375 



globe, and especially on our own coast for the study of the 

 embryology, development, and habits of marine animals, and their 

 relationship to all those conditions under which their life is carried 

 on. * With the marine department of Zoology we have nothing 

 to do on the present occasion. But the same system of careful 

 observation is needed for the study of animals inhabiting the land 

 and fresh waters. And wherever Field Clubs exist they should 

 consider themselves as an associated band of observers for collecting 

 the Natural History facts of their own district. Every local 

 Faunist should have his own little private Observatory, where he 

 may watch over the ever-shifting phenomena of the animal world, 

 where, too, he may carry on those investigations and experiments, 

 which I shall have to speak of in the course of this paper, and 

 which can only be properly undertaken by those resident on the 

 Bpot. 



It may be remembered that I made some allusion to this subject 

 in my Anniversary Address for 1871. Speaking of Biology, and 

 the questions it gave rise to at the present time in connection with 

 the Darwinian theories, I went on to mention the opportunities 

 afforded to the local naturalist to take up some of these inquiries. 

 They might call for much patient and lengthened research, but the 

 result would be of great value. It would have the more value 

 from being entirely the result of personal observation. There is 

 nothing like a man's " own autopsia," to use Gilbert White's 

 expression, for verifying facts in Natural History. Indeed, had 

 White belonged to the present generation, no man would have been 

 better fitted than he was to undertake such work as is required at 

 the hands of the local naturalist at the present day. A close and 

 accurate observer, he let nothing escape him. He watched nature 

 with untiring patience and assiduity, content to labour on for a 

 considerable term of years in his own narrow field, which never 

 lost its interest with him, nor failed to yield something new so 

 long as he continued to give it his attention. And from the habit 

 of " keeping a sharp look out," he was able to record many little 

 points and features in the history of the animals about him, which, 

 though of common occurrence, had never been noticed by any 

 * See "Nature," vol. v., p. 277. 



