ee 
Helvetic Society. 373 
Mammifera, birds, fish, reptiles, insects; Switzerland pre- 
sents within her inclosure, specimens more or less interesting 
of the whole organic kingdom, and the same may be said of 
mineral varieties, as is evinced by the rich collections of these 
objects already formed in some of our cities, and which are 
receiving almost daily augmentation. : 
From our lowest plains to our summits covered with eter- 
nal snow, we possess also every variety of climate within the 
limited circle of our twenty-two republics. Meteorology 
will receive, we trust, from a regular and uniform system of 
observations, which it is vow in contempla‘ion to establish in 
all the chief places of the cantons, previous data for uniting 
and comparing. The management of our forests, an object 
of the first importance, will also engage the attention of our 
society; and in the present session we shall receive some 
information from our colleagues Profs. Pictet and Decandolle 
upon the track which they propose to follow in those two 
branches of philosophical research, as well as in those whose 
object is the hypsometrical determination of the height above 
the level of the sea of all the principal points of Switzerland 
and of the various declivities of its rivers. e hydro- 
techny of our country is particularly interested in these de- 
terminations; and the memorable labours of the Linth, 
(which cannot be recalled without honouring with profound 
regrets the memory of the benefactor of that country ;) the 
success, I say, of these labours have convinced us of the 
importance and of the possibility of the success of these ex- 
tensive drainings, which areneeded in numerous swamp 
plains; operations which render to agriculture large quanti- 
ties of unproductive lands, and cause salubrity to prevail 
where nought but pernicious influences held their reign. But 
it is time to finish these general and preliminary considera- 
tions. 
I should abuse your indulgence, very dear and honoured 
colleagues, if I any longer interrupted your proceedings. M 
duty is confined to directing your observance of the order of 
the day as prescribed, according to custom, by the committee 
of direction, assembled prior to the opening of the session. 
Bibliotheque Universelle, September 1824, 
