clxxx PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
added to the list of known animals, and many hundreds of new 
genera, families, and orders were described. It has been well 
remarked by Lydekker that, “ If we had no other works to boast of, 
these alone would form a glorious biological monument for any 
reign.” Amongst independent explorers we must not forget to 
mention W. H. Bates and Alfred Russell Wallace, the former of 
whom has given us “The Naturalist on the Amazon,” and the latter 
the “ Malay Archipelago,” two of the most delightful books of travel 
and natural history that have ever been written. Bates’ name will 
especially be remembered for his researches regarding Mimicry in 
Insects; while to Wallace we are largely indebted for our present 
knowledge regarding the Geographical Distribution of Animals. 
Wallace’s name, however, as we shall see presently, is still more 
famous in another connection. Amongst the causes which have 
helped to increase our knowledge of animal life should also be 
mentioned the establishment of Marine Biological Stations, particu¬ 
larly those at Naples, Plymouth, St. Andrews, Millport, Granton, 
Port Erin, &c., as well as those in France, Germany, and America. 
With the St. Andrews Station is associated the name of a naturalist 
long connected with our city and county, namely, Professor MTntosh, 
who has added largely to our knowledge of marine life. The workers 
in the field of systematic Zoology have become so numerous within 
recent years that it is impossible to mention even the more prominent 
names. One book, however, which has appealed to the popular 
fancy more than most is Sir John Lubbock’s “Ants, Bees, and 
Wasps,” which combines accurate scientific observation with most 
charming descriptive writing. Amongst the host of modern 
observers, possibly few were more painstaking and more thorough 
in their methods than our late President, Dr. Buchanan White, 
especially in regard to Insect Life. 
(c) The Origin of Species (/Etiology). —Leaving our twofold 
division of Biology, we shall now start afresh from a date which 
must ever be memorable in the annals of the Science, namely, 
ist July, 1858. On the evening of that day two papers were read 
before the Linnaean Society in London, both prepared indepen¬ 
dently of each other, but both on the same subject. That subject 
was the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, and the 
authors were Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace. It was 
not, however, until the following year (1859) that Darwin’s com¬ 
pleted work was given to the world in book form. It is impossible 
to exaggerate the importance of this event in its bearing on the 
history of human thought. Forty years have elapsed since that 
date, and each year has brought with it some new application of the 
truths which were brought to light that July evening. This is true 
not of Biology alone, but, as we have already seen, of every other 
science. The idea of Evolution itself was not new,—on the contrary, 
it was as old as the oldest literatures of the world. Within the 
previous generation or two it had been suggested more or less 
confidently by Buffon, Erasmus Darwin, Lamark, Goethe, and 
Robert Chambers, but it required the master mind of Charles Darwin 
to explain its modus opera?idi> and thus to bring it home to men’s 
