42 Anniversary Address. 



water, appearances of mines and minerals, qualities of stone, 

 and any other interesting matters connected with the district. 



The Aquarium is another device of modern times, well 

 worthy the attention of those members who make natural 

 history their study and delight. By it the habits of marine 

 animals may be more correctly ascertahied, and the mode in 

 which nature propagates the species of those wonders of 

 the ocean, more clearly made out. You may there trace the 

 Whelk from the merest speck on the side of the glass, until it 

 gradually developes itself as we see it on the sea shore. 

 The same remark applies equally to other marine animals. 



The Aquarium also enables the accurate observer of nature 

 to watch, day by day, the growth of the Algse and various 

 kinds of marine plants, to ascertain their uses for food and 

 otherwise, as well as their fructification, and so to obtain 

 much additional information to that which is already recorded 

 in the valuable publications of Dr. Johnston, either among 

 the proceedings of your Club, or spread over his other in- 

 dependent works. 



Thus, a new source of pleasure and instruction is opened 

 to us, another page of the book of nature is turned over for 

 perusal and study, and the lamentations of some of our body, 

 that the Natural History of the district is nearly exhausted, 

 may, I hope, for ever cease to be heard among us. 



The young Naturalist cannot do better than take White's 

 History of Selbourne as his model, and note from time to 

 time, the events of the year, such as the arrival and departure 

 of birds, and other interesting facts as will occur to an en- 

 quiring mind. 



In a hole under the roof of one of my old buildings, at 

 Alnmouth, a party of Starlings build their nests every year. 

 They take flight to some foreign country, and return again in 

 the spring, and they never fail to come direct to the very spot, 

 and again rear their young. How do they know the exact 

 spot to come to, from such distant countries ? 



I'he Natural History of the finny tribe is by no means 

 exhausted. A more full account of the salmon, having refer- 

 ence to recent experiments, is very desirable ; the causes of their 

 paucity, and the cure for that evil. 



