PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 105 



lictrum and Asclepias Cornuti, Macrurus Fabricii, Didel- 

 phys and Cauls Azarce, C hanliodiis Sloanei, Alutera 

 Schcepfii, Sterna, Forsteri, Stolephorus Mitchilli, Malacan- 

 thus Plumieri, Salix C?itlerz and Pinus Banksiana, the 

 Kalmia, the Jeffersonia, the Hernandia, the Comptonia, 

 the Sarracenia, the GaultJicria, the Kuhnia, the Ellisia, 

 the Coldenia, the Robinia, the Banisteria, the Phimieria, the 

 Collinso/n'a, the Bartramia, all bear the names of men associ- 

 ated with the beginnings of Natural History in America. 



Yet, pleasant as it is to recall in such manner the achieve- 

 ments of the fathers of natural history, let us not do them the 

 injustice to suppose that posthumous fame was the object for 

 which they worked. Like Sir Thomas Browne, they believed 

 that " the world was made to be inhabited by beasts, but to 

 be studied by man." Let us emulate their works and let us share 

 with them the admonitions of the " Religio Medici." 



" The wisdom of God," says Browne, " receives small honor 

 from those vulgar heads that rudely stray about, and with a gross 

 rusticity admire his works ; those highly magnify him whose 

 judicious inquiry into his acts, and deliberate research into his 

 creatures, return the duty of a devout and learned admiration. 

 Therefore," he continues — 



" Search while thou wilt and let thy reason go 

 To ransom truth, even to the abysse below, 

 Rally the scattered causes, and that line 

 Which nature twists be able to untwine. 

 It is thy Maker's will, for unto none 

 But unto reason can He e'er be known." 



