PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 171 



short time elapsed before other osseous remains, belonging to the same 

 species, - arrived from New Zealand; and his greatest triumph was achieved 

 on seeing a small living specimen brought over from that country, and 

 which, no doubt, many here present, have seen in the London Zoological 

 Gardens; I allude to the extraordinary little Apteryx. Here was a noble 

 result of mental combination, of truthful appreciation of nature's undevi- 

 ating laws, of harmony in its most perfect form. But we may look, and 

 examine where we will, throughout the whole structural arrangement of 

 nature, we find this wonderful principle ever existing. And from man 

 down to the lowest and simplest form of created being, a chain connects 

 one type with another, by a succession of links, — a series of shades and 

 sbadowings, that leads the mind imperceptibly onwards and onwards, 

 descending the scale of organic creation, until it verges on that dark and 

 mysterious threshold, where life begins and inanimate nature ends; where 

 growth by secretion separates from inorganic growth by accretion; where 

 the first principle of life bursts into existence, to upwards soar with 

 increasing attributes, till it culminates in the marvellous structure of 

 man! 



The mind becomes almost prostrated at the vast field laid open for 

 exploration, at the immensity of the design, at the myriads of living 

 things permeating the air and the water, the surface and the under sur- 

 face, all combined together — all forming one magnificent whole of symmetry 

 and beauty! 



It is by the division of Natural History into classes, that relief is 

 afforded to the almost overwhelmed intellect. These classes are again 

 separated into families, and families are subdivided, so that by taking a 

 section of any part, it will be more readily mastered; and when this is 

 attained, by the connecting links, other groups may be brought under 

 examination,, until the mind, like a spring welling from its head, onwards 

 and onwards it gathers as it goes, now a rivulet — then a brook, a stream, 

 a river — until finally it blends with the waters of the mighty ocean. 



The East Kent Natural History Society, as its name implies, is in 

 some measure, a purely local gathering; yet, doubtless many of its mem- 

 bers belong to other societies. 



From one and all, it is to be hoped, that that influence may be given, 

 which will induce the poorer classes to become, in their leisure hours, 

 gleaners in this charming study. In an opening address like the present, 

 I believe it will be better to restrict myself to speak of those divisions 

 of Natural History, within the compass of all to study, and in which 

 East Kent is extremely rich in specimens. Therefore we shall select — 

 ornithology, or the history of birds; entomology, or the history of insects; 

 conchology, the history of shells; zoophyta, includes the zoophytes; and 



