386 



AUSTEALASIA. 



year to year the disparity diminishes, because the excess of births over the mor- 

 tality, which is much higher than in most other civilised lands, acquires more im- 

 portance the more the general population increases. This excess is already greater 

 than the whole number of immigrants, and thus are gradually re-established the 

 normal conditions. It is also noteworthy that the mortality is far less amongst 



Fig. 163. — Density of the Australian Population. 



Scale 1 : 30,000,000. 



ra 



0to2 



Inhabitants per square mile. 



2 to 4 4 to 8 



Each square represents a population of 2,000. 



^^——.^—^—^—^— 600 IVIiles. 



8 and upwards. 



the women than the men, so that by the end of the century the Australian popu- 

 lation, like that of Europe, will show a slight predominance of the fair sex. 



In the movement of immigration the part taken by the English, Scotch, and 

 Irish preponderates to such an extent that all other ethnical elements may be 

 regarded as of no account. Language, institutions, usages, all is English, and in 

 some places even more English than in England itself.* Many Australians take a 

 certain pride in resisting the current of modern ideas prevalent in the mother country, 

 although their new environment obliges them to strike out fresh paths, severing 



* Froude, Oceana ; Anthony Trollope, Australia and Xcw Zealand. 



