THE president's 



same, accompanied as they so often are by carefully-drawn illus- 

 trations. This is one of the advantages of that Society, at whose 

 Annual Meeting we have this evening assembled. 



But there are some disadvantages in confining the range of 

 objects exclusively to such things as can be mounted, thus 

 excluding that very great source of interest to the microscopist — 

 the movements of the lower members of the animal and vegetable 

 kingdoms. I should be glad to hear the opinions of some of the 

 members present, as to the desirability and possibility of circu- 

 lating small bottles or tubes, containing specimens of Stentors, 

 Hydrce, Floscularice, and the like, not omitting the favourite 

 Water-Mites. At the same time, knowing that these things have 

 not an equal charm for all, I would propose that members who 

 are fortunate enough to find colonies of such genera as Melicerta, 

 Stephanoceros^ or Stentor^ be asked to announce the fact in the 

 Note-Books, and in our " Quarterly Journal." Then, with the 

 understanding that the cost of postage be defrayed by the 

 member desiring the object, a specimen could be obtained with 

 little trouble. I suggest this partly to introduce a new field for 

 study, because there is a tendency to repeat the objects circulated; 

 if the very same thing is not sent round over and over again, at 

 any rate, there are certain kinds of specimens which appear in 

 almost every box. 



Many, if not all of us, regret that we so often allow the 

 books and collections of slides to pass through our hands 

 without additions ; but so far from this being any indication 

 of slight to the senders of objects, it is often inevitable, and 

 occurs sometimes from want of time, sometimes because the 

 notes already given are so full as to leave no room for additions, 

 and, now and then, because a member's special line of study 

 is not represented. 



In thinking about a subject on which to make a few remarks 

 this evening, it occurred to me that our microscopes might be 

 well employed in examining occasionally the food we eat, or the 

 clothes we wear. Take, for example, that most objectionable, 

 but at the same time exceedingly interesting subject, the Trichina. 

 This irrepressible and inquisitive little being, who requires his host 

 not only to lodge but to board him, and to board and lodge not 



