The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-25
LECTURE on NATURAL WSTOsY.

Last evening Mr.. Warehouse Hawkins, OF London
delivered the second OF his series OF lectures Nat,
ura History In the large hail of the Cooper Institute
which was well nled with an appreciative audience
The lecturer presenting himself was very warmly
received. and opened the subject with discourse OH
reptiles, living and extinct, referring particularly tn
the age OF dragons, and how far the legends and
figures representing them were founded on fact.
There was strong suppostion, he said, that dragons
at some former period lived and were abundant In
Britain and other parts of the world. He referred to
the observations OF Brodrip, who said that the
winged, scaly, fiery dragon the most universally
accepted fable throughout the world, and seemed 10
exist everywhere except in nature. Now IL was that
exception which he wished to point out, and show
that tile dragon was not fable nor myth, but, like
other reptiles, Il component part OF the worlds
natural history. In order 10 do so Ii was abso-
lutely necessary to remember one important
matter, which 10 understand things ~ they are
to fully comprehend what they we're. lie proceeded
10 give graphic deneations on the blackboard IL the
different shapes Of the dragons as represented In
works OF art Tile Japanese dragons were extreme
~ fierce looking ana were of more serpentlike form
than those OF other countries. They were said Ia
have the leading characteristics of the lizard, to-
gether with presenting indications OF possessing
wings while the Indian dragon was depicted with
huge jaws and projecting teeth. The form Of the
dragon was also Welsh insignia. Undoubtedly
dragons of the reptilian FORM and like these species
were naturally cold blooded and appeared TO have
been found IN the greatest abundance and the
largest slze la warm climates MIR. Hawkins, after
advcgtina 10 The romantic associations connected
with the dragon, gave heightened description Of
reptiles or tue water, the earth and the air. The
number OF the species OF reptiles was very consider
able most Of them were terrestrial, hut some sus
taued themselves III che air. The extinct pterOdacyF
winged its way over tho water like the 0ats some
lived habtnallv IN the water. swimming by means "
nattcned fms like the turtles, or by lateray com
pressed tau He gave most minute aud interest
Ing description VI reptiles generally aud adverted
very clearly TO the strangeness OF their forms con
sruction and geographical distribution. lie alluded
at considerable length to the bones OF extinct ant
mails which had been discovered but whose species
were no longer In existence; and those bones when
placed together and properly adjusted were similar
10 the ancient bronze and other representations OF
the dragon. Mr.. Hawkins, I'm the course Of his lee
ture, made some admirable sketches Of the several
animals upon which he dtscoursed, which, together
with some excellent diagrams that were exhibited
maze he interesting subject quite nteligibe 10 his
attentive listeners. In conclusion, he considered
there were sufficient grounds for believing ihnt the
dragon VAS not an Invention, because there was
nothing absurd IN its having existed more than any
other reptile: He had shown that t could have been
winged animal, winning one, but rs ~ its be-
lnl merry winch the romauces asserted, he could not
vouch, and 1t could only be accounted for by the fact
that The phosphorescent light issuing rom their
teeth when night remained was the decayed remains
OF tue nsl upon which he fed After some irther oh
crvaIions the lecturer retired, amid loud applause.