REV. WM. FOWLER, M.A. : PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 1 43 



vei;etable, or animal. If perfect knowledgfe be unattainable, an 

 increase of knowledg-e comes, and ever will come, to those who 

 are earnest in their search after it. 



Now it ma}' naturally have been expected by some of you, 

 that I should on an occasion like this have g^iven a review or 

 analysis of' the work done by the Union, during" the twenty-five 

 years of its existence. But, in the first place it would have 

 been tedious to those who are already acquainted with the 

 prog'ress made in any department which concerns them ; and in 

 the second place, more tedious still to those here, if such there 

 be, who are not members of our Union, but who shew by their 

 presence that they sympathise with us, in our endeavours to 

 make additions to what is already known of the natural history 

 of Yorkshire, a county which, owing- to the variety of its soils, 

 and the diff'erences of elevation above sea-level of its several 

 districts, is specially interesting- to naturalists, whether they be 

 geologically, botanically, or zoologically inclined. If such as 

 these would g-o a step further, and become members of our 

 Union, they would help us to publish much valuable matter 

 already in hand, and would perhaps eventually become 

 co-workers with us in a study, which is full of variety, interest 

 and pleasure, as many others have done before them. It may- 

 be said, no doubt, that it is not necessary to be a member of 

 any Union, in order to do g-ood work, either in natural history 

 or in any other study. But it does not therefore follow that 

 union is disadvantag^eous, or even useless. On the contrary it 

 can, I think be shewn, that to nature-students especially, it is of 

 great advantag-e, to work not only individually, but unitedly, 

 thus benefitting- both themselves and others. Interchange of 

 specimens, opinions, experience, is of mutual advantage. Those 

 furthest advanced may often gain information which is 

 valuable to them, from humble, yet careful observers ; and 

 those who have only made a beginning may be greatly encouraged 

 and helped, by those who are in advance of them, and who are 

 unselfish enough not to want to keep their knowledge to 

 themselves. Those who are collectors simply, beside having 

 pleasure in their work, supply materials for investigation by 

 experts ; and often become so interested in hearing that their 

 discoveries are of use, and of benefit to others, that tlicy too 

 become investigators, often with excellent results. It has often 

 struck me that this friendly intercourse is a very pleasant and 

 useful characteristic of our Union, and I hope the day is far 

 distant, when this interchange of work, with mutual benefit, will 

 cease to exist. To be helps to one another is as pleasurable as 

 it is profitable, and in no study more so than in that of nature. 

 .All cannot rise to a foremost plsce, but much good work may be 

 done in any branch of natural history by those who are willing 

 to make accurate, patient, persevering observations, and to 



