“As president of the Natural History Society of Western Australia, and on
behalf of its council and its members, as well as on behalf of all
scientific men not only in Australia, but throughout the world, and of all
lovers of nature, I desire to convey to you our earnest hopes that the
Government may see their way to proclaim Barrow Island an absolute fauna
and flora reserve for all time. We feel that the time has come when
Western Australia must do its utmost to preserve from absolute extinction
some of its many rare and unique animals in suitable localities adequately
guarded from the vandal. This is a duty we owe not only to ourselves, but
to posterity, for whom we hold in trust the natural resources of our
State. Bitterly will they complain if no relics are left them to indicate
the natural fauna of the land they inhabit. Unless energetic and thorough
measures are at once undertaken, this result must invariably ensue.
Already several priceless native animals belonging to this State have
disappeared off the face of the earth to return no more. Their remaining
skeletons and skins, like those of the extinct dodo and great auk, will
doubtless, being of much scientific value, command unthought of sums of
money. On Barrow Island exist a species of kangaroo (Macropus
isabellinus), a bandicoot (Perameles barrowensis), a rat (Mus ferculinus),
and a native wren (Malurus odouardi), none of which are found anywhere
else in the world. They are, in fact, unique, and must be preserved at all
hazards for all time. At present, even their intrinsic value is very great
and as years roll on must increase. The leasing of this island to any
private person or company is bound to be followed by their rapid
destruction and ultimate disappearance. As a strict fauna reserve they
would be preserved for all time, and there the naturalist and nature-lover
might pilgrimage to see in their native haunts animals to be viewed
nowhere else in the globe. Even from a commercial aspect the reservation
would be a sound business proposition, not only for its attraction to
visitors from abroad, but even if necessary for the occasional sales of
the valued specimens it contains to museums and zoological gardens
throughout the world.

“Having laid, therefore, these facts before you, Sir, I desire to hope for
the most cordial support and earnest endeavours of yourself personally, as
well as on behalf of the Government, to obtain and to maintain for all
time for the benefit of the people of this State Barrow Island as a
reserve for our indigenous fauna.”