EEPOET 
ON THE 
SOCIETY’S OSTEIGHES, 
NOW EUNNINa ON 
MESSRS. OFFICER BROS.’ STATION, MURRAY DOWNS, 
BY 
S. H. OFriCER, Esq. 
— -j- — 
The Members of the Society may be somewhat disap- 
pointed at the result of the long attempt to acclimatise the 
ostrich and to render its introduction into the colony a 
source of profib to themselves as well as a very important 
addition to the national resources of this great continent. 
But when all the circumstances attending the experiment 
are considered (for after all the attempt must still be 
deemed only on trial in this latitude) it will not be sur- 
prising that greater things have not been achieved, and 
that the glowing anticipations of large returns from the 
produce of the birds and the augmentation of their 
numbers, has not yet been quite realised. 
Erom the experience of the past, however, the Society 
may now at length well indulge in fresh hope and look 
forward at no very distant date to securing a more tangible 
and practical result than a mere report and hope of better 
things to come has hitherto afforded them. In transporting 
the birds from the Wimmera to the Murray great loss 
