334 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1913. 
the suppression of the primitive geometrical growth patterns which are most 
abundant in situations where they are least seen, more abundant in young 
creatures than in adults, and in lower groups than in higher groups. The later 
stages, in which dull uniformity has been replaced by exuberance of colour and 
extravagance of form, may have secondary utilities either as stimulants to sexual 
activity, acting through the organs of sense, or from the fashion in which they 
disguise the natural outlines of the body. But I have tried to submit evidence 
that even if natural selection and sexual selection had not been at work, there 
still would have been a gradual increase in the fantastic beauty of the organic 
world, as growth became more complex and metabolism more active. At the 
least there is nothing more superfluous than to object to the theory of Darwin, 
that it cannot explain the existence of material for selection. The circumam- 
bient media, pressing on the obstinate living organism, mould it by processes of 
selection and rejection, but the material is there, a varied yet inevitable product 
of inherited structure and function. These are the 
‘Hierarchs and Kings 
Who from their thrones pinnacled on the past 
Sway the reluctant present.’ 
Sir Grorcr ForpxHam proposed and Mr. H. D. Actanp (Royal Institution of 
Cornwall) seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman for his valuable 
address, which was carried. 
Sir Grorcr Forpwam, on being called on by the Chairman, outlined the 
arrangements which were being made by the French Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science, and the invitation from that body to the Conference of 
Delegates to hold their meeting next year at Havre during the meeting of the 
French Association. He said that the Conference must definitely settle now if 
it will accept the invitation. Although the British Association could not meet 
in a foreign country, there was nothing in the rules to prevent the Conference 
meeting where it wished. The Council of the Association had accepted the 
invitation of the French Association on behalf of any of its members who might 
like to attend the meeting at Havre. The wording of the section of the Report 
of the Council for 1912-13 relating to this matter is as follows :— 
(d) A letter has been received from Dr. A. Loir, of Havre, Local 
Secretary for the Meeting of the French Association for the Advancement 
of Science in Havre in 1914, intimating that the municipality of Havre 
desires to invite as guests leading Members of the British Association who 
do not attend the meeting in Australia, and that all Members not attending 
that meeting will be welcomed at the meeting of the French Association ; 
also proposing that the Conference of Delegates should meet in Havre. 
Information has also been received from Dr. Loir that a Local Committee, 
including some of the principal British residents in Havre, has been formed 
for the reception of Members of the British Association. 
It was resolved that the invitation be cordially accepted, in general terms, 
and that details of the arrangements be left to the consideration of the 
President and General Officers and a committee appointed to assist them. 
The opening meeting of the French Association will be held on August 4. 
Dr. A. Lorr, on the invitation of the Chairman, confirmed what Sir George 
Fordham had said about the invitation of the French Association to the Con- 
ference of Delegates, and said that the matter was being taken up enthusiastically 
by the City and Municipality of Havre. 
Mr. G. C. Druce (Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire) 
regretted that holding the Conference in Havre in August would prevent 
members going to Australia from attending it, which they would be able to do 
if the Conference was held in London in November, as was the case when the 
Association went fo South Africa. 
On the Chairman asking for a vote on the desirability of the Conference of 
Delegates meeting in Havre in 1914, it was proposed by Mr. Jonn Hopkinson 
(Watford Camera Club) and seconded by Mr. A. W. Oxe (Brighton and Hove 
Natural History and Philosophical Society) that the meetings of this Con- 
ference of Delegates be held next year at Havre on the occasion of the meeting 
