82 The Irish Naturalist, April, 



Mendel's work began mth experiments in hybridising, and we need to 

 remember that every sexual union is more or less of the nature of a " cross/' 

 Without claiming that " Mendelism " explains all the facts of inheritance, 

 we may admit that it gives at least the promise of explaining very much. 

 And an'explanation of the fixation of definite characters of no utility in the 

 " struggle for existence " is exactly what we need as a supplement to 

 natural selection. But if we know something of the nature of variation 

 and the " laws " which govern inheritance, the cause of variation is still 

 largely a mystery. 



Professor Gregg Wilson proposed a vote of thanks to Professor Carpenter, 

 and commented on the capable manner in which the lecturer had dealt 

 with this very wide subject. F. Balfour -Browne, in seconding the 

 vote, raised an interesting point of discussion on the possibility of descent 

 along parallel lines. 



The vote having been put to the meeting by the President and passed 

 with acclamation. Professor Carpenter briefl}" replied. 



February 28. — Geological Section — Paper by W. J. C. Tomlinson, 

 chairman of the Section, on " Geological Aspects of Coast Erosion," 

 illustrated by lantern views. Dr. A. R. Dwerryhouse, F.G.S., presided. 

 Mr. Tomlinson pointed out that coast erosion arises in the main from the 

 operation of two classes of agents — the first aerial, the second, marine ; 

 the marine agents being again divided into two groups — the one direct, 

 the other indirect. The waves, by their direct action, break down cliffs 

 and coast -lines and thus lead to the formation of caves and coves, bays 

 and inlets, cliffs and promontories. By their indirect action, in gathering 

 up the products of erosion and transporting them to other grounds, they 

 provide a fresh field of attack for the direct agencies. Mr. Tomlinson 

 also drew attention to other processes that aid in coast degradation, such 

 as the pressure exercised by the water when driven with great force into 

 the cracks, fissures and joints of the rocks, and to the pneumatic effect 

 produced by the alternate compression and expansion of the air, im- 

 prisoned in such crevices and fissures. He concluded with a full account of 

 how these coast -eroding agencies were circumscribed in their activity by 

 the nature, structure, and arrangements of the rocks composing the 

 coast line. A discussion followed, in which R. J. Welch, M.R.I. A., 

 Wm. Gray, M.R.I. A. ; S. A. Bennett, B.Sc. ; C. A. Cunningham, L.D.S., 

 and the Chairman took part. 



