i8o Correfif^ondence. [v<j"^xxxiii 



gradual clearing of the banks and beds of the streams. If this 

 were correct it would undoubtedly seriously affect the Black- 

 fish, which loves shelter ; but, as a matter of fact, the land- 

 owners adjoining rivers or streams seldom if ever snag the 

 streams. But in most instances it is just the other way about, 

 and it is the presence of logs and rubbish and blackberries, 

 &c., hanging over and into the water that affords the un- 

 fortunate Blackfish some sanctuary from the imported fishes 



I quite agree with Mr. Lewis that our native animals respond 

 well to efficient protection ; but how is it possible to efficiently 

 protect our native fish when ravenous, fast-swimming fish 

 have been indiscriminately introduced into our rivers ? And 

 I am still of the opinion that even if not another Blackfish was 

 taken by fishermen, the two fish meniioned would be able to 

 exterminate the Blackfish in the near future. 



It is only the presence of logs and rubbish that delays and 

 makes its extinction less rapid by affording some cover for 

 our native fish to retire to when hard pressed by the intro- 

 duced species. — Yours faithfully, 



H. W. DAVEY, F.E.S. 

 East Malvern, 12th March, 1917. 



The Wood's Point District. — ^The Mines Department has 

 recently issued another of its memoirs, describing the topo- 

 graphy, geology, and mines of the Wood's Point District. Its 

 author, Mr. O. A. L. Whitelaw, field geologist, is to be compli- 

 mented on the excellent work accomplished in some of the most 

 difficult country in the State. The accompanying geological 

 map, covering about 280 square miles (40 chains to i inch) is a 

 monument of painstaking work, carried out at elevations varying 

 from 2,000 to 4,700 ft. above sea-level. 



" A Census of New South Wales Plants." — Notice of 

 this very valuable contribution to Australian botanical litera- 

 ture has been held over for several issues owing to want of 

 space. The volume is the work of Mr. J. H. Maiden, I.S.O.. 

 F.R.S., F.L.S., Government Botanist and Director of the 

 Botanic Gardens, Sydney, and the late Ernst Betche, Chief 

 Botanical Assistant,' Botanic Gardens, Sydney. The latter, 

 unfortunately, did not live to see much of the work in print. 

 The volume is notable in one respect, in that it is the first 

 Australian publication in which Engler's system has been to 

 a great extent followed. As this system is likely to be gener- 

 ally adopted, the census is indispensable to every working 

 botanist in Victoria. It is proposed to continue the publication 

 by means of supplements dealing with the different divisions 

 of the cellular cryptogams, and by annual supplements to 

 include corrections and additions to the lists. The first of 



