G 
Mr. Albert Le Souef, the Usher of the Legislative Council, were 
secured for the duties of honorary secretary. Under his management 
the Society bids fair to again become extensively useful. 
At the date of the last report, the Society was daily expecting 
the arrival of sonie ostriches from South Africa ; the birds, four in 
number, reached Melbourne in safety, and Mr. Samuel Wilson, of 
Longerenong, kindly undertook their charge. They have now 
increased to sixteen, and there is every reason to suppose that 
their numbers will bo considerably augmented in the course of 
this season. So far the experiment has been a marked success. 
Ostrich farming is a profitable occupation at the Cape Colony, 
and it is hoped will ultimately become so here. The climate of the 
Wimmera district appears to be well adapted to their habits; as a proof 
of which, the young Australian birds are now taller than the parent 
stock. 
The Society has disposed of a number of Angora goats during the 
last two years, having been compelled to do so, in consequence of 
their financial position ; though much regretted at the time, this 
must prove of advantage to the colony, as these animals are now in 
a great many hands, and as all who possess them are fully alive 
to their value, it is hoped that care and attention will be 
paid to them. A number of males have been purchased by persons 
who wished to place them with the common white goat \ the cross 
produces a fine and docile animal, lhe Society is now in possession 
of about seventy pure Angoras, the greater number of which are at 
Mr. Wilson’s station, on the Wimmera, a locality in every way 
suited to them. 
The Society has done and is doing all in its power to encourage 
sericulture in the colony, and to this end has, in conjunction with 
Dr. Von Mueller, sent white mulberry cuttings and plants to 
all parts of Victoria. Before this industry can become a commercial 
success a sufficient supply of food must be provided for the worms, 
and it is of interest to observe the large number of applications 
for cuttings to form plantations, and the great desire evinced to test 
practically so profitable and desirable an industry. Some months 
ago a box of silk-worm eggs was sent by the Government of India to 
His Excellency the Governor, who kindly handed them to the Society 
