139 



question was how did they get there ? His own impression was that they 

 came from the intestinal canal of the larva. 



The President thought this an interesting suggestion, and that they ought 

 to try and trace the matter out. It was very seldom, however, that they 

 could dissect an insect without finding some sort of parasite inside it. Some 

 time ago he dissected an earwig, and found that it contained a worm, which 

 was full of ova. 



The President asked Dr. Ralph if he could give them any information as 

 to his own Microscopical Society ? 



Dr. Ralph said they were at present only few in number, but had several 

 good workers amongst them. The Society was progressing, though slowly. 



Dr. Ralph then gave some details respecting some deposits of diatoms. 

 Some years ago he found two very large deposits near Melbourne. At that 

 time a railway was being made across a swamp, and, the difficulties being 

 great, the work went on very slowly, and a sound foundation was only 

 obtained when the workmen had filled in 40 vertical feet of solid earth. 

 Amongst the earth which was dug out of the swamp was a quantity of 

 glutinous material which adhered to the spades like slime. He took some 

 of this home for the purpose of examination, and when it was dry he found 

 that he could blow it away in a diatomaceous cloud. This gelatinous matter 

 appeared to be recent in the swamp. 



Mr. J. D. Hardy described a peculiar condition of Volvox which he had 

 found at Snaresbrook. It was called Volvox stellatus by some authorities. 

 Drawings in illustration were made upon the board. 



Mr. Ingpen said that Mr. Hardy appeared to have found a very 

 interesting stage of Volvox, what he had described being the germ cell at 

 the exact time of the expulsion of the spores. It was described and 

 figured in " Carpenter on the Microscope," where it was called " Fertilized 

 germ cell or oospore." It was a stage not often met with. 



Mr. Hardy said he found it in the middle of a bed of JVitella in fruit. 



The President announced that the date of the Excursionists' annual dinner 

 was altered to Saturday, June 10th ; also that at the next meeting of the 

 Club nominations for Officers and Committee for the ensuing year would be 

 made, and he hoped members would come prepared with names of candidates. 



The proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, at which the 

 following objects were exhibited : — 



Aphis from Ivy ... Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Orthoseira arenarea . . ... ... ... Mr. W. J. Brown. 



Volvox — specimens mounted in glycerine jelly Mr. E. Dadswell. 



Floscularia, Epistylis, Melicerta, &c Mr. H. R. Gregory. 



Parasite of Flamingo Mr. T. S. Morten. 



Transverse Section of stem of Lilium auratum ,, „ 



Attendance — Members, 50; Visitors, 2. 



Journ. Q. M. C, Series II., No. 3. 



M 



