1884 *] Analyses of Books . 23 ] 
nounces “ the merest aassumption, which we are in no position 
whatever to prove ” — or disprove ? 
The Rev. H. H. Higgins read a note on a collection of Cirri- 
peda in the Free Public Museum, and which had been formed 
by the late Charles Darwin. 
Mr. F. P. Mascart read a note on “A Branch in the Pedigree 
of the Genus Nassa, illustrating the Affinities of forty-eTght 
named Forms with Nassa hirta .” 
. Th< ; Rev - T - p - Kirkman, F.R.S., gave a short— and doubtless 
singular— reply to Mr. Herbert Spencer’s critique on his “ Philo- 
sophy without Assumptions,” so called. 
Mr. J. W. Thompson, B.A., read an important memoir on the 
recent subsidence of land in Northwich. 
A communication by one of the corresponding members, Mr. 
D. Jones, C.E., of Sao Paulo, on the mode of feeding of a 
Brazilian Mantis, is very interesting. 
Mr. Guthrie read a paper on “ Spencer’s Physical System as 
applied to Biology.” We insert the Synopsis, all that is here 
given : — 
“ Part I. Reply to Mr. Spencer: — General estimate of the 
effedt and value of Mr. Spencer’s work. 
“ Part n - The Primary Facfts The indestruaibility of mat- 
ter ; the continuity of motion ; the resistance of force ; 
the ultimate absolute, the final meeting-place of all philo- 
phies. 
“ Part III. The Acftual Process examined in order to ascer- 
tain the ruling and acftual principle of physical change : 
The constituents of the nebula — the concomitancy of the 
concentration of matter and the dissipation of motion 
disputed ; is the universal process limited or unlimited ? 
equilibration the ruling cause of change ; equilibrium 
prevents change ; the continuity of motion disputed. 
“ Part IV. Feeling and Consciousness excluded as Facftors 
in Organisms : — The double-aspecft theory. 
“ Part V. The Biological Explanations: — Organic matter; 
growth; development; funcftion, waste, and repair; adap- 
tation ; the definition of life ; the theory of the moving 
equilibrium ; its application to life disputed ; genesis un- 
explainable ; on indirect equilibration, not equilibration at 
all ; on the need for the continuation of species ; con- 
clusion.” 
(We have also received the volume for the year 1881-82, but 
owing to a great pressure of matter we are obliged to defer 
noticing it until the next month.) 
