233 



by Mr. J. G. Waller which had been announced for that evening, but 

 which, owing to a severe cold, that gentleman was obliged to postpone 

 reading. 



Mr. A. D. Michael described, by means of black board diagrams, an organ 

 situated on the tarsus of the front leg of certain of the Orfbatidse, which it 

 appeared most probable was an auditory organ. He also communicated 

 some particulars respecting the Argassldce, which were so troublesome to 

 strangers visiting parts of Persia. 



A member inquired if these were the insects which attacked Mr. O'Donovan 

 when in Persia ? It appeared to him that, as the specimens described by Mr. 

 Michael had fasted for three )'ears, possibly their venomous properties might 

 have been impaired. Climate also made a great difference in this respect, 

 for it was well known that the Mosquito was by no means the same thing in 

 an English forest and in an Indian one. 



Mr. Michael said it did not follow that because a creature was innocuous 

 in itself, that therefore it might be so after sucking the juices of a poisonous 

 plant. 



The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Michael for his communica- 

 tion. 



The President described and figured on the board a new form of fructifica- 

 tion in the well-known fresh water Alga Vaueheria sessilis. 



The Secretary announced that a Soiree of the Medical Union Society 

 would take place on January olst, and invited the assistance of members of 

 the Club on that occasion. 



The proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, when the 

 following objects were exhibited : — 



Section of Serpentine ... by Mr. F.W.Andrew. 



Granular Copper „ Mr. A. L. Corbett. 



Larva of Fly, Stratiomid ... ,, Mr. H. E. Freeman. 



Haller's hearing organ in first leg of Ixodes ... „ Mr. A. D. Michael. 

 Diatoms Stictodiscus califoriiicus ... ... ,. Mr. T. S. Morten. 



Eggs of Parasite of Toucan „ Mr. C. Le Pelley. 



Cells, endosperm of Pkyteleplias (vegetable) ,, , , , 



ivory) ... ... ... ... ... ) 



Attendance — Members, 54; Visitors, 7. 



February 9th, 1883. — Conversational Meeting. 



The third of the series of demonstrations was given by Mr. A. D. 

 Michael, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., in theform of a lecture " On Sea Side Collecting." 



In introducing the subject the speaker remarked that as they were not 

 favoured with the ocean in Gower Street he could not demonstrate anything. 

 His object was to afford the younger members some information which could 

 not be found in the text books 



A practised shore collector had his own habits, by which he could get on 

 much better than by hints from others. To such his remarks would be 

 useless ; but to a person of little or no experience, that acquired by an older 



