244 



" Micrograpkic Dictionary." Part 20. ... Purchased. 



" Cole's Studies in Microscopical Science.") 

 Nos. 39-41 ... j 



The thanks of the Club were voted to the Donors. 



The Secretary read a letter of thanks from the Medical Union Society for 

 assistance rendered on the occasion of their recent Soiree by members of the 

 Club. 



The President read the following communication from Dr. Partridge, 

 describing the peculiar Silk Weed (Asclepias Syriaca), specimens of the seeds 

 of which were sent to the meeting for distribution, the description being 

 extracted from the U.S. Pharmacopeia — " Simple stem 3 to 5 feet high, with 

 opposite lanceolate oblong petiolate leaves, downy on the under surface ; 

 flowers large, purple colour, sweet scented, arranged in two or three nodding 

 umbels ; [nectary indentate, pod covered with prickles, containing a silky 

 down, used as a substitute for fur, in the manufacture of hats and for 

 feathers in beds and pillows. Common in United States in sandy fields and 

 roadsides. Flowers in July and August. Gives out a white fluid when 

 wounded (milk weed). Boot used as a medicament in asthma and fever, also 

 formerly given by the planters in scrofula. Another species used as a 

 remedy in snake bite in the form of infusion — Soporific and anodyne. Also 

 just introduced as an ornament with artificial flowers for ladies caps and 

 bonnets." 



Mr. J. G. Waller read a paper "On an undescribed Sponge,'' illustrating 

 the subject by drawings on the black board. 



The President, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Waller, said he could 

 not help remarking on the use of keeping one's eyes open at the seaside, and 

 especially on the use of examiniug well the roots of the larger species of 

 Laminaria, which were washed up by the tide, and upon which so many 

 good things were often found — a hint which young collectors would find ex- 

 tremely useful. 



Mr. A. D. Michael described by means of a drawing on the board the 

 points of interest in a slide which he exhibited in the room — a dissection of 

 the female sexual organs of one of the Oribatidae. 



The Secretary said that members need only look at these preparations to 

 judge of their extreme beauty and value; the difficulty of their production 

 could hardly be imagined, for the external portion of these creatures was so 

 exceedingly hard, and the internal organs were so very soft, that it was a 

 matter requiring the highest manipulative skill to dissect and mount 

 them. 



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

 communication. 



Announcements of meetings, &c. for the ensuing month were made by the 

 President, and the proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, at 

 which the following objects were exhibited : — 



Resin and turpentine vessels in husk of j ^ -p ^ Andrew 

 pine seed ... ... ... > 



Selected Foraminifera from Connemara ... Mr. H. E. Freeman. 



