Natural History.

The indigenous vegetation is nearly identical with that of the southern half of the continent of Australia; but there are valuable coniferous trees, a deciduous beech, and many plants and shrubs which are not found elsewhere. Of the indigenous animals peculiar to the island the principal are the tiger (Thylacinus) and the devil (Sarcophilus), which are now chiefly confined to the mountainous parts. Of the indigenous fish, the trumpeter of the southern coast is without a rival in the Australian colonies for richness of flavour combined with size.

All the common animals of Europe, and many of the birds, have been introduced. The English salmon, salmon trout, brown trout, perch, and tench have been acclimatised, and most of them are plentiful in the principal rivers.