1897-J Proceedhigs of Irish Societies. 3t 



bacilli. He had succeeded in cultivating these organisms and would 

 communicate further details later on. 



Finally he exhibited a cultivation of the Potato disease Peziza sclera- 

 tiorum, Lib., showing enormous sclerotia in process of formation. The 

 substratum consisted of sterilised slices of potato. 



Mr. A. Francis Dixon exhibited a camera for use with microscope 

 The instrument can be used with the microscope in a vertical position, 

 being adapted to the draw-tube of the instrument. The whole camera 

 except the dark slide is made of aluminium, and is so light that it does 

 not press too severely on the rack movements of the microscope. The 

 maker of the camera is R. Feuss, Berlin. 



Mr. A. Vaughan Jennings showed under the microscope a specimen 

 of the very rare moss CEdipodiiim Grifithianum^ collected near the top of 

 Snowdon. The moss is remarkable for its broad, large-celled leaves and 

 for the thick seta graduating into a tapering apophysis, which, in turn, is 

 not sharply marked off from the capsule. These characters have been 

 regarded as suggesting affinities with the Hepaticcz ; while many system- 

 atists place the genus near Splachmim. More commonly the plant is 

 reproduced by gemmae in the axils of the leaves, as shown in the 

 preparation. The exhibitor considered that his specimens represented 

 a distinct variety, apparently not yet scientifically recognised ; but 

 characterized by the extreme shortening of the stem, so that the 

 rosette of leaves and gemmae become almost sessile on the ground. 



Belfast Natqrai, History and Phii^osophical Societv. 



February qth.— Dr. Hermann Wai^TER lectured on " The Mystery 

 of Indian Fakirism." 



Professor M. F. F1TZGERAI.D, B.A., read a paper on *' Contouring with 

 Barometer in Mourne Mountains ;'' the paper was illustrated by diagrams 

 and maps. 



BeIvFasT Naturai^ists' Fiei<d Ci,ub. 

 January 26TH. — The president (Mr. La yens M. EwarT) in the chair. 

 Mr. F. J, Bigger (honorary secretary) read a paper on the discovery of 

 a souterrain at Stranocum, in the demesne of Mr. \V. Ford-Hutchinson, 

 which was illustrated by a number of excellent drawings and sections 

 made by Mr. W. J. Fennell, C.E., and by numerous photos taken by Mr. 

 Alex. Tate, CE. After some remarks by Messrs. Lockwood, Cunningham, 

 "Wilson, Dickson, and others, the president called upon Dr. W. Donnan 

 to read a communication on fresh-water algee. Dr. Donnan began by 

 showing the ease with which the study of these lowly forms of life may 

 be carried on, as every pool or sheet of standing water teems with them. 

 He then briefly described their position in the vegetable world, coming 

 among the thallophytes, there being no distinction between leaf and 

 stem. Dr. Donnan then appealed to members interested in microscopic 

 work to co-operate with him in re-organising this branch of the Club's 



