ew-comers from Europe and
elsewhere. At all events, the birds of this region are abundant enough
now and of great variety, adding much to the charm of inland districts.
The shrill whistle of the blue-jay saluted us constantly; and equally
frequent were the monotonous notes of the green thrush. Now and then the
confused utterances of the leather-head were heard, a peculiar bird
resembling a small vulture. As to the screams of the cockatoos and
parrots, they are at times quite deafening. There was observed one
diminutive feathered creature called the diamond-bird, arrayed in
gorgeous plumage, and having a rich dark crimson tail, while the body
was mottled like the iris colors upon a blue pigeon's throat, or the
surface of an opal. Now and again the small pheasant wren flitted by,
lighting upon some delicate branch of tree or bush, with its long tail
trailing behind it. One specimen of the lyre-bird was seen, though it is
so shy and wild as to be seldom captured.

It is mainly to behold the big gum-trees, however, that one visits the
Fernshaw Mountain district; and they alone richly repay the trouble of
going thither. We were told of one fallen monarch which was measured by
a government surveyor, which had a length upon the ground of four
hundred and seventy-four feet. The Pyramid of Cheops is not so high as
was this tree when it stood erect. The average height of these marvels
is from three hundred and fifty to four hundred feet. They are situated
in a valley protected from winds, and are favorably located to promote
their growth, and also to preserve them from destruction by gales or
sudden tornadoes, such as have prostrated some of the largest trees in
our own valley of the Yosemite.

There are some picturesque lakes in Gippsland which deserve mention,
separated from the sea only by narrow necks of land, though in some
instances there are passages between navigable by small steamboats. The
largest of these lakes is that known as Lake Corangamite, which is salt,
though it has no visible connection with the sea. The great amount of
evaporation which takes place here in the summer months leaves on its
shores large quantities of salt crystals, the gathering of which forms
an important local industry.

In these inland excursions large districts were seen devoted to the
raising of grapes and the production of wine therefrom. We were told
that the wine made from these Victoria vineyards was admitted to be the
best produced