462 



REPORT 1879. 



We might imagine that we have well exhausted the sciences connected with 

 matter and life when we have reviewed the objects of the societies devoted re- 

 spectively to physical and biological sciences. But there are more. Archaeology, 

 which not only embraces whatever pertains to the early history of any nation, 

 but concerns itself with the fossil remains of man, counts several important societies. 

 They are the Society of Antiquaries, with about 600 members, the British Archaeo- 

 logical Institute, with 492 members, and the Royal Archaeological Institute, with 

 614 members, besides a number of local societies. Geography is no longer content 

 with a mere description of places and geographical discoveries, but treats of 

 astronomy and meteorology. Professor Duncan's lecture on ' Mainland Masses,' 

 Mr. Wallace's lecture on the 'Comparative Antiquity of Continents as indi- 

 cated by the Distribution of Living and Extinct Animals,' and Professor Geikie's 

 lecture on ' Geographical Evolution,' have placed the science of geography on 

 a higher platform than it was wont to occupy. The Royal Geographical Society is 

 one of our most popular and most useful societies, and counts the goodly number 

 of 3,332 members. The French Socie'te' de la Geographie has 1,563 members, and 

 the Societa Geografica Italiana counts 1,583 members. 



Archceulogg and Geography. 



Another group of scientific societies deals with science in its manifold applica- 

 tions. They encourage science in relation to special arts and occupations. To 

 this group belongs the Institute of Civil Engineers, for the general advancement 

 of mechanical science, and more particularly for promoting the acquisition of that 

 species of knowledge which constitutes the profession of a civil engineer, with 

 3,315 members. The Institute of Mechanical Engineers has 1,146 members ; 



