Inaugural Address by the President. 19 



to us at every moment ot our progress. Our path must 

 necessarily be on the line of the least resistance. 



Too many incline to the line of no resistance, and taking 

 the river as their guide become the creatures of circumstance. 

 Like Tennyson's Lotus Eaters, they say — 



Let us alone. What is it that will last > 



All things are taken from us and become 



Portions and parcels of the dread(ul Past. 



Let us alone. What pleasure can we have 



To war with evil ? Is there any peace 



In ever climbing up the climbing wave ? 



All things have rest, and ripen towards the grave 



In silence ; ripen, fall and cease : 



Give us long rest or death, dark death or dreamful ease." 



But your presence here to night assures me that you are not 

 of those, but that you are ever willing to struggle on towards 

 the light. Now though the nineteenth century has still a few 

 months to run, this is the last session of the Belfast Natural 

 History and Philosophical Society which will use the numbers 

 eighteen hundred to mark its date, and as I think the study of 

 Natural History has, after the tremendous development when 

 Darwin published in 1859 his epoch making book on the 

 Origin of Species, entered somewhat one of these dark 

 tunnels, or at least shady places wheie we are inclined to ask 

 are we making any progress, or what is the good of it all. 

 Believing thus, I think I cannot do better in my opening 

 address of this session, 1899-1900, after thanking you for the 

 honour you have shown me by again electing me as your 

 President, than by continuing my former address, " Incentives 

 to the Study of Natural History " ; treating on this occasion 

 the ways, colours, and instincts of Animals. 



It had not been my intention to urge as an incentive, the 

 good we may do by the study of Natural History, but an 

 important instance has I'ust been brought before the public to 

 which I think it right to refer. 



All persons who have lived or had friends living in tropical 

 or other hot countries niiist have heard something of the ravages 



