PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
JANUARY TO MAY, 1871. 
GENERAL. 
I. 
The Natural History op the German People. 
By John Beddoe, M.D., Pr.A.S.L. 
Head at the General Meeting, January 4th, 1871. 
[Abstract.] 
After pointing out with the aid of a "boldly drawn sketch-map how 
largely the migrations and settlements of races have been determined by 
physical causes, such as rivers and mountains, deserts and coast-lines, Dr. 
Beddoe entered upon the particular subject of the evening. 
In the earliest times of which we can gain any trustworthy account the 
German-speaking races inhabited nearly the same part of Europe as at the 
present day. This date is not farther back than the commencement of the 
Christian era. In some countries it is possible by the aid of history and 
tradition to trace the changes which have taken place in the population. 
For instance, in Switzerland the present inhabitants do not belong to the 
same race as the Helvetii who were Kelts, and dwelt in the country in the 
time of Julius Csesar. Whether these Kelts built the lake- dwellings or a 
yet older race that preceded them has not been ascertained. But in 
Germany proper the same course of events cannot be traced. Though the 
