10 
several eagles, black swans, waterhens, three kinds of Yarra fish, laughing-jackasses, 
native ducks and magpies. Black swans have also been forwarded to the Zoologic 
Garden of Cologne, to the gardens of Copenhagen, Buitenzorg in Java, and Calcutta. 
Three native bears were furnished to the Botanic Garden of Adelaide, and one pair of 
angoras to the Government of New South Wales. Some glowworms were transferred to 
the University garden. 
The transmission of a pair of wombats, particularly desired by the President 
of the Socidtd d'Acclimatation of France, M. de St. Hilaire, will early be arranged. It 
is further under contemplation to endeavor realizing the transfer of the lyre-bird to 
South Europe; for the success of which experiment, the fact of our having been able 
to keep a young and easily tamed bird, which, however, somewhat sickly arrived, 
alive for many weeks, holds out some hope. More difficulty may be found in accus- 
toming the native bear, when young, to any other food than Eucalyptus leaves, and 
to bring thereby the transmission of this singular animal to Europe within the reach of 
]X)Ssibility. 
It is but right to bear on this occasion public testimony to the unparalleled zeal, 
patriotic generosity, and prudent care, which have characterized the multifarious efforts 
of Mr. Edward Wilson, during more than two years, to transfer some of the northern 
zoological treasures to Victoria. 
Whether his selections pointed to animals that will afford new material for our 
industry, such as the alpaca, or to those that will afford food to the multitude, such as the 
salmon, or to those that will render the country adopted as our homo yet more homety 
and delightful, such as the feathered songsters now naturalized, all these have equally 
engaged his praiseworthy attention. 
The advantages which at the early return of this gentleman to these shores must 
accrue from his counsels will be incalculable, particularly when the extensive experience 
gained by our friend in frequenting the modern zoological institutions at home will be 
brought to bear on the proposed extension or perhaps departmental separation of our 
Zoological Garden. 
If the choice of animals, kept on public expense, is rigorously re.stricted to useful 
species or such as involve no great outlay for sustenance and attendance, we have reason 
to anticipate that even a much enlarged establishment can be maintained at comparatively 
small expense, and is likely to produce always proportionate advantages. 
Most encouraging it must be to us in our design of adding to the animal riches of 
the colony from abroad, if we reflect, how singulaidy favorable the varied physical 
conditions of the country are for such a purpose. Whilst in the Alps the northern species 
of deer would browse on many jjlants similar to those they enjoy in North Europe, our 
unoccupied desert tracts would afford apj^ropriate retreats to some of tlie South African 
game, whereas probably under the singularly mild climate in the forests of the eastern 
portion of our territory many ti'opical animals would prosper. 
The zoological collection contains at present the following animals : — Llamas, 
Angora goats, fiit-tail sheep, elk, fallow deer, Sumatra deer, Ceylon deer, four species of 
monkeys, kangaroos, wallabys, two .species of kangaroo-rate, English sq^iirrels, two species 
of flying squirrels, two species of Australian opossum, Indian .screwtail, native bears, Indian 
and Australian porcupines, wombats, watermoles, emus, wliite and black swans, Chinese 
geese, Muscovy ducks, spoonbill ducks. Cape Barren geese, one Indiaii pelican, native 
companion, one Indian heron, curlews, laugliiug-jackass, magpies, three species of native 
owls, three species of native hawks, Australian eagles, Murray pheasants, silver pheasants, 
British pheasants, Manilla and two species of Feejee doves, ring-doves, bronze-winged 
pigeons, Indian mocking birds, Indian and British partridges, hedge-sparrows, linnets, 
canar}' biids, skylarks, goldfinches, si.skins, blackbirds, tl)ru.shes, Java sparrows, Australian 
and CaUfornian quail, one iguana. 
