6o 



PROCEEDIN^GS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



legitimate consequences, there would be left to ns no science of 

 Geology at all ; for why, it may be asked, should the study of 

 physical processes in the past be carried on separately from the 

 investigation of the same processes as exhibited at the present time ? 

 But then, by a strange ISTemesis, I fear the same all-devouring 

 Physics, after swallowing up Geology, would make very short work 

 indeed with Biology itself. And there is still in the background 

 another claimant for universal empire in the realms of thought, for 

 are there not some who dream of all sciences ultimately becoming 

 the victims of that new portent of ambition — " Geography " ? 



In considering the present position and future claims of Palseon- 

 tologj^, I may be permitted at the outset to offer a protest against 

 a class of objections which has sometimes been very unfairly urged 

 against the votaries of that branch of science. It has often been 

 assumed that the students of fossils are contented with a lower 

 standard of excellence than that which is aspired to by the culti- 

 vators of other branches of Natural History. iN'ow, setting aside 

 for a moment the very important consideration that, owing to the 

 imperfection of the remains which they are called upon to study, 

 palaeontologists are confronted by difficulties which do not beset 

 the investigators of recent forms, I maintain that the charge is an 

 altogether unjust one. Palaeontologists are no more responsible for 

 the unwise use made of fossils by incompetent persons than are 

 zoologists for the vagaries of shell- and butterfly-hunters, or botanists 

 for the absurdities of fern- and diatom-collectors. 



Doubtless there has been much work done in connexion with 

 fossils, as well as with other Xatural-History objects, of which we 

 can only speak with shame and regret as having been undertaken 

 unadvisedly and performed ignorantly, — work which, prompted by 

 an unwise ambition, has been conceived in error and brought forth 

 in presumption. 



It would ill become anyone from this Chair to speak Hghtly of 

 the great, the inestimable services rendered to our science by the 

 collectors of fossils. How many interesting and novel forms have 

 been brought to light by their patient efforts ! How often has 

 the structure of obscure types been rendered clear through their 

 constant and persevering endeavours to obtain more perfect speci- 

 mens ! Yet, sometimes the very zeal of collectors has led them 

 astray. Despairing of finding systematic zoologists and botanists 

 who could devote the necessary time and attention to the study of 

 objects which they have obtained with so much trouble and pains, 



