of natural vent-holes (volcanoes, geysers, etc.) would cause an increase in internal pressure; and this instability would be likely to develop along a fault in the geological structure, with the possible accompaniment first of sudden expansion (explosion) and then contraction (caving in) of the earth's surface. The influence of the tides on the seismograph is plainly visible near the sea, where a downward and upward movement of the crust is regularly recorded as the waters ebb and flow."

In conclusion, there is nothing that I know more truly awful, in its proper meaning, than a severe earthquake. One feels that the bases of all one's belief in stability are undermined, and that there is nothing left on which to build one's hopes. No experience will steel one against this impression of fear, even when one's nerves are proof against ordinary sensations of alarm. In Japan the old proverb runs that there are four things on this earth of which to be afraid : Jisshin, Kaminari, Kwaji, Oyaji-Earthquake, Thunder, Conflagration, Father-in-law; and of these earthquake is easily first. So that anything which will tend to the further explanation of so terrifying an item in their lives, will indeed be a godsend to the sixty millions of people inhabiting Japan.

Mr. HOSTE remarked, with reference to a previous speaker's prophecy of seismological discoveries, that however gratifying it might be to sufferers from earthquakes to have them scientifically explained, he did not quite see what comfort could accrue to persons in the threatened areas to be told an earthquake was shortly due unless some cure could be found. At present the only cure seemed to be to clear out." He wanted to ask the learned lecturer whether any light had been thrown on the vexed question of the condition existing in the centre of the earth, by variation in the speed of the seismic waves? Would it be possible to compare the rate of the waves when passing through a short piece of normal earth crust in a comparatively non-earthquake region and similar waves in a highly excitable region such as Messina or Tokyo, where the molten condition might be supposed to be existing more generally and nearer the surface ?

Mr. WILLIAM C. EDWARDS said: I am sure that we have all enjoyed this instructive and interesting lecture. I am reminded by

it of the pleasant lectures of Milne, who was often not a little humorous.

I hope that some day our learned lecturer will come again and address us upon the earthquakes of Holy Scripture and the Holy Land.

There are not many recorded in God's Word, for although the Holy Land in its making, or preparation for God's chosen people, has probably at some distant date been the scene of the most severe and tremendous earthquakes, it has not, in historical times at least, suffered so much or so often as many other parts of the world.

When the great earthquake occurred in Calcutta the famous missionary, Carey, sat down and read the third verse of Psalm xlvi, which seems to refer to or to contemplate an earthquake: "Though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; the waters thereof roar and be troubled; the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." I don't think that there can be any reasonable doubt that an earthquake is here envisaged.

In the days of King Uzziah there was also a great earthquake, which seems to have so impressed the minds of people that for a long time they appear to have spoken of events as having happened "before" or "after" the earthquake; thus the Prophet Amos writes, "The words that he saw in the days of Jeroboam two years before the earthquake" (Amos i, 1).

The memory or tradition of that awful event was still fresh in the minds of people nearly a century later and when Zechariah wrote (xiv, 5), " Ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee."

In Zech. xiv, 4, we have also a prophecy of a coming earthquake, perhaps two following earthquakes :-" The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West, a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall remove toward the North and half of it toward the South."

When our Lord was leaving the Temple for the last time before His Crucifixion, the Disciples on this same Mount of Olives asked Him three questions :-When shall these things be? What the sign of Thy coming? and the Consummation of the Age? (Matt. xxiv, 3). In effect, the same questions are repeated in Mark xiii, 4, and Luke xxi, 7. Now observe carefully the answers.

There are the wars of Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, famines and pestilences, and "earthquakes in divers places" (Matt. xxiv, 7); "there shall be earthquakes in divers places" (Mark iii, 8); "and great earthquakes shall be in divers places" (Luke xxi, 2).

These are the united signs that are apparently to precede the coming of our Lord, and I should like to ask our learned lecturer if we have not in late years been having an exceptional number of earthquakes following the world war of Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, as well as famines and pestilences; if so, may not these be the signs that our Lord gave His disciples then, and gives to us now, to warn us to watch, wait, and be ready for His speedy return?

Dr. WRINCH's reply: The science of Seismology and the practice of systematic seismological observation have only a short history at present. And although there have been observations and records of earthquakes, as, for example, those to which Mr. Edwards has referred in biblical times, we have unfortunately no means whatsoever of making a comparison of the frequency of earthquakes in these times and the frequency during the last few years. If there has indeed been an increase in seismic activity during the years since the war, in comparison with the activity in biblical times, it would be of importance to physicists and geologists to know it; but I can think of no data which would put us in a position to support the assertion on grounds of scientific observation. On the other hand, if we turn to the question of the prior probability of the increase of seismic phenomena-and it is, of course, frequently necessary in scientific theory to turn to prior probabilities when data are lacking-I still feel quite unable to support the suggestion.

The CHAIRMAN said: Just a week ago I received from Canada a paper containing a report-partly scientific, partly descriptiveof the great Japanese earthquake of September 1st, 1923. Captain Robinson, Commander of the Canadian Pacific ss. Empress of Australia, which was about to leave Yokohama en route for Vancouver, uses almost the very words which Mr. Lias has given us in his description just now. The land was rolling in waves, like a succession of fast moving ocean swells." More than half a million houses were destroyed, and more than 100,000 lives were lost.

There is an urgent need for knowledge which will enable us to predict earthquakes so that some warning may be given of coming disaster.

On behalf of the Victoria Institute, and as representing this meeting, Dr. Wrinch, I desire to thank you for your most clear and instructive paper.

In reply to a question by Mr. MAUNDER as to whether the P and S waves moved uniformly at all distances from the epicentres, Dr. WRINCH sent the following table, which is a shortened form of that generally used in calculating the distance of the epicentre from the observing station:

HELD IN COMMITTEE ROOM B, THE CENTRAL HALL, WESTMINSTER, S.W., ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 1925, AT 4.30 P.M.

DR. JAMES W. THIRTLE, M.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., IN THE CHAIR.

The CHAIRMAN, at the beginning of the Meeting, announced that as the arrival of Professor Clay's paper on the “Amurru" had been delayed, Mr. Avary H. Forbes had kindly consented to read his paper, announced for the 23rd.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read, confirmed and signed, and the Honorary Secretary announced the following elections:As a Member, Mr. T. Tweedale Edwards; and as Associates, Miss C. A. M. Pearce, the Rev. Eric Lewis, B.A., and the Rev. Harold C. Morton, Ph.D.

The CHAIRMAN then called on Mr. Avary H. Forbes to read his paper on "Psychology in the Light of History: a Study in Heredity."

PSYCHOLOGY IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY: A STUDY IN HEREDITY.

IT

By AVARY H. FORBES, ESQ., M.A.

T will probably be admitted by all, that the two largest channels through which the evidence for Evolution flows are Heredity and Environment, and that, if one of these channels be blocked, the other will hardly be able to keep the theory alive. Of these channels, Heredity seems to be the most important, because it deals with the very essence of human nature. Libraries of learning have been written on the subject and by scientists of the first magnitude, yet I venture to think that this problem is best dealt with apart from learning, and that here Hobbes's paradox holds good-" If I had read as much as some of my critics, I should have been as ignorant as they." At all events I intend to treat the problem from the standpoint of observation and common sense alone; and I maintain that, from that standpoint, the Biblical account of the origin of man is not only true, but that it is scientifically and necessarily true. Let us at once bring Revelation and Evolution face to face.