( cxxxviii ) 



This applies also to the open areas in forests. A good spot 

 for Lepidoptera may become entomologically worthless in 

 consequence of the place becoming overgrown with a dense 

 mass of hazel, elder, aspen and other shrubs and trees which 

 grow rapidly. A control is necessary. In such small areas 

 the fauna should also be under control, as there is always the 

 danger that certain species may become so numerous as to 

 be a serious danger to the weaker members of the fauna. An 

 excess of blackbirds and thrushes in a shrubbery will keep 

 out other birds, and the fostering of large numbers of tits 

 may lead to the extermination of certain insects. If the areas 

 are large, these dangers are not likely to obtain. 



We are only at the beginning of science; it is doubtful if 

 the human race will ever get very far advanced in the know- 

 ledge of the physical, chemical and biological problems 

 which obtain on this planet. But one thing is certain, that 

 the study of plant ecology and of the ways in which animals 

 (the word being used in its widest sense) flourish among their 

 own surroundings, is of vital importance to the human race. 

 Farmers have known for a vast period of time that clover is 

 a good rotation crop to grow where wheat is cultivated. 

 It is, however, only quite recently that the reason of this has 

 been understood. Doubtless if the connection of plant and 

 animal association were better understood than it is to-day, 

 the advantages to the human race would be incalculable. 

 Year by year, as wild life is destroyed, the opportunities for 

 the study of this problem are restricted. I feel confident 

 that if ever a number of nature reserves are established, the 

 good that will come to mankind from their establishment 

 will be quite out of proportion to what is at present expected 

 from them. We have to think of posterity, we have to think 

 of education. For both these purposes the nature reserve is 

 of value. And the camera should not be forgotten. Photo- 

 graphs of nature reserves as they look from year to year will 

 be of immense value to the future student. 



Two years ago there was an International Congress at 

 Berne to discuss the international protection of nature. I 

 was deputed by the British Government to attend that 

 Congress, and no less than thirty-five delegates were present, 



