22 Wkini)oki-kk AM) I'uANcis. WildLijc ill Tasmuiiia. | ^ 'vi^.^N^tl'' 



In conclusion, a word about the system of licensing the game 

 hunter in Tasmania may not Ix^ out of place. I*"or the paltry 

 sum of £'5 an>- person is permitted to hunt or destroy game on 

 Crown lands during the open season — i.e., four months for 

 kangaroo and wallaby and two months in the case of possum. 

 The owner of private property is free of any tax as far as his 

 land is concerned. A man who manages to make, say, ;^2oo 

 during a season is thus taxed no more than the one whose luck 

 brings him only, say. £30. It would l)e, therefore, infinitely 

 fairer to all concerned, and more profitable to the (ioveniment, 

 to place a tax upon the individual skin. 



In Tasmania few persons have ever taken the slightest 

 interest in the war of extermination now proceeding l)etween 

 man and the native fauna. As time goes on the demand for 

 skins for the manufacture of leather and furs for general use 

 is constantly increasing, and this demand must be supplied. 

 No one will dispute that animals were made for tlie use of 

 man. If they are not utilized they pass the age of maturity, 

 fall victims to disease or die of old age : but man has, by his 

 want of foresiglit, or by his greed for gain, already laid waste 

 large areas of game country, and seriously reduced their 

 numbers in the remaining parts. Wherever man begins to 

 subdue the wilderness and to cultivate tlu- soil, or to win the 

 precious metal, theie a battle loyal at once ensues between him 

 and Nature ; but wliw in a civili/ed community, the feud 

 should be carried on with the risk of utter extermination is hard 

 to conceive. The State possesses laige areas in its interior 

 which will ni'ver come into use for reproductive work, but 

 could most effectually be turned into game reserves, where, 

 undisturbed l)y the presence of man, the species could at 

 least preserve themselves. 



Natukk Study. - The \'ictorian branch of the Nature 

 Photographers' Clul) of Australia will hold an exhibition of 

 hintern slides, with two illustrated lecturettes, ;it the .Miimauni 

 (L'pper) Hall on Monday evening, 21st June. 



A SxR.vNCiE Nesting-Place. — A correspondcMit of the Sydney 

 Mail oi 2nfl June sends an account of a pair ui Wood- 

 Swallows which built a nest in the latch of a double gate on 

 Yanko station. Riverina. The gate post;-; were out of plumb, 

 consequently the latch was not used, a chain ro\md the two 

 gateheads being substituted. The latch was left dropped back 

 (»n to the top bar of the gate. This fornKul the recei)tach' for 

 the nest. The gati-s were constantly used, whin the sitting 

 bird Hew off the nebt. and fluttered overhead until the gates 

 were closed agiun. She reared her brood, and removed it our 

 of harm's way as soon as she could. 



