94 report — 1865. 



On the Natives of Patagonia and Terra del Fuego. 

 By the Rev. W. H. Sterling. 



The mission to which the author helonged was stationed on Falkland Islands, 

 and the mission ship coming to England for other purposes, it presented a favour- 

 able opportunity of bringing a few of the natives, four of whom were present in 

 the Section-room. These natives belonged to the island of Terra del Fuego. There 

 was undoubtedly an affinity between their race and the Patagonians, but the habits 

 of life and the circumstances under which each lived were very different. The 

 Patagonians were generally spoken of as giants ; this was an error ; forty of them 

 had been measured, and their average height was about 5 feet 10 inches. The 

 Fuegians were a shorter race. The Fuegians were very much harassed by the 

 weather, for they had scarcely anything to wear besides a strip of seal-skin. Their 

 diet was fish. They were canoe Indians. He had never discovered any traces of 

 cannibalism, and even their taste for beef, mutton, and other flesh food had to be 

 acquired. 



On the Domestication of certain Animals in England between the Seventh and 

 Eleventh Centuries. By J. Thrupp. 

 This paper gave an account, derived from the actual examination of ancient 

 documents, of the amount and character of the domestication of various animals 

 in England during the period stated. First, animals thoroughly domesticated were 

 noticed — horses, pigs, sheep and poultry. Secondly, animals imperfectly domesti- 

 cated, such as goats, deer, hawks, &c. ; .and a third class, canaries, parrots, &c, 

 which, when opportunity presented itself, would escape to savage life. The essay 

 gave details of the domestication of the pig, with the laws and charters relating to 

 its protection. Horses came next in the work of domestication, about the tenth 

 century, when it was unlawful to ride on horseback, and even kings were accus- 

 tomed to hunt on foot. This restriction was afterwards withdrawn, and riding, 

 hunting, and fighting on horseback came into use. Bees were domesticated be- 

 tween the sixth and seventh centuries; and, being found very profitable, the nobles, 

 clergy, and laity all combined for the protection of that insect. Hawks were next 

 introduced, but with the introduction of fire-arms went into disuse. Weasels and 

 cats brought the subject up to the eleventh century. 



Dr. E. P. Wright exhibited a copy of the ' Record of Zoological Literature for 

 the Year 18G4.' 



Physiology. 



Address by Henry W. Acland, M.D., LL.D., F.B.S., Regius Professor of 

 Medicine in the University of Oxford. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — In addressing you from the Chair this day, I desire 

 first of all to express my sense of the unmerited honour thus conferred upon me. 

 When* informed that it was intended to propose me as your Chairman, my first 

 impulse was without hesitation to decline so great a distinction, in order that the 

 post might be held by one of the many eminent persons who usually contribute 

 to the success of the Section, or to the renown of the Department. Further con- 

 sideration seemed to show me that the greater homage would be to place unre- 

 servedly at your service such humble powers as I have, and to offer you that which 

 I possess, viz. the force of profound interest in the progress of one of the most im- 

 portant departments of human knowledge, and of sympathy all but lifelong with 

 its promoters. 



I rely, therefore, on the support which you will generously give to 'my endea- 

 vours to secure all fidl and fair discussion that is consistent with a due regard to 

 the limited time at our disposal. 



It has become a custom that the Presidents of Sections should make some 



