246 



presents, falls the happiness of finding out facts which are at 

 once new and old. Old in that they have perhaps existed for 

 long ages : new in that they have never before been discovered by 

 the human mind, and the more they learn the more impressed 

 are they with the truth : 



" Each moss, 

 " Each shell, each crawling insect, holfis a rank 

 " Important in the plan of Him who framed 

 " This scale of beings ; holds a rank which, lost, 

 " Would break the chain, and leave behind a gap 

 <' Which Nature's self would rue." 



Gentlemen, as one who has from childhood loved Nature, and 

 one who finds in her contemplation the most pure and healthful 

 of occupations in which it is possible to employ the mind, I must 

 ask your forgiveness if I have trespassed too long upon your 

 patience. When many of us present here to-night begin to write 

 of Nature our minds are immediately filled with gorgeous 

 pictures of cloud-capped hill-tops and azure skies ; of the rich 

 and variegated shades of vegetation on sunlit mountain-side ; of 

 deliciously cool and shady %'alleys ; or roaring mountain torrents, 

 gurgling streamlets and limpid lakes ; the air is filled with the 

 busy hum of wings and insect voices ; the grand choruses of 

 our birds as they flit to and fro in the morning sunshine ; the 

 breezes are heavy Avith the fragrance of a mjTiad plants and 

 flowers round which play hundreds of gaily winged butterflies ; 

 beetles and flies of brilliant metalic hues present a thousand 

 difierent aspects as they dart about with lightning sjjeed, or hang 

 poised on quivering wings in middle air, emulating the sheeny 

 glitter of the brightest of Golconda's gems. Strange foi-ms creep 

 in the shade and along the branches, assuming fantastic shapes, 

 but all are exquisitely, wonderfully, varied and lovely — all call 

 for our admiration for 



" Nature hath made nothing so base but can 

 " Read some instruction to the wisest man." 



(Applause.) 



His Excellency the Administrator then rose and said : 

 Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to 

 your President for the very interesting and able addi'ess he has 

 presented to us to-night. I am sure we have all listened to it 

 ■with a great deal of attention. I can only congratulate the com- 

 piler on the language he has used and the many interesting sub- 

 jects which he has brought under our notice. I hope that the 

 members of the Club will act upon the suggestions that have 

 been made, that the reputation the Club has secured for itself 

 will continue and that the eflbrts they are making in the Field 

 of Nature will )je appreciated by those who take an equal interest 



