ANTHROPOLOGY 199 



in the past forty years toward the study of plant 

 physiology are exemplified in our list by the investiga- 

 tions into assimilation in plants and respiration of 

 plants. A leading part, also, has been taken by 

 botanists in this country in the revival of palaeo- 

 botany in recent years, and the researches on the 

 structure of fossil plants belong to this department. 

 Knowledge of the nature and details of fertilisation 

 was materially improved by the investigation into 

 fertilisation in Phaeophycese. That most important 

 branch of recent biological studies called genetics 

 has been supported by the Association through a 

 committee for experimental studies in the physiology 

 of heredity. 



ANTHROPOLOGY 



In anthropology the Association has assisted the 

 elucidation of current controversies such as the poly- 

 genist question, in connexion with which a committee, 

 including Thomas Hodgkin, Owen, J. E. Gray, and 

 Babington, carried out in 1841-44 researches into 

 the varieties of the human race by means of a ques- 

 tionnaire which was widely distributed in all parts of 

 the world. In relation to the study of the antiquity 

 of man, the Association has promulgated the explora- 

 tion of cave-remains in Malta, Gibraltar, Yorkshire 

 (Settle and other sites), Ireland, North Wales, and 

 Jersey, in addition to that already referred to in 

 connexion with the subject of geology. The inves- 

 tigation into the age of stone circles (1889-1921) 

 also calls for mention here. For the further purpose 

 of organising research, a series of ethnological 

 questions was formulated and distributed in 1853-55 ; 

 twenty years later instructions for research workers 



