PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 29 



The latest issue of Behm & "Wagner's Bevolkerung der Erde, 

 (No. 6,) gives the present population of the earth at 1,456,000,000. 

 If the above estimates of the number of each of these classes of 

 animals in the entire world could be relied upon, they would show, 

 for each 1,000 of human population, 50 horses, 166 cattle, 407 

 sheep, 70 hogs, and 23 of the other species taken together, or 716 

 of all the kinds enumerated. But, as above stated, these figures 

 are probably far too low, and, if the truth could be known, it would 

 probably be found that the animal population within these limits 

 would not fall far below the human population. 



The paper was concluded with some general observations on the 

 moral bearings of the question of animal domestication. It was 

 held that these facts constituted a sufficient justification of man's 

 general treatment of the brute creation ; that a larger amount of 

 animal life exists under man's influence than could exist without 

 it ; that he creates more life than he destroys ; that his methods of 

 destruction are less painful than those of Nature ; that it is to his 

 interest to treat animals well, to supply them with abundant food, 

 and relieve them from those constant fears, both of enemies and of 

 want, which characterize their condition in a wild state ; and that 

 when life is taken, it is done quickly and as painlessly as possible ; 

 that the reverse of all this is the case in Nature, and hence a 

 great amount of human sympathy is wasted on the creatures under 

 man's control in consequence of ignorance of a few facts and prin- 

 ciples. 



Observations on the foregoing paper were made by Messrs. 

 Elliott and Gill. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



187th Meeting. 10th Annual Meeting, November 6th, 1880. 

 Vice-President Hilgard in the Chair. 



Thirty-nine members present. 



Meeting called to order by the Chair. 



The Secretary read proceedings of the last annual meeting (168th 

 meeting) held November 16th, 1879. 



The names of members elected since the last annual meeting were 

 announced. 



