OPENING ADDRESS. 3 
doubled or trebled. The science of Biology is rapidly 
growing in popular favour. With the acceptance of the 
theory of Evolution as a doctrine applicable not merely to 
plants and animals, but also to history, theology, politics, 
and all other departments of human thought, it has been 
recognised that biological principles and biological methods 
are of wide application and should form an important 
element in a liberal education. Consequently the work of 
a biological society ought, if conducted on a broad basis, to 
excite a wide-spread interest and receive the support of a 
large proportion of the community. Then in a great 
centre like Liverpool there are many whose professional, 
business, or other pursuits, bring them into touch with 
some department of Natural History. Doctors, dentists, 
chemists, agriculturists, entomologists, are all alike bio- 
logists, and should find some common scientific ground in 
the meetings of a biological society which is not too highly 
specialized—not too restricted in its scope. And I can 
assure you that your Council is very desirous of making 
this Society as useful and instructive as possible to 
biologists of every persuasion. 
There is then, I believe, plenty of material around us for 
the formation of a very much larger Society, and what is 
evidently required is that we should all make it a personal 
matter to find out those interested in any branch of 
biological science and to bring them speedily within the 
pale of our community. 
The second point requiring notice is the attendance at 
the meetings, and this is a matter which merits our most 
careful consideration, for every one will admit that it is 
most desirable for as large a proportion as possible of 
the members to attend regularly and take part in the 
proceedings. In the first place it seems quite impossible 
to fix upon a time of meeting which will be convenient 
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