10 



and veriest insignificant substance of ancient art and 

 of ancient pride possess, while the never changing^ 

 imperishable, ever eloquent, constantly useful, and 

 always instructive types and originals of Creation's 

 first Existence are overlooked and despised ! These 

 tell of the majesty and excellence, the deep thrilling, 

 instructive voice of Nature, to the reflecting and 

 thinking mind; those that individuals of our own 

 species, once lived and died and passed away into 

 comparative oblivion. These unfold to us leaf after 

 leaf, of those constantly instructive pages, which are 

 written on the heavens and engraven on the earth, 

 while those only assure us, that the same operations 

 of the natural world are every where the same in 

 mode and effect. These exhibit to our admiring eye, 

 the inimitable perfection of Creative Power, and 

 those, only the extent of human industry and skill. 



It is with pleasure then, that we perceive the efforts 

 and studies of our Society principally directed to the 

 natural productions of our own immediate vicinity, 

 though by no means regardless of other and more dis- 

 tant. Perhaps few are aware, how wide is the field, 

 not only of observation, but of actual discovery imme- 

 diately around them. If the more obvious may be 

 already familiar, the patient and curious eye, and the 

 constant untiring observation, is rewarded in some un- 

 expected manner. Apart from the pleasure and value 

 of a general knowledge of any branch of science, 

 which the labor and ingenuity, the research and talent, 

 of others may have prepared for any one's more ready 

 acquisition, such is the amazing extent of inquiry, 

 which can constantly employ the mind, such the mys- 



