162 



growing iu spirits, but in their low forms they would grow in a solution con- 

 taining a large quantity of spirit. 



Mr. J. D. Hardy described, by the aid of a diagram drawn on the board, 

 the peculiar method of feeding observed in the case of Daphnia Pulex. 

 The food was carried in the current caused by the legs, to the hinder part of 

 the interior of the shell, and the particles contained therein carried into a 

 funnel, to which is attached a very distinctly-formed organ which stops all 

 inorganic matter or particles too large for mastication ; such particles as 

 they accumulate in the funnel being cleared away by the hook of the hind 

 leg. Such as were passed were masticated by the jaws and passed on to the 

 end of the tongue, which was a long flexible tubular organ, which could be 

 opened at will along its length. It had (when closed) a very small opening. 

 Whatever particles accumulated at the end of the tongue were cleared away 

 by the hook on the first pair of legs. Whatever was sucked in by the tongue 

 was carried along it at once to the alimentary canal. 



Mr. Goodwin said he was very pleased to find that Mr. Hardy had taken 

 up this subject. He had himself noticed that there was an in-taking of 

 food at the posterior portion of the animal, but he found a great difficulty in 

 tracing its progress so as to see it entering the alimentary canal. In the 

 endeavour to do this he stained some starch granules with iodine, and 

 attempted to feed the Daphnia with them, but it would have nothing to do 

 with them ; one day, however, he chanced to see a Daphnia draw in the egg 

 of a rotifer, and he was able to trace the progress of this entirely. 



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

 tion. 



Notices of meetings and excursions for the ensuing month were then 

 given, aud the proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, and the 

 following objects were exhibited : — 



Sea slug, Limapontia nigra ' ... ... ... Mr. F.W.Andrew. 



Parasites from a Bat ... ... Mr. F. Coles. 



Diatoms frum Burrin, Ireland, in situ ... Mr. A. L. Corbett. 



Alcyonium digitatum ... ... ... ... Mr. W. M. Holmes. 



Section of lower jaw of Shrew Mouse Mr. J. J. Hunter. 



New form of graduating Iris diaphragm ... ,, ,, 



Larva of Corethra culicifo? r mis ... ... Mr. G. E. Mainland. 



Diatoms, Scejrtroneis caduceus ... ... ... Mr. H. Morland. 



Bracliionus i?aXa-synch(Bte ... ... ... Mr. R. T. C. Nevins. 



Lophojjus crystalinus ... ... ... ... Mr. C. Le Pel ley. 



Entozoa Oxyurisvermicularis . . ... ... Mr. W. Watson. 



Ovary of Poppy, fertilised, and unfertilised ... Mr. J. Willson. 

 Attendance — Members, 51 ; Visitors, 5. 



