MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 27 



increasing importance of biology both in high theory and 

 in practical applications to every-day life. It was biology 

 and biologists that gave to the world that theory of 

 evolution which has been adopted in geology, history and 

 theology, and is now a dominating principle in many 

 diverse lines of thought. The facts of heredity ascertained 

 from biological investigations must affect our views as to 

 educational and philanthropic questions. Bacteriology 

 is an outgrowth of biology. The most advanced medical 

 research is now largely the investigation of the lowest 

 forms of life and the application of well-known biological 

 principles. Baking and brewing, the manufacture of 

 wine, vinegar and cheese are known to depend upon 

 biological phenomena, and are now being improved and 

 systematised as the result of discoveries made in the 

 biological laboratory. 



Much of agriculture is applied biology, and all 

 of economic entomology. An authoritative American 

 journal recently gave a striking statement in regard 

 to the enormous losses caused in Texas and other Southern 

 States by the onward march of the Mexican Cotton 

 "Weevil. A convention to consider the situation has, 

 we are told, been called, and fully a thousand delegates 

 are expected to assemble to deal with the subject. It has 

 been brought before Congress under the heading " A 

 Xational Danger," and an appropriation of money has 

 been obtained to use in studying the pest. " Science," in 

 commenting on these actions remarks — " We know of no 

 " single subject that contains more of importance to the 

 " entire country's economic interests than the devising of 

 " measures to arrest and if possible eradicate this scourge 

 " to the principal agricultural interest of the South." 



Sea-fisheries I need not do more than mention, the 

 whole subject is so obviously applied Biology. We have 



