1894. NOTES FROM THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 223 



embryonic stages. Mr. Osborn pointed out that a study of the 

 development of variations through a long lapse of time showed that 

 similar structures might be reached by quite different roads, as 

 instanced by the molar and pre-molar teeth of Anchitherium. He 

 seemed inclined to attribute this more largely to direct mechanical 

 stimulus acting towards the same given end, than to the action of 

 Natural Selection. 



After these various onslaughts, the discussion promised to be 

 lively. But Professor Ray Lankester and Professor Poulton, who 

 were the chief supporters of Natural Selection, dealt with the obvious 

 misapprehensions of Darwinism in the papers of those who spoke 

 against Natural Selection rather than with the details of their 

 objections. While we have the strongest sympathy with those who 

 point out the astonishing misconceptions of Darwin's own views, 

 which, unfortunately, are so prevalent with those who bring forward 

 difficulties in the theory of Natural Selection, we think that the 

 attitude adopted by the supporters of Darwinism is unfortunate. For 

 the general public are even more ignorant of Darwin's own writings 

 than those who urge scientific objections to his theories. The 

 impression left on the minds of the camp-followers of science is, that 

 the defenders of Natural Selection are more concerned to maintain 

 an orthodox interpretation of the Darwinian scripture than to do 

 battle about the actual facts. 



Mr. Pycraft followed this discussion with a valuable account 

 of the wing of Archaopteryx, which gave rise to an animated discus- 

 sion, in which Dr. Sclater, Professor Ray Lankester, Dr. Hurst, 

 Mr. Finn, and others took part. As, however, this paper will shortly 

 appear in our pages, further description is now unnecessary. 



The Distribution of Animals. 



This subject, in one or other of its varied phases, was dealt with 

 in many of the Sections, and it seems a pity that some arrangement 

 could not have been made by the organising committees to enable 

 those interested to meet and discuss the question at the same place 

 and time. Professor W. A. Herdman endeavoured to accommodate 

 himself to the situation by reading his valuable Report on the Marine 

 Zoology of the Irish Sea before the Geological as well as the Zoo- 

 logical Section. The result, however, was that in neither place could 

 it receive the attention which all felt that it deserved. The Com- 

 mittee, of which Professor Herdman is both Chairman and Reporter, 

 has paid particular attention to the deposits now forming on the floor 

 of the Irish Sea. It has mapped out the distribution of the various 

 sands, muds, shell-conglomerates, clays, and nuUipore deposits, and 

 has endeavoured to see how they are connected with the older 

 geological formations of the sea coast and the submarine deposits 

 lying off the shore. It has further come to the very important con- 

 clusion that the nature of the deposit is the most important of the 



