to be their protector. Charles Waterton, the very type of the real Naturalist, proved at Walton Hall how much might be dona by non-interference. The Park, under his care, was soon filled with birds and Animals, who were attracted not by feeding and other artificial contrivances, but by its peaceful retreats, where they soon acquired the knowledge that they might abide there undisturbed; no gamekeeper was employed, nor was any gun or trap used for the purpose of keeping down vermin; birds and beasts of prey had full liberty to range through those real preserves, where nature alone determined the balance; the result was, with no dearth of game, both great and small, a greater variety of other living creatures congregate on a limited area than can now be found in extended districts. There the Naturalist might study the habits of the various tribes which make the country beautiful, with an ease afforded in few other resorts, for freedom from interference had made them fearless and tame; elsewhere, with good reason, they dread the sight of man, and so far as is possible keep themselves out of his range. We cannot turn the whole country into a preserve like this; the necessities of a teeming population must take precedence; but there will be yet for a long time many nooks and corners which will be frequented by the varied objects of our study, if we leave them alone, and content ourselves to—
Look on this beautiful world, and read the truth
In her fair page; see, every season brings
New change to her, of everlasting youth;
Still, the green soil with joyous living things
Swarms, the wide air is full of joyous wings,
And myriads still are happy in the sleep
Of ocean's azure gulfs.
Dr. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S., then addressed the meeting. He said he had listened to many addresses in years past, but he had never listened to one affording more pleasure, and more instruction and satisfaction, than that delivered by their President. He congratulated the President on his address, inasmuch as he had left no stone unturned in marking the course the Union should take. The range of the address they had just heard was very extensive, With whomsoever the idea of the Union of Midland Natural History Societies originated, he (Dr. Cobbold) must say that the thought was a most happy one; he had no doubt that the origin in the first instance might be traced to the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Now the British Association had no doubt done much good york, but still its name was, to some extent, a misnomer, The British Association should ba called "The British Association for the Diffusion of Science." It had done its work well, inasmuch as it had set going many persons, in places where it had established what he might call a temporary home, and perhaps in no town hail its effects been more felt than in the town of Birmingham. He thought the union of the Natural History Societies of the Midlands would really prove a greater vehicle for the advancement of science than the projectors of the Union ever dreamt of, inasmuch as members would no doubt adapt what was insisted upon in the President's paper, and become actual workers in the cause of science, here was another subject which he had no doubt would be achieved by the Union, namely the encouragement of native talent. Men who had hitherto not had the opportunities would endeavour to make them, and being encouraged by those around
