fi8 



rites. From the great number of stone monuments which exist, 

 it is conjectured that the district was the Holy place of some pre- 

 historic people. There were to be found similar remains on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, and on to India. Some of the hill 

 tribes of India in our day erect similar piles. 



In concluding, Dr. Brnmwell said though Holland might be 

 uninteresting in its natural features, yet in its history, in the 

 manners and customs of its people, there was very much to 

 interest and edify. Even in such landscapes as Holland pre- 

 sented, there was often a delightful colour brightening up the 

 scene, which was scarcely beaten elsewhere. Another element 

 of pleasure in a visit to Holland was found in the friendly feeling 

 entertained by the Dutch towards Englishmen ; and this rendered 

 travelling much more agreeable. 



An excellent series of lantern views served to illustrate the 

 Lecture, and convey an idea of the features and peculiarities of 

 the Dutch cities and districts named in the paper. 



ANIMAL PARASITISM. 



Bi/ A. E. TOVEY, D.Sc. October 26th, 1886. 



All animals are dependent on other animals, in varying degree 

 The amount of dependence of one animal upon another which 

 amounts to parasitism is not quite clear, and whatever definition 

 of a parasite is adopted, the line marked will be somewhat 

 arbitrary. Generally speaking an animal which obtains food 

 and shelter from another without at once destroying the life of 

 its host is called a parasite. 



As it is evident that all parasites are the descendants of free 

 ancestors, the manner in which they have reached their present 

 habitat, and the way in which they have become acclimatized to 

 their present environment are interesting problems, especially 

 as the surroundings of many parasites would prove immediately 

 fatal to most free animals. Parasites are found in all the tissues 

 and parts of animals from the skin to the marrow. Their 

 presence was anciently accounted for by their being spontaneously 

 generated in the places in which they are found. This explanation 

 is no longer tenable, as in all cases which have been examined, 

 parasites are found to adopt the usual means of reproduction. 

 The eggs or embryos are generally very minute and very numer- 

 ous, they are generally introduced into the body of the host with 

 its food and reach the tissue they wish to inhabit, actively, by 

 boring their way there, or passively, by being carried in the cir- 



