1C8 



he would rather say that they did not mind how much or how little the 

 amounts were ; but as they wanted a good instrument, they must be prepared 

 to go to the expense of one. The Treasurer would be happy to receive 

 subscriptions for the purpose, and he would only add that the sooner the 

 Society was in the possession of a good instrument the better. 



The President was sorry to say that Mr. Bridgman's paper was unavoid- 

 ably postponed, but he believed that they should not be wanting in topics 

 to engage their attention, as several gentlemen present had interesting sub- 

 jects to bring before them. He would first call upon Mr. Green, who had 

 some supplementary remarks to make relative to the paper which he read at 

 the last meeting. 



Mr. N. E. Green said he had brought his microscope with him, in order to 

 prove the statements he had made at the previous meeting, as to the value of 

 very oblique light in showing diatoms, and he thought it would be obvious 

 to all that the surface markings were shown in the most distinct and evident 

 manner by side light and opaque illumination. In Triceratium they were 

 accustomed to see, in the ordinary manner, a small bead at each angle of 

 the hexagons, which seemed generally like a bright spot, but the lime-light, 

 directed as he had already described, showed it to be a small crater. He 

 might also mention that a few evenings ago Mr. Cole was with him, and 

 after seeing the diatoms, under the new illumination, he exjjre&sed himself 

 to be greatly delighted. He could also speak very highly in praise of the new 

 1-25 in. by Zeiss, which he had found to work very well, and to focus most 

 comfortably. This should be a great convenience to those who desired to 

 work with high powers. 



The thanks of the Club were unanimously voted to Mr. Green for his 

 communication. 



Mr. M. Hawkins Johnson read a paper "On Silicified Structures in 

 Pyritized wood." 



The President in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Johnson, was sure the 

 members must have felt much interest in the subject, which, it was evident, 

 had been treated in great part not as a matter of theory, but as one of 

 observation. 



The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. Johnson for 

 his paper. 



Mr. Charles Stewart gave a highly interesting description of the Echino- 

 derms, than which he considered there were few more beautiful objects to 

 claim the attention of the microscopist. The class was a large one, and was 

 divided into several primary groups. First amongst these were those which 

 were supported on jointed stems, and being somewhat lily-like in appear- 

 ance, were known by the general name of the lily-stars. The next group 

 was very different, and comprised the snake-armed star fish, distinguished 

 by the great number of joints. The next were the common five-fingered 

 stars — the great hollow-armed, or true star fish. Then came a group which 

 was specially rich in objects for the microscopist — that of the Sea Urchins 

 or Sea Hedgehogs, and next to these, the Sea Cucumbers or Sea Gherkins. 

 Some of the specimens obtained from these groups were very beautiful, the 



