INAUGURAT, ADDKESS. 177 



to be tlaeir protectoi*. Charles Waterton, the very type of the real 

 Natui-alist, proved at Waltou Hall how much might be done by non- 

 interference. The Park, under his care, was soon filled with birds and 

 animals, who were attracted not by feeding and other artificial 

 contrivances, but by its peaceful retreats, where they soon acquired the 

 knowledge that they might abide there undisturbed ; no gamekeeper was 

 employed, nor was any gun or trap used for the purpose of keeping down 

 vermin ; birds and beasts of prey had full liberty to range. through those 

 real preserves, where nature alone determined the balance ; the result 

 was, with no dearth of game, both great and small, a greater variety 

 of other living creatures congregated on a limited area than can 

 now be found in extended districts. There the Naturalist might study 

 the habits of the various tribes which make the country beautiful, 

 with an ease afforded in few other resorts, for freedom from interference 

 had made them fearless and tame ; elsewhere, with good reason, they 

 dread the sight of man, and so far as is possible keep themselves out of 

 his range. We cannot turn the whole country into a preserve like this ; 

 the necessities of a teeming population must take precedence ; biit there 

 will be yet for a long time many nooks and corners which will be fre- 

 quented by the varied objects of our study, if we leave them alone, and 

 content ourselves to — 



Look on this beautiful world, and read the truth 

 In her fair page ; see, every season brings 

 New change to her, of everlasting youth ; 

 Still, the green soil with joyous living things 

 Swarms, -the wide air is full of joyous wings. 

 And mjT:iads still are happy in the sleep 

 Of ocean's azure gulfs. 



Dr. Spencek Cobbold, F.E.S., then addressed the meeting. He said 

 he had hstened to many addresses in years jiast, but he had never listened 

 to one affoi'ding more pleasure, and more instruction and satisfaction, 

 than that delivered by their President. He congratulated the President 

 on his address, inasmuch as he had left no stone unturned in marldng 

 the course the Union should take. The range of the address they had 

 just heard was veiy extensive. With whomsoever the idea of the Union 

 of Midland Natural History Societies originated, he (Dr. Cobbold) mi^.st say 

 that the thought was a most happy one ; he had no doubt that the origin 

 in the first instance might be traced to the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. Now the British Association had no doubt 

 done much good work, but still its name was, to some extent, a misnomer. 

 The British Association should be called " The British Association for 

 the Diffusion of Science." It had done its work well, inasmuch as it 

 had set going many persons, in places where it had established what he 

 might call a temporary home, and perhaps in no town had its effects 

 been more felt than in the town of Birmingham. He thought the union 

 of tlie Natural History Societies of the Midlands would really jjrove a 

 greater vehicle for the advancement of science than the projectors of the 

 Union ever dreamt of, inasmuch as inembers would no doubt adopt 

 what was insisted upon in the President's paper, aud become actual 

 workers in the cause of science. There was another object which he 

 had no doubt would be achieved by the Union, namely tlae encourage- 

 ment of native talent. Men who had hitherto not had the opportunities 

 would endeavour to make them, aud being encoiu^aged by those around 



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