AUSTRALIAN FAUNA
I was interested to hear something further on the native fauna of Australia from Mr. Max Henry, of Chatswood, who writes, 'The possum it a notorious fruit thief and, being protected, has, in some areas, a clear run. Pos- sum skins make magnificent rugs and that is doubtless one of the reasons why such heavy destruction took place before protection was provided. Our koala bear has suffered even more severely than possum, and special gov- ernmental intervention was necessary to pre- serve their existence. If international trade in furs could be controlled, several species of marsupials would be more effectively pre- served. Attempts have been made to establish farms at which some of the species could he bred commercially, but without success. An- other interesting species native to the country is the bandicoot, a little chap much given to nocturnal activities, burrowing in gardens for grubs and, in the process, destroying a num- ber of roots. The blue-tongue is a lizard of fair size but not approaching the goanna in that respect. He, like all our ,lizards, is quite harmless.'
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