103 
doubtless, ho remarks, the offspring of seed tliat had adhered to the 
spado or mattock with which the gi'avo had been dug.* 
I need not multiply instances, but wish to point out that in all 
cases, wliother introduced by man by accident or intention, the 
result is the same, — the new-comers have increased rapidly at tlie 
expense of the native plants or animals. It lias often happened 
that domesticated animals, whicli have reverted to a feral state, 
sucli as the Hog, Goat, &c., have been most destructive, and others 
good in themselves, the Ilabbit, for instance, liavo increased to 
such an extent as to become a positive pest. The same may be said 
of the vegetable immigrants. Few of either, I think, whicli have 
not been kejjt strictly under the control of man, can be said to 
have been beneficial to the new country, and all have assisted more 
or less rapidly to bring about the destruction of the native fauna 
and flora. W ith regard to the extermination of some species for 
the better preservation of others in our own country, thoughtful 
men are beginning to doubt whether it is altogether judicious to 
dictate to iShature, and have at length discovered that withdrawing 
one strand of the cord is by no means the right way to strengthen 
the remainder. It has at length dawned upon them that by over- 
preservation of a species it may be constitutionally weakened, and 
that by destroying all its natural enemies, not only the strong, 
which would stand the best chance of surviving to propagate a 
healthy race, but the weak also, Avhich, under normal conditions, 
would bo eliminated, are spared to continue a degenerate and 
diseased race. The Hawk will not by preference .select the swiftest 
bird of the covey, nor will the Otter tackle the strongest salmon in 
the stream ; like man, he strives to attain his ends with as small 
an expenditure of labour as possible, and it is the weak and lea.st- 
resisting which first tall a prey. 
I have already trespassed so long upon your patience that I dare 
not stop to add more to what I have already said ; I trust, how- 
ever, that I have made clear the dangerous nature of experimental 
“ acclimatization ” so called, and that I have been able to interest you 
in some of the changes which are taking place in the founa and flora 
of the regions which we liave hastily visited. I’hat these changes 
must eventually take place appeal’s inevitable, but I hope that all 
good Naturalists will think twice before they lend a helping hand to 
what, from one point of view, can only be regarded as an unmixed evil. 
* Free. Roy. Inst. vol. viii. p. 5GS. 
