30 Proccftliniiii, 



holding it by his toes, as he walks towards his enemy, to con- 

 ceal from him the fact that he is armed. There is' some 

 difference between the hand of the Monkeys fomid in the Old 

 World and those living in America. The thumb in the Old 

 World Ape is what is called opposable to some extent, that is, 

 he can place it some distance over the palm of the hand. 



The New World Monkeys of America, which are the kind 

 which organ-men take about, grasp a nut which is offered to 

 to them in the palm of the hand with all the fingers. 



*' The consequence," says Prof. Huxley, "of being able to 

 place the thumb quite on to the palm of the hand, that is, of 

 having a thoroughly opposable digit, such as we possess, is 

 enormous : we get thereby a power of estimating things in 

 space, which Monkeys do not." 



With this I will conclude. I have endeavoured to give you 

 a general idea of the scheme which is followed in studying the 

 Vertebrates, and in doing so have led you from the simplest 

 known form — the Lancelet — to the highest yet developed — 

 Man, and it only remains for me to thank you for the patience 

 with which you have listened to a long address. 



Mr. Albert J. Crosfield read a paper as follows : — A 

 Naturalist's Eamble round Ekigate, during the first week in 

 June. 



Starting from Oxford Koad, Redhill, a walk of a few yards 

 took us into the sandy lane with high, wooded banks, known 

 as Batts Hill. The banks had been brilliant with Bluebells, 

 but they were now withering. 



We noticed, too, on the banks, abundance of Dog Mercury, 

 a ver'y poisonous plant; and the curious little Moschatell, 

 with its five tiny green flowers arranged in regular order in a 

 close cluster at the top of the flower-stalk. Not only does 

 this little herb clothe with green our shaded banks, but in 

 the cracks of limestone crags in Scotland, up to 3000 feet 

 above sea-level, you meet with it where many plants that are 

 its neighbours in Surrey could not find a living. 



Overhead the Chiff-chaff repeated its call, " chift'-chaff, 

 chiff chafi'." Almost the smallest of our British birds, one 



