26 



May 15th, 1888. 



The first meeting of the Society in the New Museum was held. 

 As the Lecture Hall was believed to be too small lor this special 

 occasion, by the kind permission of the Mayor, the large room 

 destined for the Museum itself was used. A varied and extensive 

 collection of objects was exhibited at different tables ; among which 

 were : — 



Indian Ferns, by H. F. Blanford, F.E.S., &c. 



Local Botanical specimens by G. C. Walton, F.L.S. 



British Butterflies, by Mr. Austen. 



Photographs and other views, by Dr. Churchill. 



Ancient and Foreign Curiosities by Dr. FitzGerald. 



Local Birds, &c., lately presented, &c. &c. 



A large table was set apart for microscopes, and here living and 

 dead specimens were exhibited by about twenty instruments, under 

 the care of Messrs. Horsnaill, Haydon, Howells, Kerr, Peden, 

 Holden, and others. 



Electrical Machines were shown in action by Mr. Hambridge, 

 and Mr. A. H. Ullyett. 



Under the directorship of the President an orchestral band of 

 ladies and gentlemen helped to make the evening pass still more 

 pleasantly, and refreshments were provided at one end of the 

 room by the committee. 



The room was closely crowded during the whole time, and the 

 conversaziime was in every respect successful. 



OcTOBEB 9th, 1889. 



The following paper was read by the President, on 



FASHION AND DEFORMITY. 



It is difficult to give a short and satisfactory definition of fashion 

 It is, perhaps best described as an over development of the imitative 

 faculties when uncontrolled by the reasoning powers, and it pro- 

 bably reaches its highest development in man and the monkey. 

 Man has been called a "cooking animal" and a "speaking 

 animal," to distinguish him from the lower forms. I would pro- 

 pose yet another definition, and call him a " fashionable animal," 

 as being yet a more distinctive appellation. It would be quite im- 

 possible, in the limited time at my disposal, to trace all the 

 varieties and vagaries of fashion in dress, so I shall deal almost 

 exclusively with those which more or less distort the frame or affect 



