512 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Session of January 4tli, 1856. — Mons. Dareste, at the request 

 of the president, spoke of Australia. 



He said that the Fauna (animals) and the Flora (the plants) 

 differ entirely from those of any country on earth, and have not 

 yet been studied by naturalists, except very imperfectly, so that 

 we may hope and expect that Australia has in reserve for the 

 human race treasures far more precious in its animal and vegeta- 

 ble kingdoms than all that which draws to it such a host of 

 emigrants. And althougli the fauna and flora of it differ so com- 

 pletely from those of Europe, yet the climates are very much 

 alike. Australia lies between 10° and 40'^, south latitude, 

 France between 45^^ and 55*^ north latitude, but the peculiar con- 

 ditions of the Austral hemisphere compensate partly for this 

 difference of latitude. The eastern and southern parts of it, 

 where the English have established their colonies, are situated 

 between the isothermal (equal temperature) lines of 15*^ and 20°, 

 centigrade in about 57° to 67° fahrenheit, which is analagous to that 

 of Spain, Italy, and part of the south of France. Van Dieman, 

 whose fanna and flora belong to Australia, is, like France itself, 

 for the most part between the isothermal lines of 10° and 1 5° conti- 

 grade, 47° to 57° fahrenheit. The English colonists have since 

 the first, in 1788, introduced there some European animals and 

 plants which have succeeded perfectly. Every one knows how the 

 merinos introduced there by McArthur, father of the present 

 commissary, have flourished to an immense development, and 

 their fine wool now exported. The acclimated wheat averages 

 there twenty-eight bushels per acre, while ours in France is only 

 about one-half of that, and the Australian wheat weighs sixty-four 

 pounds per bushel, which is considerably more than ours in France. 



M. Vandercolme, near Dunkirk, has raised wheat from it, and 

 had from it about sixty bushels per acre. Quinine barks are of 

 spontaneous growth in Australian forests. A leguminous plant, 

 called Tabernamontana, from the environs of the river Clarence, 

 is remarkable for its very bitter principle, and possesses very 

 distinguished febrifuge power. 



The Tokay grape vine, from Hungary, has been for many years 

 successfully cultivated in the south of France, in Languedoc, by 

 M. Emile Nourrigat, a member of this society. It does not de- 

 generate. Connoissem-s say it gives excellent wine. 



Dr. Gosse read the first part of his essay on the advantages of 

 domesticating the African and the American ostriches in Algeria. 



Breeding fishes occupies attention and practice. 



