PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
5 
many rare species, not a few of which have since been brought forward as recent 
discoveries. I may instance one—the Cydippe pomiformis—which I distinctly 
recollect to have seen when I was not five years old: I found it in a pool, and 
brought it to my father as the lens of a haddock’s eye which had come to life. . I 
quite remember its cilia and irridescence, and how deeply I was absorbed by its 
beauty. 
PERIODICAL PHENOMENA. 
One object which can be well carried out by our Association, when it comes to 
be fully developed, is the observation of periodical phenomena; such as the migra¬ 
tion of fishes and birds, and the appearance of certain insects at intervals. Though 
much has been attempted by Quetelet, De Selys-Longchamps, and the British Asso¬ 
ciation, and, in meteorology, by the Royal Irish Academy, as well as suggestions 
at various former times by others, yet little has been accomplished, rather from a 
want of the proper machinery than from any lack of zeal, or of due appreciation of 
the subject. I trust our Association will supply the want. When we are matured, 
we shall have a band of well-trained observers scattered through the land, who will 
be enabled to act with one accord; and fitted, by their study of physics in the Uni¬ 
versity, to make proper meteorological observations in connection with the pheno¬ 
mena of animal life, I hope we shall, by persistence, record useful results. 
The Council of the Association have had the subject under consideration, and 
when the proper time arrives, will be prepared to issue tables and instructions for 
observers. I may remark that, hitherto, a great preventative of meteorological obser¬ 
vation has been a belief that costly and delicate instruments, and difficult observa¬ 
tions, are necessary. Now, however desirable such refinements may be, in a theo¬ 
retical point of view, I do not believe they are necessary in a practical one; but 
that for all useful results, the expenditure of a few shillings would suffice to form 
useful observations. I do not speak without thought on this subject, having, more 
than thirty years ago, employed myself in constructing simple instruments, and 
having since vainly endeavoured for the establishment of permanent observatories, 
through the agency of the National'Schools. 
However, observations on the migration of birds, and other zoological pheno¬ 
mena, require no instrumental aid ; and I urge on our members carefully to note 
such facts as they may be able to observe. I lay before the Association a few of 
the most scientific instructions for observation in this matter; amongst others, the 
directions drawn up by a committee of the British Association, about ten years 
since. In that short space three of its youngest and most distinguished members 
are gone—Thompson, Strickland, and Forbes. Take their report as a valuable 
legacy to science. 
COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS. 
Believing that the promotion of our propensity for hunting and acquiring pro¬ 
perty in animals is the easiest mode of entering youth on the road of zoological 
study, I venture to offer to the Association directions for the collection and preser¬ 
vation of animals of various classes. These directions have, for the most part, 
been published in my reports on the University Museum, and have since been re¬ 
published in other forms by eminent authority. 
I consider, that though a mere collector of curiosities is open to some of the cen¬ 
sure often cast upon him, and though, from his usually being miscalled u natu¬ 
ralist,” much injury results to those deserving that appellation, by being thus 
unscientifically classed, yet I think that the naturalist owes much to the collector, 
and that many a boy has commenced as a collector who has ended as a philosopher. 
It is, therefore, well to encourage the taste for making collections, even were it 
only as an amusement. It has less to be said against it than many of those 
recreations which are more common. 
MUSEUM. 
The connection of the Association with the Dublin University Museum cannot 
but prove useful to it, and it has, in the course of the discussions which have 
arisen, greatly benefited from the collection in almost every subject brought under 
your notice. The members, therefore, will recollect that, in adding to the Museum 
they aid themselves, and will always find me anxious and willing to assist them.. 
In reference to the uses of Museums, our lamented friend Forbes wrote— 
