15 



vertebrate life, the question of intermediate forms, once of such 

 polemical interest, was illustrated, and a series of views was thrown 

 on the screen by the limelight to show the links between the 

 lancelet and the true fishes, the fishes and the amphibia, and the 

 amphibia and the reptiles. Perhaps the most striking part of the 

 lecture, and the most effectively illustrated by views, was that 

 which dealt with the transition from reptiles to birds — from scales 

 to feathers — the great Belgian iguanodons being shown as walking 

 on their hind legs. The lecturer went into considerable detail 

 with regard to avian and reptilian affinities, as also into the 

 structure of the old flying reptiles (pterodactyls, &c.). Mr. Cald- 

 well's recent discovery with regard to the Australian duck-billed 

 mole was recounted, and its bearing on the evolution of man was 

 explained. Apologising for becoming somewhat personal, the 

 lecturer showed in one picture, in their zoological order, the four 

 species of anthropoid apes, with man, the first member of the 

 anthropoidea, at their head. Another view showed the adult skull 

 and the infant skuU of the gorilla in startling contrast, the much 

 larger brain-case of the infant, which diminishes as the creature 

 grows, seeming to imply that the gorilla is a degenerate form, and, 

 therefore, that man and the anthropoids come from a common stock, 

 but that the latter have degenerated whilst man has advanced. In 

 conclusion, the lecturer said that, looking at the reception of 

 Evolution in the world of thought, it was evident we were in the 

 midst of the greatest mental revolution the world had ever seen, 

 and one not to be entered upon with a light heart. Looking back 

 through all the ages of mental activity, it was startling to think 

 that the disclosure of so tremendous a secret of Nature had been 

 delayed till our time. All other discoveries of the human mind 

 paled before this of Evolution. 



A series of lantern transparencies illustrated the lecture. 



TUESDAY, MAY 5th. 



A Lecture on "Insectivorous Plants" was delivered by 

 George G. Chisholm, Esq., M.A., B. Sc, F.R.G.S. 



Attention was directed to this subject as far back as 1768, 



