62 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



elected Fellows of the Society, (For names see report of ISth 

 November meeting). 



Charles Stewakt, Esq., M.E.C.S., F.L.S., &c., read a paper, 

 illustrated by drawings, on the " Pedicellariae of the Cidaridae." 



Mr. Jabez Hogg remarked on the importance of examining 

 these appendages in the living animal. He also inquired whether 

 Mr, Stewart had arrived at any conclusion as to the functions 

 performed by pedicellariae. He had witnessed their action in 

 handing particles of food from one to another till they reached 

 the mouth. 



Mr. Stewaet stated that he had examined the pedicellarise of 

 the living animals in many species, but had not had that ad- 

 vantage with respect to the Cidaridae. From the position of the 

 pedicellariae, and the nature of the food of the Echinoderms to which 

 they belonged, he did not think that the passing forward of 

 particles of food to the mouth could be their chief or special 

 function. The more these objects were studied in the different 

 classes of animals furnished with them, the greater was the diffi- 

 culty of assigning any special functions to them. One particular 

 form, the Snake's Head, was found near the mouth. Other forms 

 were extensively scattered, and were abundant near the anus in 

 Cidaris. In Gonaster they were embedded in the thick calcareous 

 surface layer with their two valves flush with the surface, so that 

 they could not pass anything to the mouth. In Luidia stalked 

 forms were found near the secondary spines. 



Mr. Cook remarked that Agassiz had seen pedicellaria pass 

 faecal matter away from the anus. 



H. J. Slack, Esq., F.G.S., Sec. E.M.S., read a paper on a 

 " Ferment found in Bed French Wine." 



Mr. Jabez Hogg remarked on the value of reasearches into these 

 organisms, which he regarded as agents of destruction. He con- 

 sidered M. Pasteur wrong in asserting that Bacteria were found in 

 the butyric fermentation. They belonged to the lactic fermen- 

 tation, which was an earlier stage. 



The Pkesident then called upon Dr. Maddox to show a series 

 of photographs to the Fellows. 



Dr. Maddox said he had the pleasure of bringing before 

 the notice of the Fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society a 

 series of beautiful photomicrographs, which he had just received 

 from the Army Medical Department, Washington, the labours of 

 Drs. Woodward and Curtis, and trusted he might be able to con- 

 Tey to those gentlemen the thanks of the Society. He thought 

 that the interest occasioned by a little " generous rivalry" might 

 advance the subject in this country, where he was sorry to find 

 existed so much negligence and apathy in this branch of science. 

 Other countries were utilising its advantages, as France, America, 

 &c., the latter being in advance of all. Some of these photo- 

 micrographs were exhibited as competitive photographic tests 

 of various lenses, ranging from Powell and Lealand's 3'^th, ^^j-th, 

 and x^gth ; Wales' ^th and amplifier ; Wales' -gJjth immersion ; 



