PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 127 



to the Nautilus and Octopus, examples of which were still living. He 

 ;ilso traced the Crustacea, Arachnida, and Insecta, from the Paheozoic 

 rocks to the present day. 



Mr. A. D. Michael said they had listened that evening to a most 

 fascinating address upon a subject which had engrossed attention as 

 perhaps no other could be said to have done ; for of all the questions 

 which had occupied the thoughts of men of science, there was surely 

 none more attractive than that of the origin and development of life. 

 As to the origin, he thought he might safely say that to-day they knew 

 no more than when the inquiry commenced, which was equivalent to 

 saying that at present they knew nothing ; but they had just enjoyed a 

 most graphic delineation of its development so far as it is known to 

 biologists, and the series of pictures which had been put before them 

 did enable the mind to grasp what was the extent of our present know- 

 ledge of the subject, and to trace the connection between the earliest 

 forms of life which geologists are acquainted with and those existing at 

 the present time. In this most interesting study they had the advan- 

 tage of being instructed by one who was such a thorough master of the 

 subject as their President. He was sure they all felt deeply indebted to 

 the President for his address, and he had great pleasure in moving thai 

 the best thanks of the Society be given to him for it, and that he be 

 asked to allow it to be printed in the Journal. 



Dr. Braithwaite having seconded the motion, it was put to the 

 Meeting by Mr. Michael, and carried with acclamation. 



The President said that he felt he should consult the feelings of 

 those present at that late hour of the evening by simply returning his 

 best thanks for the indulgence shown to him by the Fellows present 

 who had listened so patiently to what he feared must have seemed a 

 somewhat disjointed communication. He had prepared probably three 

 times as much matter for his discourse as he ought to inflict upon them, 

 but though he had been so imprudent as to bring it with him, he had 

 refrained from reading it. He hoped, however, when they saw it in 

 print it might prove more acceptable to read than in the brief resume 

 he had attempted to lay before them. 



The Rev. A. G. Warner said they were very conscious of how much 

 they were indebted to their Honorary Officers for the labour they had 

 bestowed upon the Society in organising and preparing the business and 

 in enabling it to be carried out satisfactorily. Much of their work was 

 hardly seen by anyone, but it had been done well, and the only return 

 they could make was to express their gratitude on an occasion like the 

 one then present. He therefore had great pleasure in moving that a 

 most hearty vote of thanks be given to the Honorary Officers of the 

 Society for their services during the year. 



The motion having been duly seconded, was put to the Meeting by 

 the mover, and carried unanimously. 



Mr. J. J. Vezey said that Dr. Hebb had asked him to respond to 

 this vote of thanks on behalf of himself and his colleagues. They had 

 been very pleased indeed to do the work, and being human, it was a 

 great pleasure to them to know that it had given satisfaction and to 



