302 



mentioned as to the movements of BotryUus was quite new. He had seen 

 a good deal of this organism, but had never himself noticed the movement, 

 and it was a most interesting observation. He hoped that the subject 

 would be followed up, especially as there was no great difficulty in pro- 

 curing specimens — BotryUus being one of the organisms most freely 

 developed in all Marine Aquaria. He should, on his part, be happy to do 

 what he could to assist Mr. White in procuring whatever specimens he 

 required. 



Mr. Charles Stewart said he had listened with great pleasure to Mr. 

 White's very interesting communication, more especially so as through Mr. 

 White's kindness he had been afforded an opportunity of seeing for himself 

 what had been described. One could not watch all the changes which took 

 place in the whole creature, but in a small fragment he could see well the 

 process of motion, as it was carried on by means of the pseudopodia. He 

 hoped that Mr. White would follow up the observations he had so success- 

 fully commenced. With regard to mounting these organisms, the spicula 

 parts made very pretty objects, and by taking the creature from the salt 

 water and plunging it into methylated spirit, it would be killed immediately 

 with all its little mouths open, and would become sufficiently hardened by 

 the spirit to enable sections to be cut. Such sections should not be made 

 thin; they would be much better if made thick and mounted in cells. 

 Horizontal sections made in this way, and mounted so as to place the 

 sectional portion towards the observer, were very interesting objects. 



The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. White for his communi- 

 cation. 



Announcements of excursions and meetings for the ensuing month were 

 then made, and the proceedings terminated with a conversazione, at which 

 the following objects were exhibited : — 



Young Hippocampi, in four stages of de-| ,, , ~ p ii- 

 velopment ... ... ... ...) 



Salicine ... ... ... ... Mr. A. L. Corbett. 



Professor Abbe's diffraction plate ... Mr. H. J. Crouch. 



Jaw of Rat ... ... ... ... Mr. C. G. Dunning. 



Tenthredo variata ... ... ... Mr. F. Enock. 



Frond of Asplenium bulbiferum ... ... Mr. W. H. Gilburt. 



Fused Santonine ... ... ... Mr. H. R. Gregory. 



Intestine of Rat ... ... ... Mr. J. J. Hunter. 



Navicula Jamaicensis ... ... ... Mr. H. J. Roper. 



Sting and Poison Bag of Bee ... ... Mr. J. A. Smith. 



Spicules from Mantle of Ascidian ... Mr. T. C. White. 



Attendance — Members, 85 ; Visitors, 8. — Total, 93. 



May 11th, 1877. — Conversational Meeting. 



The following objects were exhibited : — 



Stylops Spencii (Parasite of Wild Bee) ... Mr. F. Knock. 

 Megalotrocha velata ... ... ... Mr. W. Gilbertson. 



