284 



terminal fibres, and had drawn them, showing them to be very narrow indeed, 

 their drawings of bundles of nerve fibres were always incorrectly given. He was 

 sure that the subject was one which would well repay any members of the club 

 who would take it up. The pulp of the tooth would yet afford an ample field for 

 discovery, and even if there were no new facts to be made out, it was quite cer- 

 tain that there had yet to be made correct drawings. 



The President exhibited to the meeting two very small lamps. It was, he said, 

 often of much importance to have the lamp very close to the specimen under 

 examination, and although the reason had not been very clearly explained, yet 

 it was quite certain that in the illumination of certain objects a much better de- 

 finition was obtained by using the direct rays from the lamp than rays reflected 

 from the mirror upon the object. He had, therefore, with the help of Mr. Swift, 

 arranged some very small lamps, which could be used for this purpose, being so 

 mounted upon their stands as to admit of their being inclined at the proper 

 angle. In this way the lamp flame could be made parallel with the object glass, 

 and at a very short distance from it. Two lamps of this kind were shown, one of 

 which was fitted with a small copper chimney of Fiddian's pattern, and the other 

 with one of Mr. Swift's silver coated glass chimneys, which also answered very 

 well. One lamp was trimmed with common paraffin, the other with benzoline, 

 which had some advantages, inasmuch as it did not soil the fingers, and gave a 

 much whiter light than the paraffin. One practical difficulty arose in the matter, 

 owing to the fact that benzoline was very volatile and apt to explode, but this 

 had been met by making the top of the lamp quite closed, and the body to screw 

 up, bo as to increase or reduce the light as required. A small bull's eye, made 

 with a ring to slip over the chimney, greatly increased the power of the light, 

 and the lamps could themselves be produced at quite a small cost. He had found 

 it an immense convenience to have the lamp so small as to be readily moved 

 about. Though so small, they contained enough spirit to burn for two or three 

 hours, which he thought was quite as long as anyone would desire — certainly it 

 was as long as anyone ought to work continuously at the microscope. 



The Secretary announced that he had received communications from the South 

 London Microscopical and Natural History Society, the Croydon Microscopical 

 Society, and the Islington Natural History Society, inviting the co-operation 

 of members of the Quekett Club at their forthcoming soirees ; also a letter from 

 Mr. Henry Walker, Secretary of the Early Closing Association, calling attention 

 to the fact that prizes had recently been offered for essays, to be competed for 

 by members of Microscopical and Field Clubs, and giving information as to the 

 terms and conditions. 



The proceedings then terminated with a conversazione, at which the following 

 objects were exhibited ; — 



Marine Polyzoa By Mr. W. J. Brown. 



Bugula Avicularia Mr. T. Curties. 



Pistil of Jalapa Mirabilis Mr. De Guimaraens. 



Male Organs of Wasp ? -jy- r j^^ 



Cinnabar imbedded in Chalcedony ... * 



Foraminifera from Chalk Mr. Hopkinson. 



Male Cochineal Insects Mr. R. T. Lewis. 



Electric Spark discharged between Graphite j -^ r ]y[ ar ti ne lli 

 Terminals ... ... ... ... * 



Wing of Hornet, shewing hooks Mr. Oxley. 



