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 had 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 enlarged speculations, the modern 

 zoologist has met a powerful ally 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 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 

 bur friends 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 is one to which 

 I have already 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 hisect Aixhitecture^ published 

 under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion 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 aU : 



