286 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Dec.. 1890. 
was illustrated by specimens of steel, a number of diagrams, and 
portraits of the inventors.—In opening the discussion, Mr. Arnold- 
Bemrose reminded the section that there was a precedent for a 
subject of the kind selected, Dr. Sorby. F.R.S., having a short time 
ago favoured the society with a most interesting lecture on “ The 
Microscopical Structure of Iron and Steel.” He felt, however, that 
when subjects of this nature were treated, unless specialists were 
present, questions would have to take the place of a discussion. A 
number of these were asked by Dr. Copestake, Dr. Greaves, Dr. 
Carter Wigg, Mr. G. Hyde, and others, the discussion terminating 
with a vote of thanks to Mr. Carulla. 
OXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— First Meeting 
of the Session. October 23rd. In Professor Burdon-Sanderson’s 
Lecture Room. The President, Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A.,F.R.S., in 
the chair. After the confirmation of the minutes. Mr. John W. 
Shipp, 51, Cowley Road, was proposed by Mr. H. M. J. Underhill, 
seconded by Mr. M. S. Pembury. It was then proposed from the 
chair that the day of meeting should be altered from Tuesday to 
Thursday. A considerable majority of members present signified 
themselves in favour of the alteration, which was therefore carried. 
The President then called on Mr. Underhill to give his lecture on 
“ Artistic Japan : Birds, Beasts, and Fishes.” The lecturer showed a 
number of water-colour copies of Japanese pictures of animal life, 
with the aid of a lime-light lantern. He began with aquatic animals, 
the most striking of which was a huge octopus squeezing a man 
to death, by Hokusai, of Yedo. Four-footed animals were then 
shown, among which may be mentioned some rough, but very vigorous, 
sketches of horses, some most expressive monkeys, and a very fierce 
and huge tiger. The second half of the lecture was entirely devoted 
to birds. The most conspicuous of these were, perhaps, some bull¬ 
finches, a flight of tomtits (green and yellow) leaving their nest at 
daybreak ; ducks swimming and flying, a very fine cock and hen 
seated on a drum, and two handsome pea-fowl (also cock and hen) in 
a pine tree. The lecturer pointed out that the chief characteristics of 
these Japanese animal pictures are—first, that the animals are them¬ 
selves the picture, they form the motive of interest, and are not, as in 
most European pictures, mere “accessories” to a landscape, or a 
figure subject. This quality led the Japanese to make pictures 
of all sorts of animals that came in their way, instead of merely 
confining their attention, as we do, to horses, dogs, and cattle. The 
next striking thing about them is that they ar e full of life. Mr. Stacy 
Marks’s birds are all still, on perches ; but the Japanese birds are all 
in motion, walking, swimming, or flying. In this respect they excelled 
European artists, although in perspective and light and shade they are 
almost always entirely wrong. In the course of the lecture, Mr. Under¬ 
hill gave two Japanese folk-stories about animals, with Japanese 
illustrations; and at the close, some albums of bird-pictures, Ac., con¬ 
taining the originals of many of the slides shown, were exhibited.— 
On Nov. 6th Professor A. H. Green, M.A., F.R.S, read a communica¬ 
tion from Mr. Jukes Brown, of the Geological Survey, on a boring at 
Shillingford, near Wallingford, Berks. A report of the paper will 
appear in this magazine.—On Nov. 20tli the President of the Society 
(Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A., F.R.S.) gave his lecture upon “ Mimicry 
amongst Animals, and their Colours, protective and aggressive.” It 
was illustrated with a large number of lantern slides. The lecture 
was listened to with more than usual interest, and the room was quite 
full. 
