GLASGOW SOCIETY OF FIELD NATURALISTS. 193 



palaces of Mexico were taken as examples. The profligate waste of 

 labour expended on the Pyramids may be imagined, when we read 

 in Herodotus that 2000 men were employed three years in carrying 

 a single stone from Elephantine to Sais ! The people who raised 

 the monuments of Easter Island have degenerated or disappeared. 

 But the theory of progressive development takes into account partial 

 degeneracy; just as the theory of the evolution of animals or plants 

 takes into account the extinction of races unfitted, perhaps, by 

 altered external conditions or modifications of structure, for the 

 battle of life. If a perfect civilization existed at one time, where 

 are the remains of its activity, of instruments more wonderful than 

 our degenerate ones, for piercing space, analysing light, measuring 

 time, or showing the constitution of cosmic gases 1 



3bd November, 1876. 



Mr. W. J. Milligan, Vice-President, in the chair. 



It was agreed that a memorial should be drawn up regarding the 

 death of Professor R. Kennedy, who was at one time President 

 of the Society. In him many of the members miss not only an 

 accomplished guide in their studies, but a warm personal friend. 

 He was always ready to assist, advise, and encourage those who 

 applied to him. Mr. Hennedy did more than any other lecturer to 

 spread the knowledge of botanical science in the district ; and let it 

 be said to his honour that he worked without expectation of 

 monetary reward. He worked because of a very love of his labour, 

 and he strove by every means in his power to attract others to the 

 same fields of study and research. His enthusiasm stimulated every 

 one who came into contact with him, and some of the best botanists 

 of the district were educated under his eye. 



It was decided that an abstract of the minute and an expression 

 of deep sympathy should be forwarded to his son, Mr. David 

 Hennedy. 



PAPER READ. 

 By Mr. R. H. Paterson. " On the three kingdoms of Nature." 



D 



