24 THE WOMBAT. 



reveals — is subject matter of inquiry, both as to its origin and 

 as to its relation to the totality of things, and if it does not 

 explain every fact it is inconsistent with none. 



Astronomer or chemist, geologist or palaeontologist, 

 psychologist, physiologist, botanist or zoologist — all are 

 dependent one upon another, and none can say to his fellow 

 " I have no need of thee." However, I must remind you once 

 again that natural history is, after all, only a small part of an 

 all-embracing cosmic philosophy. 



In concluding my varied and scattered notes this evening, 

 it only remains to say that in my attempt to show you " how 

 to read it," I have had to adopt a style and deal with branches 

 of the subject that would not have been mentioned had this 

 paper been prepared for a meeting of scientific men. 



[N.B. — In the preparation of this paper I have availed 

 myself freely of Mr. Roberts' Naturalists' 1 Diary, Dr. Thomas 

 Cherry's lecture upon the " Beginnings of Life," and a most 

 excellent paper by Mr. J. E. Prince in the Victorian Natural- 

 ist, vol. viii., No. 8, upon " Phenology and Rural Biology." 

 In some places I have used Mr. Prince's own words, and I 

 desire to express my indebtedness for such valuable informa- 

 tion.] 



H. Thacker, Printer, Ryrie Street, Geelong. 



