ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 159 



of the Association, by keeping it well supplied with original Papers, to 

 carry out its objects, and give employment to its numerous officers. 



But yet, mere employment for a showy staff is not the proper func- 

 tion of our Society, and should not be its highest aim. We are not 

 associated together merely for the purpose of passing an agreeable 

 evening, giving and receiving information on subjects of natural history. 

 This is certainly one motive for our assembling at stated periods. 

 But the true objects of the Association are much higher : they are to 

 develop a taste for natural history in the younger members of the Uni- 

 versity, to train up a succession of faithful observers, and, if possible, to 

 found a school of Irish naturalists worthy of the old walls within which 

 we meet, and of those honoured names who have preceded us in similar 

 studies. "We, who hold office in the Association, ought to consider how 

 these several objects can be best carried out. 



The first object, that of developing a taste for natural history, is 

 attempted to be attained by our regular meetings, where original papers 

 are brought forward and freely discussed ; and which generally begin 

 and end with pleasant social intercourse. When numbers are thus 

 brought together by a common object, it can hardly fail but that some 

 interest will be excited, and some taste for the subject discussed be 

 developed. The University Museum, the Herbarium, and the Botanic 

 Gardens are also, under efficient guidance, thrown open to the student, 

 whose early difficulties can best be met by reference to such collections, 

 and whose taste may be fostered by seeing what has already been done, 

 and how much remains to do. Our next object, that of training up a 

 succession of faithful observers, is necessarily second in order of time, 

 and higher in aim. Taste for a subject must precede observation and 

 study; and having acquired the taste, or motive power, the student 

 often needs direction from experienced hands how he can best turn his 

 powers to account. What class of observations are they which are most 

 needed by the present state of natural history ; and what can a student 

 in a restricted locality, or with limited time, do towards contributing 

 to the general stock ? Are the student's endeavours to be wholly or 

 chiefly directed to the discovery of new species, or of new habitats for 

 the rarer kinds; or how else may he become a useful and original 

 observer ? 



To answer all these queries fully would lead me too far. I must 



ZOOL. ft BOT. SOC TROC. VOL. I. 2 



