The chairman then called upon Mr. J.M. Kirk to read his paper on “Animal Life in its Lower Form”.

Mr. Kirk introduced the subject in an exceedingly intelligible & rational manner by pointing out the differences between dead & living bodies as to their chemical composition, arrangement of parts, form, mode of increase & periodical changes. He then proceeded to speak of the essential characters of plant & animal, observing that these two great divisions of nature, in their lowest form glided almost insensibly one into the other, so that it became a matter of some difficulty to draw a line between them.

Animals generally have the powers of moving from place to place, whilst plants as a rule have not, though this distinction is not always correct, as some of the lower orders of plants – such as Diatoms & Desmids – possess locomotive powers and many varieties of animals, chiefly aquatic, are fixed more or less to some support in the medium in which they exist.

Animals also differ very considerably from plants in their food. The former consuming organic & the latter inorganic matter; plants in fact being great producers & animals great consumers. Mr. Kirk then gave a detailed description of some most interesting examples of the lower animals, directing attention to their habits, mode of reproduction, & special points in their structure. This part of the paper was illustrated by a series of very beautiful drawings, sketched by himself, much additional interest being created thereby.