98
The President's Address.
this growing energy may be directed into the proper
channels for strengthening our constitution.
In the first place, we must never lose sight of the fact
that we profess to be a local Natural History Society, and
although we include the names of some few county natu-
ralists whose scientific status is well established, we cannot
close our eyes to the fact that we are, generally speaking,
in a state of scientific poverty. I dwell upon this point
because in starting this Club our first object was to promote
local scientific work, and if we fail in doing this we must
necessarily undergo degeneration, and our case may be in
danger of becoming suggestive of the tragedy of Hamlet
with the Prince of Denmark left out. It is true that our
meetings have, on the whole, been well—I may say excel-
lently—supported, but it must not be forgotten that our
chief help has come from external sources. Our "Pro-
ceedings and Transactions," which are just published, will
show that many of our contributions, and our most inte-
resting discussions and exhibitions, have been left dependent
on a very limited number of our own members, or have
come from outsiders. We must express our thanks to
those who have so kindly extended their aid to us ; but we
must do more if we are to maintain our high position—we
must show our appreciation of their support by working
ourselves. It is my sincere desire to see the Club stand
as an independent edifice, based on a secure foundation,
and strengthened, if necessary, by occasional external
support, but not left as an altogether shaky structure
entirely dependent upon such props.
Our rapid growth bears witness to the fact that our
objects and pursuits are of widespread interest, and it
must now be our earnest endeavour to convert this passive
interest into active co-operation. I again appeal to our
younger and rising members to take up the study of some
branch of natural science—to make observations bearing
on the natural history or geology of our district, and to
communicate the results of their labours to the Club. One
of the most serious obstacles in the way of natural science
studies among those who have had no special training in