The movements of the Planets and their Satellites are calcu- 

 lated with extreme accuracy. 



The exact period that an eclipse, occultation, or transit will 

 take place, is calculated and known to the fraction of a second ; 

 and for this reason, that all the movements of the heavenly 

 bodies are subject to law. 



I may here remark that even the most if^norant do not dispute 

 these facts of Science, but accept them without question. 



No one doubts that an eclipse will take place at the exact 

 moment predicted, and even the motions of such erratic bodies 

 as comets are ascertained with approximate precision ; so that the 

 popular mind can be easily led to believe in the approach of a 

 comet. 



Now it becomes the duty, and should always also be the 

 pleasure, of the Naturalist, to try and discover the laws which 

 govern the evolution of life on the earth. 



To this end he should seek for assistance from the Astronomer, 

 Geologist, Palfei|itologist, Zoologist, Phytologist, and Chemist. 



It has always been a subject of regret that each specialist has 

 pursued his investigations without reference to the light which 

 could have been thrown on his studies by the help of other 

 Sciences. 



I do not mean by this that a scientific man should be ac- 

 quainted with all the sciences thoroughly ; this would be an 

 impossibilitj'. But I do maintain that a general knowledge of 

 all the sciences is necessary to enable any one to make a proper 

 and safe progress in the particulai- science to which he devotes 

 himself. 



It is well here to note that a general is not to be confounded 

 with a superficial knowledge ; the former is sound as far as it 

 goes, the latter at the best is a smattering. 



I have deemed these preliminary remarks necessary before 

 dealing with the particular science of Natural Historj', for the 

 study of which, and for aiding those studies by the assistance 

 both of Microscopy and Photography, this Society was constituted. 



I propose, therefore, during the short time at my disposal, to 

 draw youi- attention to certain facts well known to most of you, 

 or at any rate which all can verify, which to my mind offer 

 evidence tending to prove that the forms of life as they at present 

 exist in the earth have been evolved. 



That the higher and most complex forms have been developed 



