36 Thr Sntionn! Park, W'ihov's Promnntnyy. [voT."'xxx\' 



THE NATIONAL PARK, WILSONS PROMONTORY. 

 Satisfactory progress continues to be made in the National 

 Park at Wilson's Promontory in opening uj), by bridle tracks, 

 somr of the more inaccessible gullies and beauty s]X)ts and 

 improving the tracks already established. The erection of 

 guide boards in prominent position along the various tracks 

 has been much ai)i)rcciated by \isitors, who now \\;\\v little 

 difficulty in finding their way to the various points of interest. 

 The want of funds has unfortunately prevented the com- 

 mittee of management putting in hand several improvements 

 of special imjjortance to the general i)ublic. These include the 

 erection of an acconnnodation house for tourists, which it is 

 proposed to establish in the vicinity of the Darby River : the 

 i-rection of a bridge over the river suitable for vehicular traffic ; 

 and a large enclosure near the main entrance, where repre- 

 sentatives of tlie vari(ms kinds of native animals established 

 in the Park may be seen in their natural state. 



The number of native animals and birds introduced is now 

 ic)2. Tlresc include Kangaroos (three species). Wallabies (four 

 species). Wombats (two species), Opossums (three species), 

 Echidna, Emus, Lyre-birds, Mallee-hens, Satin Jiowt*r-bird^. 

 and Tortt)ises, none of which, with the exception of the I'Ichidna. 

 were jMeviously represented. With the addition of the common 

 Black-tailed Wallaby, which was previously will established, 

 there are now five species of Wallabies in the Park. 



The Red and Tirey Kangaroos have increased, while two 

 ])airs of Emus, which have long made the Darby their home, 

 have reared twehc young ones during the last two years. 11 

 is hoj)ed that the Platyjius will be introduced during the year, 

 and an endeavom" is being made to obtain some Ro( k W.illabies. 

 which are becoming \ery scarce. 



Owing to the protection afforded them, the Native Bears 

 havt; increased so largely in certain fa\-ourefl localities that it 

 has been found necessary to thin them out, .\n c xlensivi' 

 tract of forest at Oberon P)ay, (onsisting ( hielly ot Swamp 

 Gums, liucalyptiis ovaia, has been to a large exteni destroyed 

 by them, necessitating their immigration to otlier parts. With 

 the object of repLu ing these trees, seeds of Kucalyptiis Ginniii, 

 Eucalyptus vimiitulis, and Eucalyptus cladocalyx are being sown. 

 Portion of the sanrl-clunes on the north-west corner of the 

 Park, together with a rather se.iious -^and-blow, were planted 

 with marram grass nearly two years ago, and the results have 

 been so satisfactory that it has been decided to eontinue the 

 planting each year. 



Fortunately, there is now little chance of rabbits obtaining 

 a footing on the Promontory, the only senf)us pest being the 

 fox, which, however, is being kejit well in check by systematic 

 poisoning.-.] A, Ki:ksm.\w. 



