PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 389 



type-written volume, Index Diatomacearum, presented by Mr. D. S. 

 Arbuthnott. Witb the photograph of the late Mr. Macer, there were 

 also two small pieces of apparatus with which he used to exhibit the 

 action of the proboscis of a fly when feeding. 



The photograph of Pleurosigma angulatum was considered by Mr. 

 Nelson to be a most perfect representation of what was to be seen in 

 that diatom. Varley's Graphic Telescope, presented by Mr. Nelson, 

 would also be an interesting addition to their collection. A quantity 

 of cretaceous deposit from Zululand had been sent to the Society for 

 distribution, samples of which could be obtained on application to the 

 Assistant Secretary. 



Messrs. W. G. Pye and Co. sent for exhibition a table cathetometer 

 for observing the torsion of mineral fibres, growth of plants, &c. They 

 also sent two new pattern reading Microscopes, one right and one left 

 hand, each having a traverse of 30 mm., and a vernier reading to 

 0-05 mm. ; 



Mr. J. C. Webb exhibited an old Microscope bearing the name of 

 " Carpenter and Westley, Regent Street, London," which, he stated, he 

 bad recently been fortunate to rescue from oblivion. The Microscope 

 somewhat resembled the " Pritchard " Microscope which he exhibited 

 at the last meeting of the Society, inasmuch as the stage was made to 

 rack up to the body instead of the body racking down to the stage, 

 whilst the stand was capable of being converted into a simple dissecting 

 Microscope by unscrewing the body and inserting a simple lens in its 

 place. The instrument was furnished with one ordinary eye-piece and 

 a dividing objective capable of conversion into 1 in., ^ in., and \ in. 

 powers. Mr. Webb further stated that he had seen the present repre- 

 sentative of the firm of Carpenter and Westley on the matter, and was 

 informed by him that the Microscope was one of those sold by the firm 

 between 1832 and 1840, and was probably made for them by Powell or 

 Ross. 



The President., in thanking Mr. Webb for his exhibit, thought that 

 if this Microscope was made in 1832, it must have been considerably in 

 advance of those of that period. He recalled the fact that the Society 

 of Arts had offered a prize for the best Microscope to be produced at 

 the lowest possible price, and that this was awarded to Field, of 

 Birmingham, in or about the year 1858. He was asked at the time to 

 write a short description of this instrument to accompany it as a hand- 

 book. The instrument exhibited by Mr. Webb reminded him of Field's 

 small prize Microscope. 



Mr. T. D. Ersser brought for exhibition a new acetylene illuminator 

 for the lantern, which he claimed would give a light of 300 candle- 

 power for 3 hours at a cost of 9d. Unfortunately the demonstration of 

 its utility for the purpose was not successful, owing to some difficulty 

 in manipulating the lantern. 



Mr. J. J. Vezey said there waa nothing new in the use of acetylene 

 light for lantern work, but he understood Mr. Ersser to say that he 



