Xll PROCEEDINGS OF TUE 



doubtedly, the promotion and record of discoveries or improve- 

 ments in the science of Natural History, both in its systematic and 

 physiological phase, by means which the Charter has provided, — 

 in its meetings, its publications, its library, and its collections ; 

 but, as the recognized centre and head of these sciences in this 

 country, it has always appeared to me that the Society might 

 exercise certain collateral functions (having for their object the 

 encouragement of this branch of knowledge, and its spread amongst 

 the people) which are not wholly alien from that primary object, 

 and which may legitimately come within the scope of its original 

 design. To one of these I called attention on a former occasion, 

 when I suggested that a relation might with advantage be esta- 

 blished between the Society and the numerous respectable local 

 institutions now existing in almost every county in England, 

 having for their object the cultivation of the natural history and 

 antiquities of the neighbourhood. But besides this, may there not 

 be another, equally if not more efficacious means of promoting this 

 object, in the aid and patronage which the Society might, indi- 

 rectly perhaps, but not ineffectually, afford to that educational 

 movement which appears to have decidedly taken place in this 

 direction ? Whether or not it be practicable for us as a body to 

 take any ostensible part in this important work is at least doubtful, 

 but certainly it behoves every Fellow of the Society in his indi- 

 vidual and personal capacity, — I might almost say in fulfilment of 

 his initiatory obligation, entered into when he joined the Society, — 

 not to omit any opportunity of furthering this desirable end. It 

 is very cheering to the mind of every one who fully apprehends 

 the unspeakable value of these studies in forming the mind and 

 ameliorating the tempers and affections of our youthful population, 

 by exciting and fostering a love of Truth, and training them in the 

 knowledge and admiration of the works of God, to see that there 

 is a daily increasing appreciation of their importance. Nothing 

 can more evidently manifest this encouraging feature of the edu- 

 cational tendencies of the present day, than the great demand for 

 popular works on natural history, whether of a more systematic or 

 biographical character, — whether general or limited to one special 

 department. This demand is liberally supplied by the issue of 

 numerous works, which, if they are not all characterized by perfect 

 accuracy of detail, or philosophical views of generalization, or 

 sound principles of arrangement, are yet calculated to excite and, 

 in great measure, to satisfy the growing appetite for this depart- 

 ment of knowledge. Such works as I i*efer to may be enumerated 



