JramMitp of SoMts. 
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. 
NOVEMBER 16, 1855. 
R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the Chair. 
This being the anniversary meeting of the Association, the President proceeded 
to deliver the following address:— 
At the close of the first session of the Association, many of its members will 
recollect that I had the pleasure of reading the heads of subjects which I had 
selected as proper to be noticed in an address on the objects, prospects, and pro¬ 
gress of this Association ; and at that time it was scarcely ripe for more. 
Since then, constant pressure of other duties has caused me to postpone my 
intended communication, and I do not now regret it, as it enables me to congra¬ 
tulate the Association on the increased patronage and countenance it has received 
from the College authorities, as testified by the comfortable and well-lighted apart¬ 
ments in which we are now assembled. The members of this Association who 
have heard my former observations will, I trust, for the sake of their juniors, 
excuse the repetition of much of what I then said; while both will grant me 
indulgence for the imperfection of my present address, on the plea that I have 
really been recently much occupied in two matters, in which we all have an interest. 
These are—Firstly, in promoting the spread of knowledge; and, secondly, in 
aiding to give to those who possess it the advantages to which industry and talent 
always had a claim, but which claim hitherto has been too often unacknowledged. 
The University Zoological Association, founded early in 1853, with the gracious 
approval of the Provost and Board of Trinity College, differs, you are aware, in 
its constitution from other societies. Its immediate object is to extend the know¬ 
ledge of the zoology of our own island ; but to do so effectively, it encourages the 
cultivation of general systematic zoology, and the application to it of philosophic 
principles and inductive reasoning as its necessary and only sound basis. Those 
who have heard the results of great learning and acute generalisation frequently 
applied in discussions which have arisen on papers read before us cannot doubt 
that zoology, thus cultivated, deserves the place to which it is rapidly rising in the 
scale of natural sciences. 
I may remind you that the Association consists of—1st, ordinary members, 
who must be students of Trinity College, and whose number it was found neces¬ 
sary, for various reasons, to limit to 32; 2nd, honorary members, being older 
naturalists, residing in or near Dublin; 3rd, corresponding members, being dis¬ 
tinguished persons, who are willing to promote the objects of the Association, 
or those who, having been ordinary members, have graduated and left college. 
The main feature of this plan is, that the ordinary members, limited to 32, are, 
as it were, representatives of the counties of Ireland; and, were the list full, on a 
vacancy, preference would be given, ceteris paribus , to a student from an unrepre¬ 
sented county. The object of this arrangement is, that a wide-spread organisation 
of corresponding members should be established, trained in one school, and capable 
of making general observations on one principle. From this plan we may look 
forward to a time when zoological observations can be usefully conducted, and 
communicated to the Association as a common centre. But more of this here¬ 
after. 
The progress of the Association in useful results has been greater than I could 
have anticipated. It has, as I have before stated, received the necessary and much¬ 
valued sanction of the Provost and Senior Fellows; has had the countenance of 
very many of the most eminent naturalists; has been honoured by the presence of 
several distinguished non-resident men of science; and has had the zealous service 
of its youthful officers. As to the work done, I can give you little more than a 
list; but it is one which is most creditable. For the greater number of papers, in 
extenso , I, with pleasure, refer you to the “Natural History Review,” a work 
deservedly rising in estimation, useful in its object, and highly creditable to the 
energy and ability of its editors. As I cannot claim the slightest credit for origi¬ 
nating this much-wanted work, I can the more strongly urge the necessity of your 
supporting it by your subscription, and a small one it is. Besides a full record of 
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