10 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
the spores at 4000 millions ; when further it fairly can be assumed, 
that a large tree of our silver-wattle may produce as a total from 
its copious masses of flower-headlets 25 millions of tiny flowers, 
800 millions of stamens, and 8000 millions of the compound 
pollen-grains ; when a red-gum eucylaptus or a manna eucalyptus 
may exhibit the twenty-fifth part of a billion of stomata in the 
whole of its foliage. 
Let us turn to another subject. Choice areas, not necessarily 
very extensive, should be reserved in every great country for some 
maintenance of the original vegetation, and therewith for the 
preservation of animal life concomitant to peculiar plants. Where 
the endemic riches are greatest, there also the danger is more 
imminent of these being swept out of existence, unless timely 
measures are adopted for the reservation of some sequestered spot, 
to which rural occupations should never be allowed to have any 
access with their disturbing influence on primeval harmonies. 
Such spots should be proclaimed for all times the people’s inalien- 
able property, and every inhabitant or visitor of the locality 
should consider himself the co-preserver of such areas, so as to aid 
in preventing accidental invasion or casual ignition or intentional 
spoliation. Furthermore, to such places of security should he 
transferred plants and animals of exceptional rarity occurring 
near these seclusions. ‘¢ Floral commons,” thus established, would 
soon be among the most attractive features, not only for pleasure 
excursionists, but also for travellers from abroad, and would afford 
future generations in various territories some idea of the wondrous 
natural beauty of vegetable and animal life in its once unique 
loveliness, pristine grace and unimpaired freedom. Measures 
like these once initiated would earn enduring gratitude, and would 
find imitation in all countries, and particularly in those, where 
nature has scattered its floral gifts most prodigiously over the 
territorial expanse. Under intelligent supervision such places, 
through restricted concessions, might be made to yield a greater 
income, than accruable through ordinary rural occupation. Who 
would not plead in this cause? as our Field Naturalists’ Club has 
indeed so fervently done already, More and more of rarities are 
commencing to succumb and to be made unrestorable, and scarcely 
a spot seems safe on the face of the globe against the defacing hand 
of man! To the Great Auk no longer any existence was allowed 
on the remotest hiding-place of Iceland, where the last poor pair 
succumbed, while courageously defending their nest! Will any 
remnant of the tribe of the gigantic birds, lingering yet in the 
recesses of far southern latitudes, perhaps share the same fate ? 
At this instance may be called into memory the touching verses 
by the greatest of German poets, relating how the chamois is 
driven by the relentless hunter to the utmost pinnacle of its 
highland-home, and then the Alp-spirit of the legend sallies forth 
with wrathful voice, ‘ Pause! why do you hurt my herd?’ Space 
is left for all on earth! 
