272 Canadian Record of Science. 



somewhat on the lines of the British Association and our 

 own, we took the deepest interest in the plans, for we hoped 

 that you would realize what we have secured. In these 

 days of extreme specialism there is need of a broad general 

 association, so that specialists might confer together; that 

 they can widen the outlook and that those who are cultivat- 

 ing small portions of the field can see that the ground near 

 to the fence is not neglected. Now, under a general asso- 

 ciation like this, specialists can meet and confer together, 

 and they can preserve that which they certainly hope to 

 preserve. Then again we have found, and I have no doubt 

 you will find, that general meetings of associations like 

 this diminish, if they do not fully prevent or remove, per- 

 sonal misunderstandings. Sometimes these misunderstand- 

 ings are allowed to grow until at last they become intensi- 

 fied. In associations like the Britieh Association and our 

 own we find the tendency to anything like personal differ- 

 ences to diminish and disappear, and I hope you will find 

 the same. "We have found that the British Association and 

 our own have always done good, by their visits, to the com- 

 munity where the meetings were held. A good many have 

 criticised unfavorably this migratory tendency, holding that 

 it is better to have the meetings in some central place. But 

 it seems that in this the old fable comes back, that 'strength 

 seems to be restored every time we touch new ground.' 

 This migratory tendency is the survival of the migratory 

 tendency inherited from our ancestors. I feel very sure if 

 you were to put it to the vote in the British Association you 

 would not receive a single positive vote in favor of subtitut- 

 ing for these missions, as we may call them, one resident 

 place. Now, when we heard that an Australasian Associa- 

 tion was to be formed in this manner, our hopes and best 

 wishes went out to you, and when the opportunity came to 

 present felicitations on your success it was most eagerly 

 accepted ; so that I have now great pleasure in presenting, 

 on behalf of the Association I represent, our congratula- 

 tions upon the pronounced success of the Association. The 

 American Association is not limited to the United States. 



