves made 

 for scenery preservation, amounting to 305,421 acres. What are 

 we doing in Victoria that future generations may stand on our 

 vantage points and view our landscapes, or wander along our 

 river valleys and enjoy their welcome restfulness, without con- 

 tinually trespassing on private property ? Practically nothing. 

 Scenery is an asset to any country, as the United States and 

 New Zealand well know, and we should make the most of what 

 we have, and not allow it to be marred and disfigured by the 

 private individual for his own advantage. 



