PREFACE. 
——_ 10 
HE Twenty-Third Volume of the Jowrnal of the Transac- 
tions of the Vicroria Instrrure is now issued. It 
contains papers by the following authors :—The Rev. C. G. 
Asuwin, M.A., on “ Modern Science and Natural Religion.” 
The Rev. H. J. Crarxe, on “The Logos of Philosophy.” 
Surgeon-General C. A. Gorpon, M.D., C.B., some “ Notes 
on the Hthnology and Ancient Chronology of China,” to 
which the Rey. Jamzs Leacu, Professor of Chinese at Oxford 
University, and Dr. S. Brat, Professor of Chinese at 
University College, have added valuable remarks. .Dr. H. B. 
Guppy, on “ Coral Islands and Savage Myths,” to the discus- 
sion on which Professor James Gerkiz, F.R.S.; Mr. W. H. 
Houpueston, F.R.S.; Mr. Jonn Murray (of the Challenger 
Expedition) ; Captain W. J. L. Wuarton, R.N., F.R.S., the 
Hydrographer to the .Admiralty; and others, have con- 
tributed. To this paper the Institute has been permitted to 
append Dr. Gurry’s “ Preliminary Note” on the “ Keeling 
Atoll,” giving the results of the further investigations carried 
on during the expedition from which he has just returned. 
Dr. Gurry’s investigations, in which he has had the advan- 
tage of more perfect instruments than were used in Darwin’s 
explorations, have suggested a reconsideration of some of 
that great naturalist’s views on the questions involved. Mr. 
T. Mc’Krnny Hucuzs, F.R.S., Woodwardian Professor of 
Geology at Cambridge University, in a paper “On Cuts on 
Bone,as Evidence of Man’s Existence in Remote Ages,” well 
shows the great need for caution when attributing marks found 
