192 peesident's addeess. 



the sheep dog, his case might not have been quoted. As to the 

 sheep dog, it is the opinion of intelligent shepherds that their 

 dogs have improved in intelligence and usefulness in the last 

 fifty years. Nor is this surprising considering the increased at- 

 tention paid to selection and training from the great extension 

 of sheep husbandry in the period. Still the improvement is ad- 

 mitted to have been small, notwithstandmg much culture. Pro- 

 gress in its sense as applied to man there can have been none, 

 for its condition is thought, and that condition yvas wanting. 



There are persons who shrink from allowing mental faculties 

 to the brutes at all for fear of degrading man. When rightly 

 understood it does not degrade man, but it raises the brutes. If 

 the distinctions I have drawn seem to deprive them of powers 

 they are sometimes supposed to possess, it leaves them all the 

 qualities which we love, and it leaves them a share in our inhe- 

 ritance of mind which entitles them to our kindness. On the 

 other hand, this distinction brings more clearly into view the 

 peculiar excellency of man, which is not intelligence, for that as 

 we see may coexist with the brute life, but self conscious Reason, 

 moral purity, and loving loyalty to Grod. ~ 



The Field Meetings for 1868 were arranged to be held as 

 follows : — 



May Bothal and Sheepwash. 



June Derwent above Shotley. 



July Eichmond. 



August Bambro'. 



Septembee Sim onburn. North Tyne. 



OcTOBEE St. Mary's Island. 



The Treasurer's report (see p. 195) was read and adopted. 



