These young plantations containing native 
plants in appreciable numbers can occur in 
only the first rotation of the pines, and there 
will not he the same scope in subsequent rota- 
tions for these temporary associates. Conse- 
quently many species at present maintaining 
some foothold in this coniferous region are 
likely to suffer a further diminution of their 
range, though for many years to come there 
will remain for them a refuge in the inlying 
blocks of Stringybark “hush”, not to mention 
the open country surrounding the forests. 
BIRDS OF THE SLASH AREAS 
Between the final felling and the subsequent 
regeneration of a stand, either by planting — 
after burning the “slash” — or naturally and 
without such a burn, the slash area tends to 
attract another group of birds. 
Crimson Rosellas, Goldfinches and Pied 
Currawongs find seeds- and berries there, and 
in one locality Emus can be added to the list. 
Incidentally, it is pointed out that the Kan- 
garoo Apple (Solarium aviculare) often ap- 
pears again in these places, and no doubt aug- 
ments the forage supplied by the pine seed 
on the ground. 
BIRDS OF THE FOREST MARGINS 
The Gray Shrike-thrush ( Colluricincla har- 
monica) and the Magpie ( Gymnorhina hypo- 
leuca) are regular dwellers on the outskirts of 
the plantations and around forest settlements. 
They both move about in or over the fringes 
of the pine woods, and are increasing in num- 
bers probably; taking a broad view, they may 
warrant inclusion among the associates of the 
pine forests. 
Similarly, stray visitors and birds of pas- 
sage such as the Flame and the Scarlet Robins, 
the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, the Cuckoos — 
three of them — Snipe and other migrants or 
nomads may be mentioned. They sojourn for 
a while only, but in the course of time they 
may prove sufficiently constant in their visits 
to merit a place in a comprehensive list of 
species for this region. 
Reference must also be made to the various 
waterfowl — not strictly forest birds, and there- 
fore not expected to be affected by the changes 
in the forest, perhaps. Few of the swamps 
fill for as long as formerly owing to the higher 
moisture consumption of these dense, new 
forests, and the birds cannot be independent 
of this fact. 
ANIMALS IN THE PINE WOODS 
Other forms of life are even less in evidence 
so far than are the birds, but the following 
remarks cannot claim to be comprehensive. 
Lacking sufficient insects and other small 
fry, it is not surprising that snakes and lizards 
do not find the pines a congenial habitat. The 
Stumpy-tailed Lizard (Trachysaurus rugosus) 
is an exception, being mainly if not solely her- 
bivorous, and is not uncommonly met with in 
any grassy openings, including the fire- breaks, 
particularly where these traverse stony out- 
crops. 
The Ring- tailed ’Possum (P seudocheirus 
lan ginosus) is definitely breeding in appre- 
ciable numbers within any of the woods past 
the sapling stage. This little animal has been 
observed to feed on the foliage and on the 
young conelets, and sonletimes on the bark of 
the twigs of the pines. Its choice of the latter 
two items is not popular, of course, with the 
forester, but as yet the damage is of no con- 
sequence. Nests are made well up from the 
ground in the branches of the pines them- 
selves, so that the adaptation would seem to 
be complete. 
The Echidna (Tacky glossus aculeata ) is 
active still in some stands of even twenty years 
of age, but is obviously associated with old 
hardwood stumps and logs harbouring colo- 
nies of termites. As this residual debris dis- 
appears so will the Echidna retire to the re- 
maining Eucalypt forest, in all probability. 
No remarks would be complete without re- 
ference to the introduced Rabbits and Foxes 
and, incidentally, the Deer (at Penola F.R.). 
Wherever there is grass or other suitable 
herbage the rabbit is at home, so that it would 
Page Eight 
