88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



also expressed their sincere sympathy with Mrs. Minchin in 

 her great loss. 



Mr. A. E. Hilton then read a paper on the " Formation of 

 Sporangia of Stemonitis." 



This form of Mycetozoa is one of the most abundant in the 

 world. It is easily recognised by the dark brown sporangia, 

 usually 1/2 to 3/4 in. high, generally crowded together on slender 

 black stalks. 



In Stemonitis the stalk is continued upward as a columella 

 nearly or quite to the top of the sporangium. From this the 

 capillitium branches in all directions and surrounds the sporan- 

 gium with a surface network of extremely delicate meshes, 

 through which the spores finally escape. The specimen described 

 here was gathered last August, after the heavy rains, in Highgate 

 Woods, from an old tree stump, near the top of which appeared 

 an old black and leathery fungus with patches of milk-white 

 Plasmodium, which seemed to have oozed from the stump. 



The paper was illustrated by sketches and photographs showing 

 the various stages of development and specimens of the same 

 were exhibited. 



A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Hilton for his description 

 of the interesting observations he had made. 



The President said that being interested in the subject himself, 

 he was very anxious that some of his fellow members should 

 also be interested in the study of sponges, and with the idea of 

 awakening such interest, he proposed to give a series of short 

 addresses on the subject, and with a view of stimulating examina- 

 tion he proposed to bring some material to the meeting for 

 distribution amongst the members, and hoped they would have 

 a flood of light thrown on the subject of sponge spicules. He 

 had often thought that very much work was done in connection 

 with diatoms amongst the members, and he thought that if 

 some of the energy expended in this direction was put into the 

 study of sponge-spicules, some good results might follow. The 

 matter had been brought before the Committee, who had decided 

 -that at the next Ordinary Meeting of the Club the first of these 

 addresses should be given. 



In the absence of the author through ill-health, the Hon. 

 Secretary then read a paper on " Five New Species of Rotifera,'* 

 by Mr. David Bryce, 



