PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 129 



metallic tube, and the insertion of an asbestos washer between the stand 

 and tube fastener. 



The thanks of the Society were accorded to Mr. Traviss for his 

 exhibit. 



Dr. Hebb read the following communication from Mr. A. J. Allan 

 on " An Easy Method of Treating Printing-out Paper for all Kinds of 

 Photography." The two prints of hydra and specimen of group 

 mounting will show the result of this method. They were treated in 

 the following manner, which may be of interest to some of your 

 members who do this class of work. First wash the prints in a very 

 strong solution of salt and water for ten minutes, then lift the prints 

 and place them without washing into a saturated solution of hypo ; in 

 about fifteen minutes the prints will be done. They should then be 

 washed in running water for two hours. The advantages of this method 

 are first, simplicity ; second, uniformity of tone, every print will finish 

 the same ; third, the whites are pure. 



A communication from Mr. A. A. C. E. Merlin on " The Measure- 

 ment of Grayson's Xew Ten-Band Plate," was taken as read. 



The thanks of the Society were accorded to Mr. A. J. Allan and to 

 Mr. Merlin for their communications. 



Mr. F. Shillington Scales gave a synopsis of a communication from 

 Mr. Higgins on " A New System of Filing Slides," suggesting an 

 adaptation of the ordinary card-index system by means of guide cards 

 for every ten slides, the slides being placed on edge with an index 

 number on the upper edge. 



The thanks of the Society were accorded to Mr. Higgins for his 

 communication. 



A paper by Mr. James Murray on " Some African Rotifers, 

 Bdelloida of Tropical Africa," was taken as read. Mr. Murray gave a 

 short description of drawings of a number of species. The following 

 is an abstract of the paper. 



Thirty-three species of Bdelloids were obtained from dried moss sent 

 by Mr. A. Allan and Sir Philip Brocklehurst from British East Africa. 

 Nine of the species are new to science. Several of them have very 

 distinct characters, not previously noted for any Bdelloids. Habrotrocha 

 caudata has a tail-like process, the function of which is unknown. The 

 animal secretes a protective shell, and the " tail " is enclosed in a slender 

 tube, open at the end, so that the shell has two openings. 



H. acurnis has no trace of spurs, otherwise universal in the order. 

 Several other species approach it in this respect, having the spurs 

 reduced to minute papillas. 



H. auriculata, when feeding, has at each side of the head a peculiar 

 ring-like " auricle," giving it the appearance of a two-handled vase. 

 The nature and function of the "auricles" remain unknown. Their 

 form, even, is difficult to interpret, as they present apparently contra- 

 dictory appearances from different points of view. 



The Bdelloids take a very important place in moss-faunas. In 

 every country they are abundant, and in most regions there is a fair 



Feb. loth, 1911 k 



