OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 47 



increase. I have not heard of its occurrence elsewhere, which 

 would imply that the birds die from the effects of something which 

 they find in the bay. Whether the paper recently read by Dr. 

 Chittenden on the evil effects of allowing the city sewers to empty 

 themselves into its waters would throw any light on the subject, is a 

 matter well worthy of consideration, for if there is anything being 

 mixed with the water which causes death to the birds, it cannot be 

 conducive to the health of the people. 



I have thus glanced but lightly at the history of only a few of 

 the many species of birds to be found around us, but should farther 

 information be at any time wanted regarding any particular species, 

 I have pleasure in referring to the list which will henceforth be in 

 the library of the association, and I hope the time is not far distant 

 when the library will not only contain the names of the birds, but 

 preserved specimens of the birds themselves will be found within the 

 cabinets in the museum. 



EARLY GREEK PHILOSOPHY, 



BY REV. J. W. A. STEWART, M. A. 



In popular language a sharp distinction is not always made 

 between Science and Philosophy, and as a matter of fact, the one is 

 continually running into the other. Science seldom stops short 

 with itself, but is always pressing on beyond its own domain and 

 becoming transformed into Philosophy. Not many of.the Scientists 

 of our day can content themselves with being simply Scientists ; most 

 of them seek to be Philosophers as well, and this is perfectly natural; 

 the mind being made to think, cannot well rest without a Philosophy 

 of some kind. What then is the distinction between Science and 

 Philosophy ? In a word Science has to do with phenomena alone, 

 Philosophy has to do with what lies behind the phenomena. Science 

 accepts "what is set before it and asks no questions;" Philosophy pries 

 into the ultimate grounds or principles of things. Science takes the 

 facts as they are, studies them, ascertains their relations, discovers 

 their laws of antecedence and consequence, systematizes them. 

 Philosophy cannot rest here, but struggles to go deeper and find out 

 more, to find out the ultimate truth as to that out of which these facts 



