BELFAST 



NATURAL HISTORY & PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



SESSION 1898-99. 



%th November^ i\ 



INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, 

 Mr. Thomas Workman, J.P. 



{Abstract) 



It appears to me that of late years this Society has largely 

 drifted away from the study that was the life-work of our 

 illustrious founders. I refer to Natural History ; and seeing 

 that your Council has done me the honour of electing me 

 President for this Session, I think I cannot better- occupy your 

 time than by addressing you on " Incentives to the Study of 

 Natural History." We must all feel that there is much going 

 on in Nature around us to which we shut our eyes, and to not 

 a few Nature has no more interest than it had to Wordsworth's 

 Hero — 



"... Nature ne'er could find the way 

 Into the heart of Peter Bell. 

 In vain through every changeful year, 

 Did Nature lead him as before j 

 A pimrose by a river's brim 

 A yellow primrose was to him, 

 And it was nothing more." 



I had intended to take as incentives some of the interesting 

 facts that are known about the lives of plants and animals. 

 I found, however, that this would be too extensive, and 

 2 



