PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY. 263 



The Chairman said they were greatly indebted to Mr. Hilton for the 

 excellent exhibition which he had arranged for them, and not less so for 

 his very interesting and lucid description of this group of organisms. 



Dr. D. H. Scott pointed out that the statement as to the existence 

 of fossil jMycetozoa was made by the late M. B. Renault, an authority 

 entitled to the highest respect. The evidence, however, appeared 

 insufficient to demonstrate the presence of these organisms, for though 

 there was no reason why the sporangia should not be preserved, the 

 Plasmodium, to which the statements referred, was a body oue could 

 scarcely expect to identify in petrified material. Organisms of various 

 kinds were often found within the cells of petrified plant remains, and 

 it was possible that some of these might be alUed to parasitic or 

 saprophytic Mycetozoa. 



He should like to thank Mr. Hilton for his clear exposition of this 

 interesting group. The question of a possible fusion of nuclei, to which 

 Mr. Hilton had referred, was of great importance. Professor Sachs, in 

 his "Text-book of Botany," had included the Mycetozoa in his 

 Zygosporas, regarding the fusion of the Myxamoebae as a sexual process, 

 biit this view had been disproved by the discovery that no fusion of 

 nuclei was involved. It would be extremely interesting if it were 

 proved that at any stage such nuclear fusion really occurred. 



The thanks of the Society were heartily voted to Mr. Hilton for his 

 communication. 



Mr. Ersser read a short description of a slide of Trypanosoma which 

 he exhibited under a Microscope in the room. 



The Secretary read a letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Selborne 

 Society, inviting the assistance of the Fellows of the R.M.S. as exhibitors 

 of microscopic objects at the Selborne Society's soiree on April 26. 



A letter was also read from Mr, Holloway, stating that he had sent 

 a small quantity of Oamaru diatomaceous earth for distribution amongst 

 such of the Fellows of the Society as wished to have any of this 

 material. Applications for it to be made to Mr. Parsons. 



The Chairman said they were greatly indebted to Messrs. Baker for 

 the loan of a numlier of Microscopes under which Mr. Hilton's specimens 

 were being exhibited that evening, and he had much pleasure in pro- 

 posing a hearty vote of thanks to them for their kindness. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Messrs. Baker accordingly. 



It was announced that the rooms of the Society would be closed for 

 Easter from March 28 to April 2. 



New Fellow. — Mr. William Archibald Clowes was balloted for and 

 duly elected a Fellow of the Society. 



