25 
May 15th, 1888. 
The first meeting of the Society in the New Museum was held. 
As the Lecture Hall was believed to be too small for this special 
occasion, by the kind permission of the Mayor, the large room 
destined for the Museum itself was used. A varied and extensive 
collection of objects was exhibited at different tables ; among which 
were :— 
Indian Ferns, by H. F. Blanford, F.R.S., &c. 
Local Botanical specimens by G. C. Walton, F.L.S. 
British Butterflies, by Mr. Austen. 
Photographs and other views, by Dr. Churchill. 
Ancient and Foreign Curiosities by Dr. FitzGerald. 
Local Birds, &c., lately presented, &c. &c. 
A large table was set apart for microscopes, and here living and 
dead specimens were exhibited by about twenty instruments, under 
the care of Messrs. Horsnaill, Haydon, Howells, Kerr, Peden, 
Holden, and others. 
Electrical Machines were shown in action by Mr. Hambridge, 
and Mr. A. H. Ullyett. 
Under the directorship of the President an orchestral band of 
ladies and gentlemen helped to make the evening pass still more 
pleasantly, and refreshments were provided at one end of the 
room by the committee. 
The room was closely crowded during the whole time, and the 
conversazione was in every respect successful. 
OcroserR 9TH, 1889. 
The following paper was read by the President, on 
FASHION AND DEFORMITY. 
It is difficult to give a short and satisfactory definition of fashion 
It is, perhaps best described as an over development of the imitative 
- faculties when uncontrolled by the reasoning powers, and it pro- 
bably reaches its highest development in man and the monkey. 
Man has been called a ‘cooking animal’? and a ‘“ speaking 
animal,” to distinguish him from the lower forms. I would pro- 
pose yet another definition, and call hima “ fashionable animal,” 
- as being yet a more distinctive appellation. It would be quite im- 
possible, in the limited time at my disposal, to trace all the 
varieties and vagaries of fashion in dress, so I shall deal almost 
exclusively with those which more or less distort the frame or affect 
