268 



brane enclosing the drop at the end of the tentacle. There was another 

 point upon which some light was wanted ; when they saw an insect 

 crawl upon the leaf these tentacles bent over to it so like the movement 

 in Actinia, that one almost began to snspect muscular action. And the 

 question was what made them bend over ? 



The President said with regard to Mr. White's last question, the answer 

 to it was one which they would all like to know. In the animal world 

 contractility appeared to be restricted to protoplasmic matter. In plants 

 they seemed to have two alternatives, either the power resided in the 

 protoplasmic contents, or in the cell wall. If it resided in the proto- 

 plasmic contents, then the question arose, how was the stimulus to be 

 conveyed ? And how did the contraction produce its mechanical effect ? 

 The second alternative was that the change of form might lie in the cell 

 wall. If this was the case, then there was no analogy to be found to it 

 in the animal world. One of the most curious things about the matter 

 was that they had in these contractile parts of plants the same distur- 

 bance of the electrial conditions as in the case of animals. 



The thanks of the meeting were, on the motion of the President, voted 

 to Mr. White and the other gentlemen who had spoken on the subject. 



Announcements of excursions, &c, for the ensuing month were then 

 made, and the proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, at 

 which the following objects were exhibited : — 



Under cuticle of Bay Leaf ... ... ... Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Young Mussels ... ... ... ... Mr. T. Curties. 



Lycosa agretyca, the Ground Spider, in the") 



act of moulting, showing the claws, > Mr. F. Enock. 



falces, &c, in duplicate ... ... ) 



Horizontal section of foot of Human Foetus Mr. J. J. Hunter. 



"Shepherds pux-se " Zoophyte ... ... Mr. A. Martinelli. 



Catemcela hastata polyzoa ... ... ... Mr. T. S. Morten. 



Cicendela carrvpestris ... ... ... ... Mr. J. M. Offord. 



Attendance. — Members, 82 j Visitors, 7. 



July 11th, 1879. — Conversational Meeting. 



The following objects were exhibited : — 



Leaf of Mustard ... ... ... ... Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Erotium herbariorum, fungus of Cacao\ 



theobroma ... ... ... ... ht xr t? 



v. Mr. H. Epps. 



Pollen of Carex acuta ... ... f 



Spores of Equisetum sylvaticum ... J 

 Arachnoidiscus in situ on Seaweed from^ _ „ t -p 

 Natal ... ... ... ... j 



