president's address. 
139 
APPENDIX. 
THE PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
The President began by a reference to the constitutional 
provision that on the night of the annual meeting his address 
should be delivered. Naturally enough there was no provision 
as to the character of the address, but it was reasonable to 
assume that some important subject should be considered, that it 
should be carefully weighed according to scientific principles, and 
examined in the light of the latest scientific knowledge. This 
evening he would not attempt anything of that kind, for he could 
reasonably plead, as an excuse, a summer of earnest work in 
other directions ; and the few observations which he would make 
were along very simple lines. He said : 
I have often wondered whether we, as a Natural History 
Society, could take the lead, or, indeed, any part in a movement 
for the preservation of the natural inhabitants of our v/oods and 
waters. Perhaps there may be question whether, in any case, 
anything of this kind is needed, that is to say, whether there is 
c«ny sound reason for allowing shelter to bears, wild cats, mink 
and the like among our animals ; to eagles, osprey, cormorants, 
and their kin among the birds. I do not mean by mentioning 
these particular animals and birds to limit in any way the scope 
of the protection of which I am thinking, which is, in a general 
way, a protection that would really amount to the preservation 
of all the forms of animal life that roam or hide in our woods, 
of all the birds that fly the trees or that haunt lakeside or river 
bank, of all the fish that are along our shores or in our inland 
waters. I confess that while I may not have absolute sympathy 
with the bear, which threateningly obstructs my way on a country 
road, and while I might be quite ready to kill him at sight, I 
