335 



distinctly than could be seen in a photograph or in the natural object, which 

 could be done without departing from truthful representation. In fact 

 there was a tendency in diagrams to bring out details, while in a photo- 

 graph details were rendered less distinctly. He was struck, while 

 looking at these specimens, with another fact often ignored by artists, 

 — the irregularity of natural objects. How seldom natural objects pre- 

 sented a perfectly uniform figure, yet artists in making a drawing 

 would represent every part exactly symmetrical. The photographs 

 showed that natural objects were generally more or less unsyinmetrical. 

 He considered that objects with well-defined outlines, and which were 

 nearly in one plane, such as sections of echinus spines, were best suited for 

 lantern photographs. It was impossible to give the true effect of some 

 objects, such as the fine hairs fringing the wings of Polynema. Anyone 

 seeing the broadened image of these hairs on the screen would suppose such 

 hairs were very stout, almost rods, while in reality they were of the most 

 delicate and graceful character. In the case of diatoms, with the micro- 

 scope it was easy, by focussing up and down, to differentiate between the 

 upper and lower snrfaces of the valve, but in the lantern slide the two 

 surfaces came into focus together, which interfered somewhat with the 

 clearness of the elxect. On the whole he congratulated the exhibitors on 

 their excellent work, and concluded by moving a hearty vote of thanks to 

 them for the exhibition they had given, and be would include Mr. Freeman, 

 who had read the address, and given the names, &c, of the slides as they 

 were shown. 



The vote of thanks was carried with applause. 



In answer to cmestions, Mr. Smith gave a shore explanation of the Wood- 

 burytype process. 



The following objects were exhibited in the library : — 



Ovipositer of dragon fly Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Flea of wild rabbit $ Q Mr. C. Collins. 



Section of coal Mr. A. L. Corbett. 



Coccus of orange, showing Ichneumon in situ Mr. F. JUnock. 



Section of lichen, Lecanara ... Mr. H. E. Freeman. 



Photo-micrographs, diatoms ... ... ... Dr. R. L. Maddox. 



Spider, Thomisus audax $ Mr. G. E. Mainland. 



Type slide of diatoms from Oamaru, New "> Mr> H< Morland. 

 Zealand... ... ... ... ... ) 



Diatoms, Cestodiscus pulchellus ... ... Mr. E. M. Nelson. 



Young perch, seven dajs old Mr. ft. T. G. Nevins. 



Diatom, Actinoptychiis Wittianus, n. s. ... Mr. G. Sturt. 



Mr. J. M. Offord also exhibited some photographs of diatoms, and Mr. 

 Edgar Crookshank brought a large series of photographs of Bacteria. 

 Attendance — Members, 57 ; Visitors, 13. 



