liviii PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



zoological and botanical works which have recently appeared, I also 

 call their attention to a few points, the investigation of which seems 

 to be specially required at the present time. It is true that the 

 leaders of the science whom we are proud to reckon among our 

 Fellows may well consider these remarks as superfluous, but I now 

 address myself more especially to those who, having but a portion of 

 their time to devote to natural history, or limited materials at their 

 disposal, may be pleased to have their attention directed to a few 

 subjects upon which their observations, however minute and isolated, 

 may, if careful and accurate, contribute usefully to the general 

 advancement of science. And if I take my illustrations chiefly from 

 Botany, it is because that is the branch more immediately connected 

 with my own pursuits ; but the same principles are applicable to 

 zoological investigations, the intimate connexion of the two sciences 

 in all their details becoming eveiy day more evident, and I have 

 to thank my friend Mr. Busk for the selection of those new zoological 

 works which appeared most deserving of notice on the present 

 occasion. 



The field of the science is so extensive, and its surface so varied, 

 that we must take separately the salient points from which we can 

 penetrate into its depths. I do not aUude to the divisions of the 

 science according to the groups of animals or plants treated of ; but 

 in each department the attention of zoologists or botanists may be 

 separately directed to general systems and classification, monographs, 

 floras or faunas, descriptions of individual collections, animal and 

 vegetable physiology, including homology of organs and comparative 

 anatomy and biology — if that name may be applied to the history of 

 animal and vegetable life — independently of organic chemistry, 

 palaeontology, practical zoology and botany, and other branches 

 which only partially come within the limits assigned to us. 



Upon general systems and classification the few words I should 

 have to say would be more in terms of deprecation than of en- 

 couragement. The great groups into which animals and plants 

 have been distributed have been gradually established and charac- 

 terized by the combined genius and lifelong labours of the most 

 eminent naturalists, and no modifications can be accepted until their 

 eflects shall have been tested in all their details. All these systems 

 are no doubt susceptible of improvement, and the investigation of 

 characters to be derived from organs hitherto neglected, either from 

 their minuteness or from other causes, might be of great importance, 

 and would always be a legitimate object of our researches. Well- 

 digested series of observations on the position of the ovule, the direc- 



