SPARROWS, ROBINS, AND ROOKS 75 



built on the English plan, covered with ivy and exotic 

 creepers ; and the domestic animals are nearly all of the 

 old country types, though occasionally one is amused at 

 the incongruous scene of an emu stalking about amidst 

 common poultry, or a couple of tame kangaroos hopping 

 about the lawn. Not improbably, too, the visitor may be 

 saluted by the screaming of several parrots and cockatoos, 

 which enjoy semi-liberty in the trees which shade the front 

 of the house. English trees abound everywhere — in the 

 garden, field, and by the roadside ; English sparrows 

 swarm in many places, and other old country birds are to 

 be found where protection is afforded them — rooks, robins, 

 blackbirds, thrushes, and many finches — all the descendants 

 of a few pairs which have been imported by some home- 

 sick enthusiasts. English game-birds abound on many 

 estates, and the red deer, fallow deer, and other animals 

 may be found by the diligent naturalists ; while in no part 

 of Australia is that pest, the wild rabbit, more abundant. 



The pasturage of this country is the richest on the 

 continent. Many squatters own 50,000 or 60,000 sheep, 

 and a few have 100,000 or more, besides cattle and horses 

 in proportion. Victoria is the country of the " wool-kings." 

 Huge fortunes are made here : while northward, in Queens- 

 land, the stockman reigns supreme, and can show almost 

 as many head of cattle as the southern squatter can of 

 sheep. Both classes of men depend entirely on " natural- 

 feed " for the support of their stock. Hay is not made — 

 in any great quantity, at any rate — and turnips, for sheep 

 feeding, are quite unheard of. I do not know if swedes 

 would grow in this country — many European vegetables 

 will not prosper in Victoria. The nature of old country 

 plants is often changed by planting in this land, as 

 Australian plants are by transference to European soil. 

 In a few cases vegetables and fruits are improved by the 

 change. 



North of the ranges described in the first portion of 

 this chapter — in the back-runs — the country is still of a 

 rich character, and except in the extreme west, as well- 

 watered as any Australian country. The grass is beautifully 



