PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 31 



Wallace as its President. In 1888 a department of 

 Anthropology was, by the British Association, attached 

 to the Biological Section ; and, at Montreal in 1884, 

 Anthropology became Section H, and has proved to be 

 one of the most popular and interesting of the ten sections 

 into which science, as dealt with by the British Associa- 

 tion, is now divided. 



In this connection, it is of interest to note that Section D 

 (Biology) had previously comprised animal and vegetable 

 Physiology and Anatomy, Ethnology and Anthropology, 

 Zoology and Botany, these subjects having now four 

 sections. 



An important advance in biological science was achieved 

 in the year 1870, by the recognition of the kinship of the 

 Ascidians to the Yertebrata, through the very important 

 discovery of the possession of a Notochord, by certain 

 species of Ascidians while in the larval state, thus, to some 

 extent, bridging over the wide gulf which had previously 

 existed between vertebrata and invertebrata. 



Although I have necessarily refrained from alluding to 

 the many distinguished living biologists, I could not 

 conclude an address of this nature, and especially in this 

 theatre, without including amongst the conspicuous bio- 

 logical landmarks of our age, the distinguished occupant 

 of the Chair of Natural History in this College. Professor 

 Herdman's [Plate IV.] researches connected with the 

 Tunicata, alone long ago placed him, as we all know, in the 

 very front rank of living naturalists. As the founder and 

 constant supporter of this Society, as well as of its sister 

 institution, the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, but 

 still more for his own sake, we here delight to do him 

 honour. Not a few of us have felt the extreme practical 

 value of his always ready advice and assistance in any 

 investigations we may undertake. And we can here 



