PREFACE. VU. 



distinguished men of Science as are still left us, for the rising or 

 progressive men of Natural Science are few, and owing to their 

 cramped ideas, comparatively stationary. Agassiz knew and lamented 

 this fact when he said that we have more than enough of manufac- 

 turers of books, men who arc mere compilers, who know nothing 

 of their own knowledge of the subjects about which they write ; 

 while we have few men of patient investigation and research coupled 

 with daring and original thought. 



Here then have we lighted our taper to guide the shipwrecked 

 observer who is drowning amidst the swelling seas of opposing theories 

 and systems. Here have we planted our acorn in the already well 

 sown field of science, but whether it will rot in the soil, or the birds 

 of the air will eat it, or the biting frosts will kill it, or whether it 

 will pass unharmed through all these dangers and grow year by year 

 into a mighty oak that shall overtop the forest; time alone will 

 how. 



The present systems of science, and theories of accounting for 

 natural phenomena are like to the starry hosts of heaven. Now 

 one startling announcement, with the first flush of youth, passes like 

 the full moon athwart the zenith, dimming all the others ; but in half 

 a day it is gone, and it appears next evening only as another speck 

 atudded to the starried crown of earth, adding its faint twinkle to 

 the others ; yet, after all, there are none capable of illumining the 

 midnight darkness. Many more are like to the evanescent flight of a 

 meteor that docs not even leave a stone behind it to tell of its pas- 

 sage. Amidst this host we would also claim a space in which to set 

 our feeble flame, and contribute our quota towards dispelling the gloom 

 of mystery and ignorance ; but even this may be denied us. 



