31 



The inauguration of the Acclimatisation Society on its present 

 footing is comparatively recent, as less than three years have elapsed 

 since it was amalgamated with, and undertook the duties of, the 

 Zoological Committee. 



Since then, in consequence of the increasing number of animals, 

 and the unhealthiness of the original site of the Zoological Gardens, 

 an entirely new establishment has had to be formed at the Royal 

 Park, involving a very heavy expenditure in fencing, planting, 

 forming excavations for ponds, building superintendent's house, 

 shelter sheds, pens, <fcc. 



The herd of camels brought from India at an expense of £120 pur 

 head had become scattered, and were in a fair way of being anni- 

 hilated, under the various exploratory expeditions. Such of them 

 as could be saved have been collected at Mr. Wilson's station at the 

 Wimmera, where they are now breeding regularly, and forming the * 

 nucleus of probably a large herd, available at some future day either 

 for exploration or conveying the produce of remoter stations in the 

 more arid districts. 



The alpaca has been a constant source of interest with the Society. 

 Mr. Duffield has been constantly advised with and encouraged in his 

 great experiment, and has stated that but for the co-operative spirit 

 exhibited by the Society, he should have probably transferred his 

 energies to some other country. Meantime, the little flock of llamas 

 and hybrids imported from England have been diligently cared for, 

 and their health and adaptation to the country watched. They have 

 been crossed with pure alpacas, and young ones of the second cross 

 are now being dropped. Since landing their numbers have increased 

 from 19 to 66. 



The Angora goat is receiving great attention, and is likely to 

 furnish a very valuable addition to the resources of our graziers, and 

 of exports to our merchants. A considerable number of the best 

 strain of blood has lately been presented by the Acclimatisation 

 Society of France. Pure bred goats are now rapidly multiplying, 

 and they are being crossed with the common goat in considerable 

 numbers, four crosses being found to restore the original quality. 



Associated with the Society, an enterprising gentleman at Mary- 

 borough has imported a flock of the Cashmere goat, with which he 

 is now experimenting, affording an instance of the manner in which 

 the Society is executing one of its principle functions, in inducing 

 private enterprise to avail itself of the information and organization 

 of the Society. 



Various breeds of sheep have been introduced, and are being 

 experimented with, some of them showing signs of a peculiar adapt- 

 ability to a hot climate. 



While devoting this amount of attention to such animals as the 

 camel, the alpaca, the Angora goat, and the sheep, which may be 

 considered as more immediately interesting to the mercantile and 

 pastoral classes, the sportsman has not been forgotten. The fallow 



