INTRODUCTION OF EUROPEAN ANIMALS INTO AUSTRALIA. 211 
tributary streams now available, will greatly facilitate the for¬ 
warding of dairy produce to market, both to Adelaide and 
Melbourne. 
In the matter of horses, of which Mr. Wilson speaks so 
favorably, the demand for them for India, and increased 
local wants which population brings with it, will lead to great 
extension of horse-breeding. 
It appears that the flock of alpacas for Victoria are to be 
sent out in the Goddess, which will sail in a few days. They 
are under the charge of a competent attendant, obtained from 
the Zoological Gardens. There is no doubt other intro¬ 
ductions of new animals w T iIl follow. The Angora, or Thibet 
goat, which the Cape colonists and the South Australians 
are now trying to acclimatise, should also be introduced into 
Victoria. We pointed out a few months ago the great im¬ 
portance of these efforts for the future of Australia. It is 
a great disgrace that the camel has never yet been introduced 
into the colony. What an admirable beast of burden it would 
prove for the use of the explorer in the interior deserts, 
which have hitherto proved so fatal a barrier to progress and 
communication across the Continent! The animal could be 
obtained very cheaply in Algeria, Tunis, or by way of the 
Red Sea. The colony of Victoria has ample funds at dis¬ 
posal ; and w T hat a benefit would a thousand pounds or two 
be, laid out for such a purpose, conjointly with the colony 
of South Australia, on public grounds, for the introduction 
of the camel, especially for exploring purposes ! We should 
then not imperil the lives of those bold explorers who go 
forth to trace out the unknown parts of that great island- 
continent, destined to play hereafter a prominent part in the 
roll of history, and whose coasts are now being rapidly filled 
up with population, while sheep and cattle are depastured by 
millions over its widely-extended plains. 
Other suggestions are thrown out by Mr. Wilson deserving 
notice; and certainly there is no reason why the table of the 
colonist should not be supplied with an occasional hare or 
pheasant, or why the alderman of the antipodes should not 
have his salmon cutlet, or his slice of venison, as well as his 
English confrere . The introduction of game-birds has not 
yet been very successful; but then the attempts made have 
been only partial, and on a limited scale. It is of no use to 
turn adrift a dozen pheasants in the woods, and to call that 
trying an experiment, in the proper acceptation of the term. 
The game of Australia is at present very limited, and getting 
more so, as the natives depend entirely upon it for their 
support. Kangaroo-tail soup is not bad; and the popular 
