14 



energy into concentration upon special sets of the motor instru- 

 ments of the body, and before maturity is attained the living 

 man is transformed into an automatic mechanism, which becomes 

 so distinctive that no other motion except that which the habit 

 directs is tolerable. Limitation of view, limitation of knowledge, 

 of thought, of sympathy, of muscular movement, becomes a second 

 nature, and leads to dependence of one man on the other and 

 others, until the perfect master in his own department is a helpless 

 child so soon as he is out of his narrow sj^ere. 



He hoped that in the remarks he had felt it his duty to 

 make he had not assumed too preaching a tone ; such was farthest 

 from his intention ; but he was aware that through the kindness 

 of the Press (to which they were so much indebted for the 

 admirable reports of their proceedings), his remarks might reach 

 the eye of some of those absent Members of whom he was thinking 

 and whose co-operation he was anxious to enlist. But some 

 might say, " it is all very well to give us this advice, but we are 

 mere tyros in Science, and we have no companions to lure us to 

 these pleasant pat hs, and help us in our feeble efforts. " To such 

 lie would say that he believed there were gentlemen in the Society 

 Avho would be willing to help them. 



A most valuable suggestion, made some time since by their 

 esteemed Honorary Secretary, Mr. Wonfor, for the verification of 

 the fauna and flora of the county, namely, the establishment of 

 sections for the study of various subjects, was so far carried out 

 that they had three departments provided for at present, with a 

 Chairman and Secretary for each, who were merely waiting for the 

 co-operation of any Members who might thus wish to specialize 

 their work. The subjects were entomology, botany, and 

 vertebrate zoology. And he felt from what he knew of those 

 gentlemen, that they would be very ready to welcome any students, 

 and help them in the acquisition of even elementary knowledge 

 upon these subjects. He would therefore urge them to enrol 

 themselves and see what a winter's work would do to encourage 



