162 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Rabbits over-run large tracts of our colony. Various modes are 

 adapted for their destructioh — one extensively used is poisoned 

 grain, which is often taken by some of our beautiful birds. It was 

 only recently I heard of a poisoned locality strewed with carcasses of 

 rabbits intermingled with a few birds. Therefore, it would appear, 

 taking all things into consideration, our birds have a hard struggle 

 for existence, when may be added amongst their enemies the droves 

 of " pot-hunters" who rove OA^er the country at holiday times, and, 

 who blaze away at anything that resembles a feather — from a 

 tom-tit to a jackass. 



Our " Game Act," be it said, is almost a dead letter. Whoever 

 hears now-a-days of prosecutions under that law, although it is 

 transgressed against almost every other day (Sundays included) 

 during close season ? Such transgressions are decidedly blamable in 

 the first place, but in the second the police authorities, who as a rule, 

 shamefully and openly neglect this law of our land. Of this, I 

 possess^ abundance of evidence, but shall cite only one case. A flock 

 of five Emus, (a noble bird fast becoming extinct), accidently passed 

 a certain township. Away went every available horseman and dog- 

 in full chase. The poor Emus very soon licked the dust in view of 

 the remaining inhabitants — and the police. 



To simplify the subject I have carefully drawn up a tabulated 

 statement showing the indigenous birds protected under the 

 "Victorian Game Act" — birds proposed to be proclaimed — and 

 indicating how these birds are protected in the adjacent Colonies, i. e., 

 ISTew South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. From our 

 stand-point as naturalists, here is another string to the bow of 

 federation. What is the use of a colony passing an enactment 

 that it shall be unlawful to kill or capture a scheduled bird, when you 

 may with impunity step across the border and destroy that liird? 

 Or you may go to that strip of disputed territory, "No Man's Land," 

 between Victoria and South Australia, and blaze away as long as 

 powder and shot will last An incident of this nature came under 

 my own observation. In 1877 I happened to be officially stationed 

 on the river Murray, near Wentworth, New South Wales. It was 

 close season on the Victorian side, while, by some oversight of the 

 jSTev/ South Wales statesmen their Game Act had lapsed. One day 

 the Victorian trooper accosted a person on his territory with a 

 doublc-liarrelled fowling piece and a brace of fine ducks. He said, 

 '• My fine fellow, tve've got you this time." "No you don't" replied 

 the other with a cynical facial expression, "they're New South Wales' 

 ducks, 1 swear I followed them across the river." 



In the tabulated statement, I have preserved the order and 

 common names in the Club's published list of Victorian birds, which, 

 if individual members would study, it would greatly assist them in 



