114 NOTES ON THE CONDITION OF ZOOLOGY 



Every established fact in nature, however insignificant 

 it may seem, is of importance. To-day, as well as fifty 

 years ago, one might indeed find rest and infinite pleasure 

 in turning from the tiresome thoroughfares of activity to 

 a contemplation of nature's marvels. And herein lies the 

 very great difference between the Society of Natural His- 

 tory fifty years ago and similar associations of to-day. The 

 work done by these societies in past times is now relegated 

 to the individual care of those who wish for a relief from the 

 strain of business activities. Hogarth, in a letter to Ellis, 

 portrays very well the spirit that animated many of the 

 workers of the past, as expressed in the prefatory pages 

 of their works. He says: "As for your pretty little 

 seed-cups, or vases, they are a sweet confirmation of the 

 pleasure Nature seems to take in superadding an elegance 

 of form to most of her works, wherever you find them. 

 How poor and bungling are all the imitations of art ! 

 When I have the pleasure of seeing you next we will sit 

 down nay, kneel down if you will and admire these 

 things." The societies of to-day, if they are to be of 

 any use, must be cared for by trained and salaried spec- 

 ialists. In past times a few genial and pleasant people 

 sauntered leisurely through the cabinets and admiringly 

 examined the graceful shell or curious fossil. Now thou- 

 sands of eager and critical students throng through the 

 same halls, hungry for the impressive lessons that greet 

 them from every case. 



Through the all-embracing doctrines of evolution, man 

 has awakened to the vivid realization that he is part and 

 parcel of the domain of nature, which he had heretofore 

 studied as a matter apart and beneath him. The realms 

 of thought opened by Darwin show how intimately he is 

 connected with the animals below him, and that somehow 

 his welfare, moral and physical, is to be affected by a 



