27 



I cannot conclude more appropriately than with Professor 

 Flowers' eloquent words, " For myself I see the strongest grounds 

 for the belief, difficult as it sometimes is, in face of the strange 

 apparent defects in structure, and the far stranger savagery of 

 habit brought to light by the study of the ways of living creatures, 

 that natural selection, or the Survival of the Fittest has among 

 other agencies played a most important part in the production of 

 the present condition of tbe organic world, and that it is a univers- 

 ally acting and beneficent force continually tending towards the 

 perfection of the individual, of the race, and of the whole living 

 world." 



The subject of mimicry produced a short discussion, after which 

 the usual vote of thanks was passed. 



November 12th, 1889. 



The usual monthly meeting took place at the museum when 

 Mr. Blanford gave an interesting account of the Fauna of India 

 and its distribution. He commenced with a short description of 

 India itself, the mountain districts, plateaus and plains ; the rain- 

 fall and the distribution of palm trees. After this he briefly 

 described the various mammals of the country, and the regions 

 occupied by each. 



The President was in the chair. The lecturer was warmly 

 thanked for his description. 



December 10th, 1889. 



A Conversazione was held in the Lecture Hall. Mr. Blanford 

 exhibited a beautiful series of photographs of Himalayan scenery. 

 On the table also where photographs of the Suez Canal, lately 

 presented to the museum ; a specimen of the Chacma, and of some 

 fossil fish from East Wear Bay. 



Mr. Walton exhibited botanical and marine objects, Mr. Austen 

 a collection of birds' eggs, and several members of the Microscopical 

 Society were present with the instruments and specimens. 



