^ \j^4„^ r Vict. Nat. 



64 Notes. Lvol. XXXIII. 



Australian Forest League. — An illustrated lecture, in con- 

 nection with the Victorian branch ol tlie Australian Forest 

 League, will be given at the Melbourne Town Hall (supper room) 

 on Wednesday, i6th August, l)y Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., on 

 "The Forests of Victoria." The committee of the League will 

 be pleased to have the co-operation of all interested in the 

 objects of the League. Subscriptions may be forwarded to the 

 hon. treasurer. Dr. Heber Green, University, Carlton. 



Tree-Planting. — The ]\\\y Journal of AgriciiUiire of Victoria 

 contains an interesting report by Mr. J. Cronin, Director of the 

 Melbourne Botanic (lardens, on the results of the tree-planting 

 competitions instituted by the Government in 1912. The State 

 was divided into districts, with as nearly as possible the same 

 physical and climatic conditions. Unfortunately the season 

 1912-13 was, owing to the absence of rain, extremely unfavour- 

 able, and manv who had entered for the competition withdrew. 

 Accompanying the report is a list of trees suitable for planting, 

 and some useful hints on the ]^ropagation of tree seedhngs. 



Animal Protection in New Zealand. — The annual report 

 of the Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand, for the 

 year ending 31st March last, contains some notes on the working 

 of the Animals Protection Act which are encouraging, whilst 

 others are somewhat sad. It is noteworthy that not more than 

 twenty-five head of native game, such as (irey Duck, Teal, 

 Spoonbill Duck, Pukeko, and Black Swan, are allowed to be 

 killed by any one person in one day. Petitions were received 

 from natives praying that they might be allowed to take native 

 pigeons for food, but, in view of the fact that these birds are 

 becoming rarer every 3^ear, the request was declined. A number 

 of new sanctuaries for birds, &c., were proclaimed during the 

 year. It seems that the Huia, a bird whose feathers were an 

 important addition in the olden days to the chief's mantles, 

 may now be regarded as almost extinct, as though the depart- 

 ment has, for the past ten years, been endeavouring to obtain a 

 pair to liberate in the Little Barrier sanctuary, it has met with 

 no success, and it is doubtful if the birds reported as having 

 been seen were really Huias. It is gratifying to know that the 

 Tuatara lizards, which are protected on Stephen Island, The 

 Brothers, and Cuvier Island, show no sign of decreasing in either 

 sanctuary. Their principal enemy is hawkf . on which a constant 

 war is waged by the lighthouse-keej^ers. 



