44 



A cordial vote of thanks was also passed to Mr. Curties for 

 his presentation of slides to the Society's microscopical cabinet. 



February 8th. 



ORDINAEY MEETING. — MISS AGNES CRANE ON 

 CERTAIN GENERA OF LIVING FISH AND THEIR 

 FOSSIL AFFINITIES.* 



Mr. T. W. Wonfor, one of the Honorary Secretaries, then 

 read Miss Crane's paper, which was illustrated with tables of 

 classification and distribution, and with several diagrams, for the 

 rough execution of which an apology was offered. 



On first thoughts, it may seem that the lowest group of 

 vertebrates, of all the divisions comprised in the animal kingdom, 

 might be most easily described, and its zoological limits defined ; 

 but, on examination, the fishes prove to be most curiously linked 

 to the invertebrata Ijelow and the ampliibian reptiles above. In 

 fact, it is not easy to draw the lines positively between them, and 

 to say where the true vertebrates begin, or where the piscine 

 characters are merged in the reptilian. 



It is proposed to refer to-night to some of the most aberrant 

 forms of living fish and their fossil aifinities ; then, briefly passing 

 in review the distribution of the various families in geological time, 

 to see how far descent with modification is traceable in this class 

 of vertebrates. 



The Lowest Vertebrate. 



It is well known that the lowest vertebrate form is the 

 anomalous lancelet {Amphioxus lanceolatus), which is foimd 

 burroAving in sand lianks on our southern shores and in the 

 Mediterranean. The position which this singular species should 

 occupy in the animal kingdom has long been a subject of debate 



* The -nxiter is much iudebted to Dr. Giinther, F.R.8., and Mr. Da-vies, 

 P.G.S., of the British Museum, for information kindly imparted, and 

 facilities and assistance afforded in the examination of specimens. 



