274 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Dec., 1891 
being present. Mr. Charles Pumphrey, President of the 
Society, gave an interesting and instructive photographic 
display of English scenery, under the happy title of “ Holiday 
Notes.” The slides thrown on the screen, illustrative of 
inorganic, organic, and super-organic phenomena, were much 
appreciated by the audience. 
March 24th.—Mr. W. Kineton Parkes read a paper on 
“ Henrik Ibsen and liis Studies in Sociology.” In the discus¬ 
sion which followed, several members expressed unfavourable 
opinions of the Norwegian dramatist’s views of life. 
April 28th.—Miss Goyne,the lion, secretary, read a paper 
entitled “ Thoughts from Robert Browning,” in which atten¬ 
tion was drawn to points of agreement between the teachings 
of the psychological poet and the philosophical conclusions of 
Mr. Herbert Spencer. 
May 26tli. — At this meeting sixty-one members and 
friends were present. Mr. J. Cuming Walters read a paper 
on “ King Arthur’s Land,” in which ample evidence was 
afforded of that poetic power and vitality which have made 
the Arthurian Legends a fruitful source of inspiration to the 
English muse, affecting in a marked degree the poetry of this 
century. At the close of the meeting many present testified 
to the rich literary and poetic treat Mr. Cuming Walter’s kind 
genius had given them. 
June 23rd.—Mr. W. B. Grove, M.A., read a paper entitled 
“ Thoughts on a Plea for Liberty.” In an exhaustive paper, 
which was received with marked appreciation, Mr. Grove 
confined his attention to a consideration of the valuable 
“ Introduction,” written by Mr. Herbert Spencer. 
At the supplementary meetings, which have been held on 
the second and fourth Thursdays in every month, the whole 
of the second, and most of the third part of Mr. Herbert 
Spencer’s “Principles of Sociology” have been read and 
discussed by the members. 
These meetings were held in the following order :— 
January 8th.—Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., president of the 
section, introduced, by a few notes, Chapters I. and II. 
of Part II., “What is a Society ?” and “Society as an 
Organism.” In his concluding remarks Mr. Hughes suggested 
for consideration that, if in respect to the human species 
society may be regarded as an organism, we ought to find an 
analogy among the lower animals. Instances of the Beaver, 
Rooks, Ants, Bees, Wasps, &c., were adduced, which seemed 
to indicate a polity. Reference was made to Mr. Herbert 
Spencer’s recent papers, in which he directed attention to the 
fact that the rudiments of justice appeared in these animals 
and others. 
