PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 385 



Mr. J. G. Goodchild, F.G.S., F.Z.S., of H.M. Geological Survey, 

 delivered a lecture entitled "Recent Changes of Animal Life in 

 Britain," which he illustrated by a fine series of lantern slides. 

 He first noticed the causes of the increase of certain species of 

 birds, and of the decrease of others, dealing more especially 

 with the cases which had come under his own observation. As 

 a reason for the rarity of many species, he mentioned the 

 enclosure of waste lands and the drainage of bogs and marshes, 

 but he stated that a large proportion of the decrease in the 

 numbers of certain birds was owing to the ravages of collectors, 

 and especially of those given to bird-nesting. Passing on to 

 the changes that have affected the mammals now living in 

 Britain, he treated of the decrease of such animals as the Wild 

 Cat, the Badger, and the Marten. Then, reviewing the changes 

 of life that took place in times remote from the present, he 

 discussed the causes which led to the introduction into our 

 island of such animals as the Wolf, the W T ild Boar, and other 

 animals no longer resident here. This led to the consideration 

 of the causes of the former existence in Britain of such animals 

 as the Reindeer, the Arctic Fox, the Glutton, the Musk Sheep, 

 and others which are now confined to the Arctic regions. Along 

 with these were reviewed an interesting series of mammals whose 

 remains are found in this country in a fossil state, but which 

 are still living in Steppe regions where an arid climate prevails. 

 The bearing of these occurrences upon the geographical con- 

 ditions which formerly prevailed in the British Isles was dis- 

 cussed. Finally, the lecturer passed in review the causes which 

 led to the former existence in Great Britain of such creatures 

 as the Lion, the Leopard, the Spotted Hya?na, and other animals 

 which are now generally confined to the warmer regions of the 

 globe; and he concluded by pointing out the bearing of these 

 facts upon the origin of the European fauna. 



Mr. Baxter showed some dust collected in Barbadoes, which 

 had fallen on that island as a result of the recent volcanic dis- 

 turbances in the neighbouring West Indian Islands. 



