240 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
GLIMPSES OF EVOLUTION. 
Summary of Dr. W. K. Gregory’s Lecture. 
In a clear and instructive discourse, illustrated by numer- 
ous well-chosen lantern slides, Dr. Gregory unfolded the facts 
of evolution, showing how in geological time one after another 
of the great orders of vertebrate animals came into being. 
Beginning with the fishes it was demonstrated how the fish 
gradually adapted itself for life on land, legs and feet being 
evolved from fins and the amphibia so being produced. The 
present day climbing fish (Periopthalmes Kohlrenthera) being 
an excellent example of a fish in process of transformation. 
From amphibian to reptile was an easy step, and then as an 
offshoot birds arose, the early toothed birds being first; in fact, 
being modified flying lizards. In due course, through many 
stages and through unthinkable lapses of time, arose the mamn- 
malia. A very striking slide showed in a series parallel vertical 
sections a lagoon with large reptiles and other creatures, being 
gradually filled up by erosion from the land and the steady 
lowering of the latter and widening of the water-course as 
erosion proceeded, the successive denisons of the lagoon being 
illustrated as perishing and being covered up by detritus and 
so preserved as fossils. A series of most interesting slides il- 
lustrated the method of excavating the remains of large animals 
and how the fragile bones are bound up and strengthened with 
plaster of Paris as excavation proceeds. The subsequent clean- 
ing and setting up in the museum were also illustrated, the 
explanations of the lecturer making everything clear. 
The lecture was an intellectual treat of a high order, and 
was greatly appreciated by the large attendance of members. 
Editor. 
