178 



was as follows : Nov. 8, mean Right Asc. Ih. 22m. 54*10s., 

 and the mean N. Pol. Dist. 87° 53' 38-0'''. 



Mr. Hartnup also communicated observations made by 

 him on the planet Egeriay discovered by Gasparis, at Naples, 

 on the 2nd instant. Three positions were obtained on the 

 16th at the Liverpool Observatory, the intervals between the 

 observations being about twenty minutes. On each occasion 

 the right ascension diminished about 8-lOths of a second, and 

 the declination increased about three seconds of arc. These 

 results show the surprising delicacy of the Equatorial recently 

 erected at the Observatory. 



Mr. Lassell paid a high tribute to the zeal and industry 

 of Mr. Hind, and other practical astronomers, 



Mr. J. P. G. Smith drew attention to the presence of an 

 aearus in every specimen of raw sugar examined by him, and 

 stated that another observer in London had detected the same 

 insect in many specimens of sugar submitted to the micro- 

 scope. He remarked that he had also found in the same 

 samples perfect starch granules. 



Dr. Inman observed that granules may be reproduced after 

 boiling, but then without concentric rings. 



The paper for the evening was Oii the Wonders of ike 

 Microscope,'" hj Mr. John James Moss, illustrated by instru- 

 ments and drawings. 



Referring to animalcules found in spring water. Dr. Inman 

 showed that they were not due to the source whence the water 

 was obtained, but to the circumstances under which it was 

 kept. 



Wherever a cistern was exposed to light it was certain to be 

 infested by animalcules and conferva) ; where it was kept 

 closed from the light the water remained pure. 



He mentioned this point particularly, because there was an 

 impression that the number of animalcules was invariably 

 greater in surface, than in spring, water, and that this de- 



