QUEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 547 



oval ball, and quite a common object in many of these sections 

 a power of 200 showed that it is formed in part by little rods, 

 somewhat interlaced, not unlike the house of the caddis-worm. 

 They are found singly, but more often in groups, especially 

 in those parts of leaves where the cellular tissue has been dis- 

 integrated. Mr. Nelson considers that they are correlated with 

 this disintegration, and possibly are some sort of fungus spores 

 (gonidia). It is needless to say that no mycelium has been 

 observed, so that it is not possible to tell whether the invasion 

 of the fungus took place while the leaf was living on the tree or 

 after it had fallen. 



The reading of this paper caused considerable discussion. 



Prof. Minchin said he remembered Prof. Oliver stating that he 

 had found cells in coal showing a nucleus. 



Mr. N. E. Brown then stated that the brown balls shown on 

 the slide were certainly not fungus spores, but were more likely 

 to be of animal origin. Mr. J. Wilson concurred. 



Mr. R. Paulson, F.L.S., pointed out that if they were gonidia 

 they should be on the surface of the leaf. He was interested in 

 the subject, as he had been trying to find out how far back 

 lichens are to be found, and had never found traces of even the 

 lower forms as fossils. 



Mr. J. Grundy referred to an address given to the Club by 

 Prof. W. C. Williamson (Professor of Botany, Owens College, 

 Manchester) on " The Mineralisation of the Minute Tissues 

 of Animals and Plants" (Joum. Q. M. C, Ser. 2, Vol. V. p. 186), 

 which holds very material information for all inclined to learn 

 more of the subject as to what a fossil is and how formed. 



Amongst other exhibits, Mr. G. K. Dunstall, F.R.M.S., showed 

 a living specimen of the rotifer Callidina bilfingeri, which has 

 only been seen twice previously in England. 



At the 504th Ordinary Meeting of the Club, held on January 

 26th, 1915, the President, Prof. Arthur Dendy, D.Sc, F.R.S., in 

 the chair, the minutes of the meeting held on December 22nd, 

 1914, were read and confirmed. 



Messrs. David Griffiths, J. Grant Andrews and Arthur Boltz 

 were balloted for and duly elected members of the Club. 



The list of donations to the Club was read, and the thanks of 

 the members voted to the donors. 



