THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 255 



rudimentary gills, and that there had been gills in that position at 

 some time. I then thought if I could obtain some less modified 

 forms of crayfish, such as are found still in Australia, I should be 

 able to throw some light on the matter. I did so, and found in the 

 place of these rudiments perfectly developed branchiae. This led 

 me to seek for similarities of structure in the lobster and the marine 

 crayfish, and these again led me on to examine other Crustacea ; 

 and I need hardly say that the bearing of all this upon the theory 

 of evolution from a common type was very important. From these 

 things I was led to look into the structure of the muscles, the sper- 

 matozoa, the chitinous cuticle, the eye, an^ other parts, and there 

 was not one of these which did not present interesting novelties and 

 would not have taken months of work to get to the bottom of it, so 

 as to make oneself thoroughly acquainted with every detail. You 

 may find plenty of work if even you confine yourselves to such 

 common things as caterpillars. Lyonet, you know, spent many 

 years over his caterpillar, and the result was a monograph which 

 will last for all time. 



This is the kind of service which those members of the Club may 

 perform who feel inclined for it ; it is work which may be of very 

 great value, and which certainly cannot be undertaken by those who 

 have to occupy themselves with science as a whole. 



I think that this is the pith of the remarks which I wished to 

 offer to you this evening, and I find for the reasons already men- 

 tioned that I am coming to the end of my tether ; but if you will 

 take them as hints and suggestions, they will I am sure receive 

 amplification as you seek to act upon them. 



It remains now for me only to do two things — first I have to 

 express my regret for the inefficient manner in which I have per- 

 formed the not very onerous duties of President of the Club — but I 

 think I may remind you that at the commencement of the term, I 

 ventured to prophecy that such was likely to be the case ; the reason, 

 however, has certainly not been the lack of any interest in your 

 proceedings, but simply that I am one of those working men of 

 science whose labours are somewhat manifold ; and in the second 

 place, I have to thank you for the kindness and courtesy with which 

 I have been received on this and on all other occasions, and to con- 

 gratulate you on the election of your next President, who will, I 

 hope, make up to you for all the deficiencies of your present retiring 

 President. 



