6 DR. EMMONS' REPORT. April, 



of a small district, without the labor of years ; and this is emphati- 

 cally true, when a naturalist attempts to describe all the native animals 

 of this country. In the first settlement of a country, where almost 

 every thins is new, and all is to be learned, it cannot be expected, 

 that correct descriptions of natural objects will be made immediately. 



Much time must necessarily be consumed in the collection of ma- 

 terials, and their accumulation is slow ; and besides, it requires a 

 certain degree of advancement towards affluence, or at least to be 

 above want, before a community will turn its attention to subjects 

 not recognized as being of immediate utility. 



The ultimate end however, of the study of zoology, is the dis- 

 covery of facts which shall be beneficial to mankind. One reason 

 why this result is questioned by any, is, that utility is confined by 

 them within too narrow bounds. Another is, that the true method 

 of study is not understood, and as it is not known that many things 

 are to be learned which cannot be shown to be useful, unless they 

 are links which will lead to the discovery of other important truths, 

 so this class of facts, or this kind of knowledge may be set down 

 for nothing. Every one admits the value of method in all pursuits, 

 the value of a discriminating mind, or in other words, of a correct 

 and sound judgment, and also, what must precede these, a talent 

 and a habit for observation. Whatever therefore, serves todevelope 

 this talent and form this habit, and secure the possession of a sound 

 and correct judgment, or in other words, increase the accuracy of 

 the power by exercise, will not fail to be appreciated in those studies 

 and investigations which are acknowledged to produce these effects. 



These efiects follow almost necessarily from investigation in nat- 

 ural history ; it is, in fact, impossible to advance a step without the 

 adoption of method, or, which is much the same, without science ; 

 for we cannot consider a subject according to a method, without also 

 availing ourselves of some of the important principles of science. 

 Natm-e, in conferring characters on the individuals of her works, has 

 made such a subordination of them, that they may be included in 

 certain groups or families, under a k\v common characters, and in the 

 possession of these characters, there is a common resemblance which 

 is confined to that group or family, and which is also exclusive of ali 

 others. The discrimination of character therefore, leads to the ex- 



