IV. 



The International Congress of Zoologists. 



THE third International Congress of Zoologists, which came to a 

 conclusion on Saturday, September 21, at Ley den, must be 

 considered to have been a very great success. 



At the two previous meetings, held in Paris and Moscow, the 

 French language was the only one that was allowed to be used in the 

 general and sectional assemblies, and this restriction undoubtedly 

 gave them a distinctly French and Russian bias. At Leyden it was 

 arranged that the speeches should be delivered either in French, 

 German, or English. The ball was set rolling by Professor Hubrecht, 

 who, in a brilliant speech commencing in French, proceeding in 

 German, and concluding in English, welcomed the members of the 

 Congress and gave a truly international flavour to their deliberations. 



A great many of those present felt that it was a pity that 

 England and Germany were not more fully represented, but the 

 meeting at Leyden must be regarded as indicating a change towards 

 real internationalism in zoology, which it is to be hoped will be still 

 further emphasised when the Congress meets in England in i8g8. 



The reception given to the zoologists by Holland was in every sense 

 a royal one. The beautiful young Queen and her mother, the Queen- 

 Regent, graced one of the most brilliant meetings with their presence ; 

 the quiet but interesting old town of Leyden was gaily decorated with 

 bunting during the week, and the railway companies, the clubs, and 

 many private individuals in the city and its neighbourhood were 

 lavish in their hospitality. 



With such a reception the Congress was bound to be an 

 extremely pleasant meeting. I feel quite sure that zoologists of all 

 nations who visited Leyden in September will look back upon this 

 Congress for many years to come with gratitude and pleasure. But, 

 apart from its great social success, the Congress this year will be 

 memorable from a purely scientific point of view. At the opening 

 meeting, the address of Professor Weismann on the principles of 

 Natural Selection was regarded, by those who were near enough to 

 the speaker to hear him, as a remarkable and interesting chapter of 

 his philosophical work. Many of the ideas he expounded for the first 

 time on this occasion will doubtless meet with a great deal of criticism 

 when they are published; and, indeed. Professor Eimer, of Tiibingen, 



