38 BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



to deviation and mutation in plants and animals by gradual steps, 

 at remote, irregular periods. This is a part of the great universal 

 law of perpetual mutability in everything." 



It is pleasant to remember that both Darwin and Wallace 

 owed much of their insight into the processes of nature to their 

 American explorations. It is also interesting to recall the clos- 

 ing lines, almost prophetic as they seem to-day, of the "Epistle 

 to the Author of the Botanic Garden,"* written in 1798 by 

 Elihu Hubbard Smith, of New York, and prefixed to the Amer- 

 ican editions of " The Botanic Garden :" 



" Where Mississippi's turbid waters glide 

 And white Missouri pours its rapid tide; 

 Where vast Superior spreads its inland sea 

 And the pale tribes near icy empires sway; 

 Where now Alaska lifts its forests rude 

 And Nootka rolls her solitary flood. 

 Hence keen incitement prompt the prying mind 

 By treacherous fears, nor palsied nor confined; 

 Its curious search embrace the sea and shore 

 And mine and ocean, earth and air explore. 



" Thus shall the years proceed, till growing time 

 Unfold the treasures of each different clime; 

 Till one vast brotherhood mankind unite 

 In equal bonds of knowledge and of right; 

 Thus the proud column, to the smiling skies 

 In simple majesty sublime shall rise, 

 O'er ignorance foiled, their triumph loud proclaim, 

 And bear inscribed, immortal, DARWIN'S name." 



XII. 



During the three decades which made up the post-revolution- 

 ary period there were several " beginnings " which may not 

 well be referred to in connection with individuals or localities. 



The first book upon American insects was published in 1797, 

 a sumptuously-illustrated work, in two volumes, with 104 col- 

 ored plates, entitled " The Natural History of the rarer Lepi- 

 dopterous Insects of Georgia." This was compiled by Sir 

 James E. Smith from the notes and drawings of John Abbot 



* Erasmus, grandfather of Charles Darwin. 



