88 



Mr. Nelson said he had not observed this to any inconvenient degree 

 except in cases where very high powers were nsed. 



Mr. Mayall thought also that there would be some advantage, both as 

 regarded strength and appearance, if the arm of the limb was made some- 

 what stouter — it struck him as being disproportionately light ; but as to the 

 advantages of the tripod form of foot, he could entirely endorse every word 

 which had fallen from Mr. Nelson on the subject. 



Mr. Karop said he fully agreed with Mr. Mayall that the arm of this and 

 similar microscopes was too slender. Even if it were in reality strong 

 enough, it did not give the appearance of being so, which was a fault in the 

 design. Workmen seemed very much addicted to cutting away the metal, 

 quite irrespective of anything but figure, and he instanced the case of 

 surgical knives, where both blade and handle were of a suitable strength, 

 although where they joined, and where the greatest leverage must occur, it 

 would mostly be found that the workmen had ground away the steel to a 

 ridiculous extent, leaving but a thin bridge of metal to take the strain. 



Mr. Nelson further called the attention of the meeting to a number of 

 drawings illustrating the remarkable variety of shapes which he had found 

 amongst the hairs of a species of acarus. Also to some drawings of in- 

 teresting fragments of Coscinodiscus and other diatoms. 



The President said the number of forms found amongst the hairs of the 

 Acarina was practically endless — the hairs in Trombidium seemed, in fact, 

 to vary in almost every species. He felt sure it was unnecessary to say 

 that they thanked Mr. Nelson very heartily for the communications he had 

 made to them. 



A vote of thanks to Mr. Nelson was then put and carried unanimously. 



Mr. John Mayall, jun., then gave an extremely interesting account of 

 his recent visit to Jena. 



The President said that at that late hour of the evening, although it was 

 not possible to invite any questions to be asked upon the subjects which had 

 been brought before them, he was quite sure that all present would cordially 

 respond to the proposal that a hearty vote of thanks be presented to Mr. 

 Mayall for his very interesting narrative. — Put and carried by acclamation. 



Messrs. Schrceder exhibited a new method of showing opaque objects 

 with the lieberkuhn. 



Announcements of meetings, &c, for the ensuing month were then made, 

 and the meeting terminated with the usual Conversazione, and the following 

 objects were exhibited : — 



Coralline, Clava squamata ... ... Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Serial Sections of Slug, Limax agrestis, cut) 



bvMr.J.Underhill J Mr. H. E. Freeman. 



Attendance— Members, 41 ; Visitors, 8. 



