New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-02

M new things only for the purpose of knocking
them down again-that they knew no more than the
rest of the world but only used bigger words. That
however he seriously assured u.s. was not the case.
The following is Prof. Huxley's statement OF the
real revolution accomplished:
Underneath the whole of the great doctrine OF
pressing It, there lay an idea which had nothing do
with that form OF expression and u was that ldea
which had only been established by furher observauOh
and which now renamed absolutely unassailabe-viz
that the living body is not simple continuous
that it is made up of a multitude of parts which
lead quasi independent life that the body OF d.. .
tudes Of simple living particles which, although sub
ordnaed and kept together by the nervous connexions
pendent individual fe ike the cells organic ele-
ments. That idea was the kernel OF the Ievou.io9
the doctrine animal structures 1t had previously
been applied to vegetable structures. The idea had
been simply strengthened aud enlarged by every
thing that had done and II remained abso.
lutey fixed whatever might be the shifting changes oi
opinion regarding its minor details.
All this Dr. Carpenter said he agreed in, and DIR.
Redfern could hardly do less than express his con-
currence in their views The Biological Section is
divided into three departments Anatomy and Physi-
ology, Zoology and Botany, and Anthropology; this
last concession within few years to certain In
vestigators whose claims to recognition the Associa-
ton had long resisted. 1t has grown to be one OF
the most popular for it is hereth some OF the most
vehement discussions between men OF science ana
men of the pulpit have occurred. What the latter
politely call the monkey question is in order here,
but il has not yet been brought forward at the pres
ent meeting Its place was supplied on Thursday
by chronological migrations. DR.. Beddoe read
paper by Mr.. T. T. Murphy to show how population
streams toward capitals; but with eccentric varia-
tons. 1t appears that in Ireland Belfast is now the
focus of migratory movements. He thought the Celtic
element was encroaching on the Teutonic and that
soon the landmarks of race would be obterated.
On the following day. the papers read in this depart
ment related to the inhabitants of the Jummoo and
Kashmir territory, to q leaf-wearing tribe on the
western coast of India, and to the peoples between
India and China the latter paper by Sir George
Campbell The leading event of the section was,
however, in the Department of Zoology and Botany,
where DR.. Hooker the President delivered address
con the carnivorous habits of some of our brother
organisms-plants" full of curious learning 1t does
not so much matter what the subject is. The public
crowds to hear an eminent man, and nobody dis
putes DR.. Hooker's place among bOtanists, OF whom
he is the first. Here again appeared Prof. Huxley,
whose extraordinary talent for condensed statement
at once scientific and yet pOpularized by the admx-
ture of great deal of human nature was once
more shown. He moved vote of thanks to DIR.
Hooker for his very remarkable and suggestive adj
dress, and then said:
If the view naturally take is correct and II all
parts of the animal world are endowed with the sensa
tion that find in ourselves, then he thought that
those who would reflect the picture placed before us
must feel that the fundamental Calynsm OF the world
comes extremely strong In this contriyance. He
would ask the male portion OF his audience to imagine
exquisite drinks-whatever might be their particular
drinR-and with no Licensing act in force-llaugher,
ask the other portion of the audience TO imagine
street after street Of mlliners' shops-tlaughterl
a 9TH IN ~ ais
and night and without fear of fathers or husbands
examining the bills aughter and they would then be
which these plants are sustained. These poor ami
hsy sa tSs o drinks and the most beau
ufu bonncs, but suddenly they found themselves in
OF DEATH nc0sed in an ineXtrica6le trap, and
he was not aware that their admiration OF the
morning when they found themselves in mass
Of transparent Jelly. [Laughterl That was
one of the considerations that passed through his mind
questions When bore Very strongly his
mediate pursuits. In the dsotGd, and again In the
called reflex actions in ourselves That donea
shuts Its leaf exactly IN the same way as an Infants
That is what we call reflex acuon and whoever would
solve the question as to the maunern which the impulse
was given in those plants, by which the leaves
contracted would make one OF the most wonderful
discoveries IN modern biology.
There is hint for some Jealous American student
to 90 to work on.
If popular applause be test of success. the lecture
by Sir John Lubbock on Friday evening was
great achievement. If the enthusiastic praise of
men eminent in science be the test, it not less
80. The subject was Common Wild Flowers con-
sidered in relation to Insects" and the lecture was
an elaborate exposition of the services rendered to
flowers by insects-the numerous processes of fer
tilzation and propagation thus effected being
minutely explained. have rarely seen an audience
so much absorbed in any scientific discourse what
ever 1t is credtabe to a Belfast audience that it
should be, but l suppose it would be
difficult to get together 1900 people any
where who would prove insensible to the
charms of Sir John Lubbock's luminous and
admirably simple method of describing natural
facts Enthusiasm has share in the effect. Under
his quiet manner, it shows itself Enthusiastically.
His name has been so long familiar to the public,
and his claims to distinction are go various. that
most of his audience may well have been surprised
to find him so young man. Not forty to look at.
vet Prof Tyndall was able to introduce him as one
who occupies the first rank among men concerned
in business transactions of the highest kind that
concern humanity and civilization Che is rich
banker; who had, at the same time, made his mark
IN the House of Commons, while his scientific re-
searches have already given him more than European
fame 81 see him. exclaimed Prof. Tyndall, in his
impulsiye, eloquent way, in the House of Com
MONS see him in the city; but when those cur
rents of business life and political life cease to act
spon him he swings back with the rapidity of an
eagle to the scientific meridian and there he finds
his true intellectual repose and equilibrium"
The discourse of Sir John Lubbock will scarcely
bear summarizing since its mpressveness lay in the
skillfu accumulation of instances illustrating the
now well known proposition that the relations be-
tween insects and flowers are at least as beneficial
TO the flowers as to the insects great part of the
matter however, was new, and Is the result of Sir
John Lubbocks own observations and experiments.
friend of his by whose side had been sitting at
dinner told me fact which ] may take the liberty
TO repeat as most striking example ofexact observa
tinr and that TALENT for minute attention which