By W. RALPH G. BOND. 



(Read IQth Feb., 1915.) 





|T may come as a surprise to some members of 

 the Field Club to learn that all of them 

 have probably at some time or another 

 performed <nn act of magic, but I think 

 that if they will hear me out I can shew 

 them that such is the case. 



I do not of course refer to the " Black 

 Arts " or to being in league with evil spirits 

 (these are only later elaborations of the 

 idea), but to plain, simple, primitive magic. To make my 

 meaning clearer, I will first explain what true magic is ; 1 

 will then glance at some of its more elaborate developments 

 in the Middle Ages to show, for the purposes of this paper, 

 what it is not ; lastly, I will mention a few harmless little 

 acts of magic in common use to-day, and leave members to 

 decide for themselves whether they can honestly say they 

 have never attempted an act of magic. 



The faculty of imitation is firmly implanted in the human 

 mind, especially in that of primitive man, who, living under a 



