2 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
Professor JAMES GEIKIE, F.R.S., Vice-President, 
in the Chair. 
Chairman’s Opening Address. 
(Read December 2, 1895.) 
I have to congratulate the Society on the re-appointment to our 
Presidential Chair of Lord Kelvin, first of British Physicists. 
Five years ago, as you are aware, Lord Kelvin became President 
of the Royal Society of London, at the urgent request of that 
body. This is not the first time, I may remind you, that we have 
provided a President for the London Society. The Philosophical 
Society of Edinburgh, as our body was known before it received 
the Royal Charter authorising it to assume its present designation, 
gave two Presidents to the Royal Society of London — namely, the 
Earl of Morton and Sir John Pringle, Bart. 
In his Address, delivered two years ago, our respected ex- 
President took note of some of the more important papers com- 
municated to the Society during the immediately preceding 
Sessions. I think I can hardly do better than follow his example. 
But before making the attempt, I wish briefly to refer to the 
successful completion within the present year of a great national 
undertaking. I allude, of course, to the famous “ Challenger ” 
Expedition. Our Library has now received the two volumes of 
Summary of Results , with Appendices , which complete the Society’s 
set of the fifty volumes of Reports of the Scientific Results of the 
Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger. These voluminous Reports form 
by far the largest contribution hitherto made to Marine Zoology. 
Indeed, their publication marks an epoch in this department of 
science. Hardly less important are they as contributions to 
oceanography and cognate sciences, while they have at the same 
time added greatly to our knowledge of insular floras and faunas. 
As Editor and part Author of these Reports, and as Director of the 
work in connection with their publication, Dr Murray has had 
a laborious and engrossing task ; and it may well be doubted 
