It  appears  somewhat  remarkable  that^  in  countries
situate  in  such  genial  latitudes  and  so  contiguous  to
each  other  as  are  Victoria  and  Tasmania^  any  material
difference  should  exist  in  their  climate^  general  aspect^
and  natural  productions.  The  shores  of  either  country
run  parallel  to  the  other  for  upwards  of  165  miles,
and  their  average  distance  apart  may  be  estimated  at
180  miles.  Judging  from  the  long  chain  of  islands
and  reefs,  commencing  near  Wilson's  Promontory  and
reaching  across  the  straits  to  Cape  Portland,  it  is
not  improbable,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  that  Van
Diemen's  Land  was,  at  some  remote  period,  united  to
the  Australian  continent.
In  climate  there  is  an  essential  difference;  and  in
the  mutual  absence  of  birds  and  animals  indigenous  to
either  colony.  For  instance,  the  dingo,  the  sloth,  the
flying  toowan;  the  beautiful  lyre-bird,  the  ibis,  and
many  other  kinds  of  the  feathered  tribe,  are  not  found
in  Tasmania:  nor,  again,  does  Victoria  contain  the
Van  Diemonian  tiger,  the  dasyrus  or  devil,  or  the
mouse  opossum ;  the  mina,  or  the  fine-eating  large  wattle
bird.     The  emu  of  the  former  country  is  of  a  much

C  C  2


388


VICTORIA.
darker  plumage^  and  insignificant  in  size,  compared
with  that  of  the  latter  colony.
It  will  also  be  seen,  by  a  reference  to  the  following
synopsis  of  the  Victorian  territory,  that  the  available
lands  are  considerably  in  excess  of  the  unavailable;
whilst  the  available  lands  of  Tasmania  are  comprised
in  one-fourth  of  the  whole.
The  various  lands  of  Victoria  are  estimated  and
classified  as  follows : —

Acres.
Purchased  land

2,761,616

Supposed  auriferous

.      2,040,960

Agi*icultural  land          .        .        ..
2,779,640

Pastoral,  first  class       .        .        .        ,

.      3,880,924

Pastoral,  second  class

11,609,750

Pastoral,  third  class     .        .        ..
