116 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
from flower to flower, carrying on the work of floral fructification, gathering 
sweet food for their unborn offspring, sometimes with mysterious movements 
filling the air with melody; thus whilst these sweet sounds blend with 
other sounds, the soft “ music through creation stealing,” awakens holy and 
happy emotions in the soul, till every chord of our inmost nature vibrates in 
unison with harmonies that swell around; and they and we join in the song 
of universal joy, ‘‘ All Thy works praise Thee, O Lord.” I have often envied 
the individual who has seen the large Copper Butterfly in its native wilds. 
Beautiful it is, and brilliant when laid out in death. Few now possess this 
extinct species of the British Lepidoptera. But the naturalist was favoured 
above many who saw its transcendant beauty, its brighter brilliancy, as it 
once floated in the sunshine of the summer day. Those who have seen it 
will not easily forget that gorgeously resplendent wing that trembled with 
iridescent light like the mingled flashes of tiny diamonds. But we would 
not invite your attention to natural history merely from this low point of 
obseryation—that thus you will gratify your taste for the beautiful or awaken 
within emotional enjoyments. A child can perceive the beautiful in form 
and colour—can perceive the sweet influence of song and scene, and be a 
child still. "We seek a higher object—a more honourable end is before us, 
It is knowledge—it is more—it is knowledge that can lead us to compare, to 
classify, to perceive great affinities, to draw general conclusions, to learn 
some of the great laws that rule in the physical world, and in some measure 
understand the grand and benevolent designs of the great Maker and Law- 
giver of creation. But whilst it is in the quietude of the study we can draw 
these general conclusions, it is by observing the facts and operations of 
nature, where alone these phenomena are going on, that we can draw safely 
those inductions which constitute the great principles of natural science, 
Away then to the field and the forest ; to the hill, the valley, and the river 
side, There shall we realise most emphatically the truth and power of the 
inspired statement—‘‘ The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all 
them that have pleasure therein.”’ 
Will you allow me to make a few observations which may guard you 
against the erroneous impression that the members of a local Natural History 
Society should restrict their studies to the fauna or flora of their own neigh- 
bourhood. Doubtless one of the great designs of such societies is to accom- 
plish this important result. Perhaps the complete natural history of a 
country will never be fully worked out, except through the active agencies 
of such associations. Let us, however, remember that this supposes that 
those who haye combined together are accomplished naturalists, and have a 
comprehensive acquaintance with the various branches of natural history, so 
that they can detect rare or new species which haye hitherto escaped obser- 
