CoLENSo. — Presidential Address. 119 



perfect genera of mosses — Grimmia and Orthotrichum — hitherto 

 only known, each genus, by four to five indigenous species, but 

 in the last volume (xxvii.) of the " Transactions of the New 

 Zealand Institute" Mr. E. Brown, of Canterbury, has described 

 no less than thirty new species of Grimmia and forty new 

 species of Orthotrichum. In tlie same volume also are some 

 scores of new species of the smaller animals described. Plen- 

 teous harvests yet await the patient and zealous seeker and 

 observer ; but, even if it were not so, the natural delight arising 

 from closely contemplating the wondrous and manifold ope- 

 rations of nature is beyond expression a rich reward. It has 

 been recently observed that " discovery crowds so quickly on 

 discovery that the truth of to-day is often apt to be modified, 

 or amplified, by the truth of to-morrow." True; yet a single 

 fresh fact may throw a wholly new and unexpected light upon 

 the results already attained, and cause them to assume a some- 

 what different aspect. 



In conclusion, I should like to say a few more words (it may 

 be my last words) on the beauties of nature, by which we are 

 surrounded on land and sea, in the hope of inciting some one 

 of my more youthful audience to come out and enlist under 

 Nature's maternal banner. For while, on the one hand, I 

 know (alas ! too well) that there are but a very small number 

 at present inclined that way, yet, on the other hand, this is 

 partly owing to the want of some good, kind, efficient, and 

 loving teacher to strike the dormant chord within the breast 

 that awaits the sympathetic touch, when, like a common 

 match or an electric spark, it immediately responds, and the 

 long latent but now never-dying flame is enkindled, and a 

 new life begins. 



It has long seemed to me that the good time is coming, 

 and ere long, perhaps, will suddenly come, when some loving 

 scientific teacher in a school (it may be in a retired country 

 one) will be led to begin this good and useful work — at first in 

 a humble, unpretentious way, but ere long to be warmly 

 adopted by a whole band of willing, loving, active, eagerly- 

 inquiring young disciples, whose wholesome and pleasing pur- 

 suit after the attainment of natural science will be amply 

 rewarded to themselves, and followed after by others; for once 

 begun in reality such is sure to spread, being a matter of truth 

 and life. 



I would that I miglrt see this welcome movement begun 

 before that I shall have to say my last farewell to you and to 

 Napier. 



Lastly, in closing my long address, I would ask your 

 indulgence for two things apparent in it — the one its being 

 rather irregular (written at intervals, in various moods, be- 

 tween paroxysms of pain) ; the other its being generally of a 



