26 



different branches of knowledge into which our present Society is 

 subdivided, is as follows : 



From this we gather that Zoological subjects were most in 

 evidence, while Archaeology or Antiquities were not much taken 

 up in those days. 



The first lecture or paper was on " Microscopic Life in a 

 Pond," by Rev. N. Curnock. In September, 1883, the subject was 

 " What is Life ? " by Mr. Eustace Bright ; the decision being that 

 it is hopeless to try to answer the question. Spiders take up three 

 papers. Stonehenge was treated of by Mr. Hood. In a paper on 

 " Climate," by Dr. Davidson, the lecturer remarked — " Surely the 

 day would come when it would be seen that gratitude and reverence 

 were due to such men as Pasteur, Lister, Koch, Klein, and Burdon- 

 Sanderson rather than that they should be assailed with insult, and 

 hindered by mischievous legislation, as if they were criminals rather 

 than benefactors of the whole human and animal races." In 1887, 

 the " Advances in the Germ Theory of Disease " was treated of by 

 Dr. Greves ; and we note several papers at various times on medical 

 subjects in connection with public health, &c. 



In 1887, Mr. Carus Wilson lectured on " Grains of Sand," and 

 in November of the next year on " Musical Sand " (which is found 

 at Studland), about which a German Professor has quite recently 

 been making enquiries. In 1890 we had " Leaves from the Note- 

 book of an Indian Magistrate," by Mr. Jackson. We can only 

 trace one lecture on Astronomy, which was of an elementary char- 

 acter. "Modern Explosives" and "Torpedoes" formed the 

 subjects of two lectures by Mr. Quick, R.N. 



In 1884 there was a lecture on Gold and Silver, when the Kong 

 Mountains are given as the only source of gold in Africa! This is 

 a sign of the times, the present goldfields of South Africa being 

 then practically unknown and undeveloped. 



So far as I can ascertain, the name of Dr. Dixon, one of our 

 present Secretaries, first appears on the Committee in 1891. 



To complete the record we may here briefly refer to the origin 

 and proceedings of our present Society. These remarks are based 

 on information given in the annual reports, five of which have been 

 issued, commencing with that for 1904. 



From the first report we gather that " In November last, 

 stimulated by the action of W. Saville-Kent, Esq., f.l.s., f.z.s., an 

 endeavour was made to resuscitate the Natural Science Society, 

 which had been defunct for many years, hoping that under his 

 influence and guidance the Society might be revived, and regain 

 some of its pristine vigour and activity." Several preliminary 



Zoological, 27 

 Physical, 22 

 Geological, 21 

 Miscellaneous, 14 

 Botanical, 10 



Geographical, 4 

 Archaeological, 3 

 Photographical, 1 

 Microscopical, 1 



