14 
under any circumstances, can be worth one thousand other 
facts. The assertion, indeed, has a very Hibernian aspect, 
but the author belongs to that land which gave birth to the 
immortal Robert Burns. 
In the remarks I have made, let it not be understood, 
that I do not set the greatest value on personal observation. 
I admit it to be of the utmost consequence ; and, indeed, it 
is the only way in which new facts ean be acquired, and ex- 
isting errors rectified; but then, that is no reason for our 
neglecting books, or undervaluing them. When new facts 
and increased knowledge are acquired, how can they be 
preserved, and how communicated to others, but by books? 
The fact, however, is, that the authors to whom I have been 
alluding, do not believe in the doctrine which they preach. 
Within the last twelve months, Mr. Rennie, whom I lately 
quoted, has himself published several volumes, and is the 
author of various works besides, which are of the highest 
value to the student and the general reader. These volumes 
T recommend to you, to read again and again: they contain 
more knowledge of the subjects on which they treat, than 
our whole Society, were every member’s life doubled, could, 
by its own observation, probably attain to. When I men- 
tion the “Insect Architecture, Insect Transformations, In- 
sect Miscellanies,” and the “Architecture of Birds,” you 
will, I believe, assent to the truth of what I assert. 
There is another point of view, in which we may perceive 
the great advantage of books to a naturalist. It is only 
‘ under particularly favourable circumstances that a person 
ean himself have much opportunity of observing and of ad- 
ding to the general stock of knowledge. How is a person 
confined to business almost the whole year round, to make 
observations on what is going on in the field and the forest, 
the glen and the mountain? How many of yourselves, 
