4 Inaitgninl Paper. 



thoroughly as we have searched in some localities, the search has 

 been far from systematic, and if during the spring and summer we 

 take one or two excursions, instead of our ordinary meetings we 

 may hope for considerable reward. 



At any rate do not let us be discouraged if in this branch of our 

 work we effect but little. Even if we fail entirely, we shall be fail- 

 ing in an attempt which will have been worth making, and we shall 

 have nothing with which to reproach ourselves. But I do not 

 anticipate failure. We shall at any rate be thrown together more 

 frequently than would otherwise be possible for an hour's pleasant 

 and profitable intercourse, and meanwhile we must remember how 

 much has often sprung from slight beginnings. It may be interest- 

 ing to you to hear how this little volume of the " Harrow Flora" 

 originated. It commenced entirely in a few very humble botanical 

 discoveries by two Harrovians and myself. These very trifling and 

 purely accidental discoveries interested us ; after this we always 

 told each other of anything fresh which we found, and very soon 

 began to take botanical walks, in which we each put together our 

 scanty quota of information. The information however rapidly 

 grew. The following year others became interested in botany, and 

 the prize which I ofiered that year resulted in Melvill's admirable 

 collection now in the Vaughan Library. Simultaneously with this 

 I suggested to Melvill and Drummond the plan of a "Harrow 

 Flora;" I asked the two Messrs. Bridgeman to draw up an account 

 of the birds, and two old pupils of mine to write a list of the butter- 

 flies. The kindness of the Masters and others in subscribing for 

 the book enabled us to print it, and it remains as a permanent and 

 valuable record of our common labours. I have now the pleasure 

 of showing you in this withered and crumpled specimen of the 

 white Ajuga reptans, a plant which had no slight share in producing 

 the neat little green book now lying before me, — and perhaps in 

 ultimately conducing to the foundation of the present society. 

 Nay, the results it helped to occasion may be wider still, for I 

 believe that one of the authors of the " Harrow Flora" is now 

 engaged on a Flora of Oxford, and another bids fair to become at 

 some future time a very distinguished botanist. 



The exhibition of objects, curious for their connection either 

 with natural history or with some other science, will I hope form 

 one of the pleasures and advantages of our meetings. We shall 

 despise nothing that can be brought before us in this way. Any 

 curious bird, any rare plant, any interesting egg, butterfly, moth, 

 shell, moss, or lichen will be welcome to us ; and sometimes at any 

 rate we shall be able to have the assistance of a powerful micro- 

 scope in unveiling to us their wonders. The few objects of interest 

 in the Vaughan Library will kindly be placed at our disposal, and 



