THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. ±7 



suppose for the present that the different strata are but leaves in the 

 book of nature, and that the fossil remains are but the illustration 

 of the book, which make more lasting impression upon the mind 

 of the geologist, who sees already in his mind the circumstance 

 that placed these remains in their present position. He looks back 

 through the vista of years or eons of time when these animals which 

 lie entombed in their rocky grave glided about in their natural 

 element as the various forms of marine life disport themselves in 

 the lakes, seas and oceans of the present time. In conclusion let 

 me ask, do we, surrounded as we are with rare opportunities to be- 

 come acquainted with the natural history of this particularly favored 

 district, make the most of our opportunities ? I will leave you 

 to answer. But our great business with this life is to read the 

 book of its teaching, and we shall find that life is not the doing 

 of drudgeries, but the hearing of oracles. The ancient mythology 

 was but a leaf in the book, for it peopled the world with spiritual 

 nature, and science, many-leaved, still spreads before up the same 

 tale of wonder. 



