468 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



were the chief subjects of his far-reaching criticisms and practical 

 suggestions. 



Anthropology (H) was enriched by the address of Prof. 

 Seligmann on the prehistory of the Sudan region, more especially 

 the Anglo-Egyptian portion. The nature and extent of the 

 influences of Egyptian civilisation on the Ethiopian races of 

 the Nile valley as evidenced in prehistoric remains and in the 

 characteristics of the modern prototypes were critically re- 

 viewed. A southward drift of such influences along the Nile 

 course and across the Congo divide is traceable, which would 

 seem to be prior to the better substantiated westward drift 

 which is traceable as far as the Senegal and Niger rivers. 



In addressing the Section on Physiology (I) Prof. Bay- 

 liss dealt lucidly with the special set of conditions encountered 

 in the regions of contact of phases in any heterogeneous system. 

 Colloids, adsorption, and enzyme catalysis were discussed in 

 this connection and the phenomena of the phase boundaries of 

 cells, cell contents, and cellular structure generally were applied 

 to explain many physiological actions. 



Addressing the Botanical Section (K) Prof. Lang called 

 for a change in the view adopted by botanists towards mor- 

 phological problems. The causal aim in such work has been 

 overshadowed by the Darwinian principle of natural selection. 

 A hopeful sign is apparent in that the difficulties are being 

 more intensely realised and a greater adoption of the causal 

 attitude will lead to broader inductive study without producing 

 antagonism to the phyletic aspect. 



In her presidential address to the Educational Section (L) 

 Mrs. H. Sidgwick, speaking as the first woman to occup}^ the 

 chair, quite appropriately reviewed the development for women 

 of educational opportunities equal to those enjoyed by men. 

 The administrative side of education was presented in broad 

 terms, and the president expressed the view that since the 

 advent of compulsory primary education parents have been 

 inclined to shift the whole responsibility for the education of 

 their children on to the shoulders of the compulsory system. 



Members of the Agricultural Section (M) listened to an 

 optimistic address b}^ the president, Mr. R. H. Rew, who con- 

 trasted the state of British agriculture during the Napoleonic 

 wars with the state experienced to-day. On the whole the year 

 was good agriculturally, and despite many difficulties farmers 



