17 
conchology, luiglit thus be investigated, and we might occasionally 
dredge up some old bone or tooth that even Mr. Gunn would not 
despise. I merely suggest these things as objects we might have 
in view. Our northern seas have not yet been properly dredged 
and it strikes me, there is much yet lying in them for us, if by any 
contrivance we could get them dredged. 
We are likely to have one or two more entomologists, and we 
have the late Mr. Brightwell’s collection open to us : and, perhaps, 
some ot our friends may bo able to get tropical insects or descrip- 
tions of them for us. Our Society may not only be interesting but 
useful, if wo bring entomological knowledge to bear on agriculture, 
as botany has been brought to bear on it. Tliere are many insects 
that are nuisances to the farmers, and, perhaps, we might be able 
to do something that might be practically useful. We shall also 
have one or two ornithologists ; and we ought to know a great 
deal more minutely about the migration of birds. ]\rr. Stevenson 
has done a great deal, but wo shall want it Ijroken down into small 
bits for us to digest at our leisure. There again our conservative 
l>rinciple must come in, and we must set our faces against the 
perpetual gunning and destruction of birds throughout the land. 
It is possible that we may have to bring some facts and some 
papers upon the subject of excessive preservation of game and its 
results — of course, only as naturalists — and upon the diseases 
thereby produced, and even its effects on the farming interest. If 
we have a member or two who are large land-owners and game 
preservers, I shall be happy to help them in getting up a discus- 
sion, not upon the holy crocodile or ibis of Egypt, but upon the 
holy pheasant and sacred partridge of present times. 
In all these ways there seems to be plenty of work laid out for us. 
Ihere is a great interest rising up in all departments of natural 
history, and all departments of science. 
In regard to the question of origin of species, upon which Mr. 
A\^allace has given us certain information, there is the light thrown 
uj)on it by fancy domesticated animals. We have the canary, 
pigeons, sheep, and cattle, and it strikes me we might get papers 
and even facts that might be of great interest ; and I don’t see why 
we should not take our share in the great battle of species. We 
might get some honourable wounds, or might come out with honour- 
able spurs, but that battle is going on and must be fought out ; and 
c 
