Natural History and Physiology. 335 



He had handed a note to Sir John Richardson, asking what, 

 in his opinion, was the strongest power, when he had imme- 

 diately answered, that, in the region with which he was con- 

 versant, North America, he did not believe that the glaciers 

 had any effect at any time. He (the President) believed the 

 last action had been that of floating ice. An animated and 

 amusing, but unsatisfactory discussion, followed the invita- 

 tion of the President. 



Section D. — Natural History including Physiology, etc. 



Professor Owen gave an exposition of his views upon the 

 nature of the segments of the vertebrate skull. His remarks 

 were illustrated by a series of preparations of the skulls of 

 the various forms of vertebrate animals. 



Dr Lankester read a letter from Mr G. Newport, " On 

 the reciprocal Relations of the Vital and Physical Forces." 



Professors Kelland and Goodsir successively addressed the 

 Meeting on the subject of Mr D. R. Hay's views of the geo- 

 metrical principles of Beauty in general, and more particu- 

 larly as applied to architecture and the human form. 



Professor E. Forbes gave an account " of the Infra-littoral 

 Distribution of Marine Animals on the Southern, Northern, 

 and Western Shores of England and Scotland." — In the year 

 1839, a Committee of the British Association was formed for 

 the purpose of investigating the natural history of the British 

 seas by means of the dredge. A chief object of the research 

 proposed was the ascertaining of the exact relation of the 

 Fauna of the British seas at the present epoch, to that of the 

 same area during the epoch of the so-called northern drift. A 

 vast body of accurate observations and carefully stated facts 

 has been obtained. This Report consisted chiefly of tables of 

 two kinds. 1st, Tables systematically arranged of the species 

 of animals dredged, all the depths at which they were taken 

 during the inquiries, and the mineral character of the sea- 

 beds on which they were found, being stated in each species. 

 These tables are extremely full, so far as Mollusca and Ech- 

 inodermata are concerned, less so respecting other tribes of 

 animals, but nevertheless more extensive than any yet made 

 known. 2nd, Tabulated abstracts of the dredging papers, 



