Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/248

 voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, on an island off the N.E. coast of Australia, has been deemed worthy to be associated with the name of our Queen, and is known as the Victoria rifle bird.

Before concluding this subject, we must, however, remark that, unlike her most gracious Majesty, as we most loyally hope, the Victoria rifle bird is remarkably pugnacious at times, of which we once saw an instance. While one day seated on the ground, skinning birds, at the Barnard Isles, attention was attracted by the noise to a group of these rifle birds fighting in a cluster among the boughs of a tree overhead; and so intent were they upon their quarrel that a half charge of dust shot sufficed to bring all three to the ground.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

official return of income and expenditure for the quarter ending 31st March was published so late as the 17th inst., the delay being attributed to a difficulty in making up the expenditure. "The statement (says the "Register") may be thus summarized:—Ordinary Revenue, total receipts, £52,221; against £54,757 of the corresponding quarter of 1855. Total decrease on the Ordinary Revenue of the last quarter, £2536. For the year ending March 31, the ordinary Revenue amounted to £178,788, against £200,155 of the previous year. Total falling off in the Ordinary Revenue of the year ending March 31 last, £21,367. The deficit in the last quarter's Custom receipts was £1695; upon the year's Customs, £28,787. Several items of revenue have increased, both upon the year and upon the quarter. The year's receipts from port and harbour charges have increased from £139 to £1487. Licenses have increased from £9856 to £12,662. This rapid increase in the number of licenses explains to some extent the depression of trade at the present time, many branches of commercial enterprise being subdivided among so great a number of persons as to render it impossible for all to prosper without a very much increased consumption. The Land Fund Revenue for the quarter was £53,757, against £70,035 for