483 



dead, and builds its test from these. The only inconvenience 

 to a living " foram " so attached would probably be that part of 

 its feeding area was cut off. Among many other interesting 

 forms referred to was a new and at present undescribed species 

 of Technitella from the Xorth Sea, which represented the 

 highest development of selective power in the Foraminifera. 

 The test is built up entirely of perforated calcareous plates from 

 Echinoderms (probably from Brittle Stars). Much ingenuity 

 is displayed in closing the ends of the cylindrical shell with a 

 bunch of plates of different sizes. There appears to be no definite 

 aperture, and such would hardly be necessary, as the plates are 

 perforated. It may be remarked that these calcareous plates 

 are very rare, and one would have to pick over many trays of 

 mud-washings to get, say, even a dozen such plates. But this 

 little animal rejects all other material in building. In con- 

 cluding his remarks Mr. Earland referred to the triple 

 isomorphism between Arenaceous, Imperforate, and Perforate 

 Foraminifera of certain species, and was of the opinion that 

 it proved that the present system of classification was entirely 

 artificial. 



Some considerable discussion ensued, in which the President, 

 Secretary, and Messrs. Scourfield and Hilton took part, and to 

 which Mr. Earland replied. 



At the meeting of the Club held on February 5th, 1909, the 

 Bight Hon. Sir Ford North, F.B.S., Vice-President, in the Chair, 

 the minutes of the meeting held on January 1st were read and 

 confirmed. Messrs. W. Hebdon and J. A. Beresford were 

 balloted for and duly elected members of the Club. 



Mr. F. W. Watson Baker, F.R.M.S. (for Messrs. W. Watson 

 & Sons, Ltd.), gave a most interesting demonstration on " The 

 Making of a Microscope Objective." The chief items of interest 

 were : Examples of optical glass — flint and crown, with pieces 

 " slit " ready for working ; a light form of optical-worker's lathe, 

 at which the preliminary stages in the production of a lens — 

 edging, shaping, and rough-grinding — were carried out. At a 

 further stand the final figuring and polishing of a high -power front 

 lens were demonstrated. Some very beautiful examples of proof- 



