CHISELHURST EXCURSION. 117 



Although relatives of the scale-bearing podurte, their affinity 

 with them is not at first sight apparent. Their bodies are of oval 

 shape, and their heads, which bear long four-jointed antennae, are 

 very large in proportion. The eyes are situated just behind the 

 antennae, in two groups of eight in each. They possess a long 

 forked caudal appendage or springer, but one of their most curious 

 features is the ventcal tube, whence they are able to protrude two 

 long filaments or tentacles to an extraordinary distance. In this 

 manner they appear to be able to reach the greater portion of the 

 surface of their bodies, and it may be, to lubricate it freely by means 

 of them. Nicole t, quoted by Sir John Lubbock, says of these ten- 

 tacles that they are gifted with a retractile movement exactly like 

 that of the tentacular eyes of the slugs. A short time ago a friend 

 of mine in the country was looking at a number of Srnynthuridae he 

 had captured. Presently one which was presenting its dorsal 

 aspect to the microscope, suddenly extended these filaments, and 

 wriggled them round its shoulders, and then as suddenly withdrew 

 them. The surprised observer was not prepared for such a per- 

 formance, and immediately wrote me a long letter for an explana- 

 tion, which fortunately Sir John Lubbock's papers in the Linnean 

 Society's Transactions enabled me to give him. The first time I 

 saw the performance myself I was equally astonished. 



S. J. McIntire. 



MR. SUFFOLK'S LECTURES. 



" Microscopic Manipulation, being the subject matter of a course of Lectures 

 delivered before the Quekett Microscopical Club, January to April, 1869. by 

 W. T. Suffolk, F.R.M.S.,"*will explain itself what this volume contains. Mr. 

 Suffolk's practical demonstrations on " Manipulation," given for two or 

 three successive winters to members of the Club, are so well and gratefully 

 remembered by those who availed themselves of the privilege of attending 

 them, that they will welcome the present volume, and recognise in it the face 

 of an old friend. The seven chapters of the book are devoted to Construc- 

 tion of Microscope — Mechanical Processes — Mounting Objects Dry and in 

 Balsam — Mounting Objects in Fluid — Illuminating Apparatus — Polarised 

 Light — and Drawing and Micrometry. These are illustrated with forty-nine 

 engravings and seven lithographs. The volume is neatly got up, and we 

 presume that only this announcement is needed to induce every member at 

 once to purchase a copy for himself, not only for its own intrinsic value, but 

 also in recognition of Mr. Suffolk's valuable gratuitous services for the 

 benefit of the Club. 



* London. Henry Gillman, Boy Court, Ludgate Hill. 



