168 
ORDINARY MEETING, Marcu 16, 1885. 
D. Howarp, Esq., F.I.C., in tHe Cuarr. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, and the-fol- 
lowing Elections were announced :— 
Associates :—Rev. C. B. Bowles, Tunbridge Wells; Rev. 8. Bowers, 
A.M., Ph.D., United States; Rev. J. C. Caldwell, D.D., United States ; 
C. A. Barclay, Esq., F.R.G.S,, Folkestone ; W. Lester, Esq., J.P., F.G.S., 
F.C.S., Wrexham; J. Spriggs, Esq., F.S.S., Market Harborough. 
Hon. Locat Sec.—W. Lester, Esq., J.P., F.G.S., F.C.S., Wrexham. 
ON THE RELATION OF FOSSIL BOTANY 
TO THEORIES OF EVOLUTION. By W. P. Jauzs, 
Ksq., F.L.8. 
ih HEREVER the word Evolution comes in, itis well to 
begin with stating in what sense it is used. For 
the present purpose it will be limited to its proper biological 
meaning, for it is only in the province of life that it can be 
considered as anything more than a hazy synonym for develop- 
ment. What process it can possibly express in the inorganic 
world I am at a loss to conceive. But, as understood by 
Zoologists and Botanists, it is perfectly intelligible ; to them 
it is equivalent to the Theory of Descent,—that is, to the 
hypothesis that the forms of animal and vegetable life which 
surround us have descended by modification from their pre- 
decessors in time. In itself this is a most interesting and 
fascinating question, and no thoughtful student of nature can 
