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THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



ORGANISMS AND ORIGINS. 



By Prof. Arthur Dendy, D.Sc., F.R.S. 



(Delivered February 2ith, 1914.) 



I have in my library a copy of a posthumous edition, 

 published in 1732, of a remarkable work by John Ray, entitled 

 " Three Physico-Theological Discourses, concerning I. The Primi- 

 tive Chaos, and Creation of the World. II. The General Deluge, 

 its Causes and Effects. III. The Dissolution of the World, and 

 Future Conflagration." The second of these discourses contains a 

 very long discussion on the origin of fossils, which begins as 

 follows : " Another supposed Effect of the Flood, was a bringing 

 up out of the Sea, and scattering all the Earth over, an innumer- 

 able Multitude of Shells and Shell-Fish ; there being of these 

 Shell-like Bodies, not only on lower Grounds and Hillocks, but 

 upon the highest Mountains, the Apennine and Alps themselves. 

 A supposed Effect, I say, because it is not yet agreed among the 

 Learned, whether these Bodies, formerly called petrified Shells, but 

 now-a-days passing by the Name of formed Stones, be original 

 Productions of Nature, formed in imitation of the Shells of 

 Fishes ; or the real Shells themselves, either remaining still 

 entire and uncorrupt, or petrified and turned into Stone, or, at 

 least, Stones cast in some Animal Mold. Both Parts have strong 

 Arguments and Patrons. I shall not balance Authorities, but 

 only consider and weigh Arguments." 



In the end Ray pronounces in favour of the view that the 

 fossils are real shells and not mere sports of nature, but he adopts 

 a most singular hypothesis as to how they found their way into 

 their present situations. It is only fair to add that this hypothesis 

 did not originate with him, but was the offspring of the fertile 

 brain of his " learned and ingenious Friend, Mr. Edward Lhwyd."* 



* 1 am indebted to rny friend, Mr. A. W. Sheppard, the Editor of this 

 Journal, for the information that Mr. Edward Lhwyd, M.A., F.R.S. , was 

 keeper of the Ashmolean Museum from 1690 to 1709, and published a 

 catalogue of fossils in 1699. 



Journ. Q. M. C , Series II. No 74. 19 



