27 
I cannot conclude more appropriately than with Professor 
Flowers’ eloquent words, ‘‘ For myself I see the strongest grounds 
for the belief, difficult as it sometimes is, in face of the strange 
apparent defects in structure, and the far stranger savagery of 
habit brought to light by the study of the ways of living creatures, 
that natural selection, or the Survival of the Fittest has among 
other agencies played a most important part in the production of 
the present condition of the organic world, and that it is a univers- 
ally acting and beneficent force continually tending towards the 
perfection of the individual, of the race, and of the whole living 
world.” 
The subject of mimicry produced a short discussion, after which 
the usual vote of thanks was passed. 
Novemser 127x, 1889. 
The usual monthly meeting took place at the museum when 
Mr. Blanford gave an interesting account of the Fauna of India 
and its distribution. He commenced with a short description of 
India itself, the mountain districts, plateaus and plains ; the rain- 
fall and the distribution of palm trees. After this he briefly 
described the various mammals of the country, and the regions 
occupied by each. 
The President was in the chair. The lecturer was warmly 
thanked for his description. 
Dercemser 10TH, 1889. 
A Conversazione was held in the Lecture Hall. Mr. Blanford 
exhibited a beautiful series of photographs of Himalayan scenery. 
On the table also where photographs of the Suez Canal, lately 
presented to the museum; a specimen of the Chacma, and of some 
fossil fish from East Wear Bay. 
Mr. Walton exhibited botanical and marine objects, Mr. Austen 
a collection of birds’ eggs, and several members of the Microscopical 
Society were present with the instruments and specimens. 
