6 



physiology have been expatiated upon ; as lectures on the 

 "Circulation of Sap," and the "Duality of the Brain," will 

 vindicate. Upon zo-ology, of course, we have had many, 

 many papers ; while each fresh contribution of bird or 

 other animal, has called forth sundry and varied comments, 

 queries!, and answers from ourselves, and then from the 

 audiences, as they felt emboldened to join in the conver- 

 sation. "The Geographical Distribution of Animals" has 

 been lectured upon ; and dry as the subject would ap- 

 pear to be, the expressions of interest taken in it were 

 earnest, and a continuation of the topic was asked. What 

 eminently entertaining subjects one well-known Univer- 

 sity ex-president has chosen to bring us, and what beau- 

 ty of language his pen throws around them ! 



By referring to these few of the many papers presented 

 to the Institute in this way, its members may see what a 

 variety of sciences has come in for a share of attention, — 

 the science of life, of matter, of force, of space, and of 

 time. What of the science of mind? and the science of 

 society? No lectures on psychology, the real science of 

 the mind, on logic, or on philology, to my knowledge 

 have been delivered. And yet T do remember one on 

 "Truth" by Professor Kinsman ; therefore you are asked 

 to mentally supply where this hurriedly made list is defi- 

 cient. A most delightfully attractive course of talks in 

 the first of these sciences might be laid out, however, by 

 starting the questions : W^hat is reason ? What is in- 

 stinct? next, by comparing the workings of instinct in 

 animals and man with reason working in man ; and, fi- 

 nally, by considering whether reason could be predicated 

 of animals, and in what degree. 



The science of society has received notice. Again and 

 again have lectures been offered on the early history of 

 the neighboring towns, as Wells and Kenuebunk ; on York 

 County, and on the State of Maine. These papers have 



