Page:Acclimatisation; its eminent adaptation to Australia.djvu/7

5. The next successful effort was the introduction of certain species of Himalayan pheasants in 1857, which have succeeded very well.

On the establishment of a society in this colony, attention should not only be directed to the introduction of living animals and plants foreign to the soil, but also to adopt efficient and energetic means for the preservation, domestication, and rearing those indigenous to the colony. By a combination of these efforts the resources of the colony will be increased, the field of commerce enlarged, employing labour with profit, adding to our alimentary resources, and forming a combination of the useful and ornamental; and, by the addition of the acclimatised races to our indigenous stock, increase our material for food, and also our economical products.

A society of this description is not formed for the use of men of science. It may, and no doubt will require their direction and assistance, but it demands the aid of all classes of people, and the good resulting from it will be for the benefit of every one. It ought to be formed of landholders, squatters, agriculturists, breeders of stock, as well as the public generally. When carried out successfully, it will impart life and beauty to our plains and forests, where at present animals are scarce, and it will fill our lakes and rivers with beautiful objects of nature.

While we have been establishing our botanical gardens arid adding to our valuable timber, fruit, and flowering trees (useful both for food and manufactures), we have failed in directing our attention to the animal kingdom until by the establishment of zoological gardens in the principal cities of Europe the foundation of the acclimatisation societies was laid.

To be successful in the art of acclimatisation, it will be necessary to study with great observation and accuracy the habits and economy of animals, as numerous failures in the introduction of living specimens, both in this colony and in Europe, have resulted from a want of proper attention to it.

Mr. Ledger, to whom we are indebted for the introduction of those valuable animals the alpacas, devoted a number of years to the study of their habits before he could successfully introduce them into this colony, and we find the mistakes made in the rearing and acclimatisation of animals in this and other countries have been the ideas many persons entertained, that they have only to raise a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing and introducing valuable animals, without acquiring any previous knowledge of their habits or peculiarities, either with regard to