PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 43 



the plants, birds, beasts, and men of a new country. Mr. Hale 

 gives a list of these drawings as identified by Sloane and others. 

 Among these were the bald eagle, the red-headed, hairy, and 

 golden-winged woodpeckers, the bluebird, red-wing blackbird, 

 towhee, red-bird, blue jay, and fox-colored thrush, the crow black- 

 bird, and apparently the mocking bird — "Artamockes, the linguist : 

 a bird that imitateth and useth the sounds, and tones of almost all 

 birds in the Countrie." Among the fish we recognize the mullet 

 (Tctszo), the menhaden or old-wife (Afasunnehockeo) , and the 

 sturgeon ( Coppauleo) , and perhaps the squeteague or chigwit 

 ( Chigxvusso) . 



The science of North America, then, began with Thomas 

 Harriott. Let us review together to-night its progress for a period 

 of two centuries — a period coinciding almost exactly with the 

 colonial portion of the history of the United States. 



•' The present generation," says Whewell, " finds itself the 

 heir of a vast patrimony of science, and it must needs concern 

 us to know the steps by which these possessions were acquired 

 and the documents by which they are secured to us and our heirs 

 forever. Our species from the time of its creation has been trav- 

 elling onwards in pursuit of truth ; and now that we have reached 

 a lofty and commanding position, with the broad light of day 

 around us, it must be grateful to look back on the line of our past 

 progress ; to review the journey begun in early twilight amid pri- 

 meval wilds ; for a long time continued with slow advance and 

 obscure prospects ; and gradually and in later days followed 

 along more open and lightsome paths, in a wide and fertile re- 

 gion. The historian of science, from early periods to the present 

 time, may hope for favor on the score of the mere subject of his 

 narrative, and in vii'tue of the curiosity which the men of the 

 present day may naturally feel respecting the events and persons 

 of his story." 



