Anniversary Meeting of the Zoological Club. 223 
ened his progress through the difficulties of his way, and 
finally rewarded his hopes and. his labours by the radiance 
which it shed around them. Such theories, it is true, have 
not always bad an equally stable foundation, nor have been 
pursued with equal success ; but they have ever led, even in 
error, to splendid results. These “lights” may “ lead astray,” 
— but they are “ lights from Heaven.” 
In the pursuance ‘of such enlar ged speculations, the modern 
zoologist has met a powerful ally i in the sister science of geo- 
logy. Where his own succession of affinities appears inter- 
rupted, and a chasm occurs in the otherwise complete series 
by which the recent animals that come immediately within his 
province are united into one body, apparently organised upon 
one great and comprehensive plan, the geologist brings i in the 
remains of a former world to supply the deficiencies of the 
present. The accessions accruing from this source to our 
science, within the last few years, present a theme of exhaust- 
less interest and extent. I could expatiate upon it with delight; 
and with still greater personal gratification could I dwell upon 
the ardour, the ability, and the disinterested services by which 
our Gaende of the Geological Society have laboured in this 
great vocation. But my time is nearly exhausted: I could 
do little justice to the ample subject in the short space that 
remains; and I must waive the claims of science and friendship, 
to conclude the immediate business of the day. 
Another striking feature in modern zoology i is one to which 
I have alre eady had occasion to allude: the publication of 
popular treatises on the subject. ‘The extent to which some 
of the more valuable of these productions have been lately 
circulated, —I shall instance more particularly the Mena- 
geries and the volumes on Insect Architecture, published 
under the superintendence of the Society for the Dificbu of 
Useful Knowledge, — not only proves the popularity of the 
science, but points out one of the powerful causes that con- 
tribute to the cultivation of it. When I mention to you that 
copies of these publications have been disseminated by tens of 
thousands, you may calculate not merely how many readers 
participate in the delights of the study, but how many of them 
may be induced from the perusal to become observers of 
nature, if not active cooperators in the science. We may 
almost, in fact, compare the effects of this copious dissemina- 
tion of cheap and popular information, to those produced by 
the invention of the art of printing itself. It was of little 
avail to the great proportion of mankind that the art existed, 
if its beneficial effects were to extend only to the opulent and 
the learned. ‘The fount of knowledge is now open to all: 
oO 4 
