245 



The thanks of the Club were voted to the donors. 

 Mr. Karop exhibited and described a microscope made by 

 Messrs. Swift almost entirely of alumininm, with the result that 

 the weight was reduced from 71b. 13oz, in the brass model to 

 21b. lOJoz. in the instrument before them. He believed this 

 was an absolute novelty, and would commend itself at least to 

 those persons who were much in the habit of carrying their 

 microscopes about with them. Certain parts, such as rack and 

 pinion, and screws, had necessarily 'to be made of another metal, 

 and some trouble had been experienced in the matter of soldering 

 and polishing. The price could not at present be stated. 



The Chairman congratulated the makers upon their achieve- 

 ment ; this was certainly the lightest microscope he had ever 

 handled, and he had rarely seen anything more beautifully 

 finished. 



Mr. Morland said he believed a means of soldering aluminium 

 had recently been discovered. It w^as mentioned in the " English 

 Mechanic ; " he thought it was some preparation of chloride of 

 silver which was used. It could also be united by a process of 

 electric welding. It was coming largely into use for soldiers' 

 accoutrements on account of its extreme lightness. 



The Secretary said he had received from Mr. Stevens a small 

 sample of Diatomaceous earth from under the market-place at 

 Christchurch, New Zealand, which had been handed to Mr. 

 Morland for examination. 



Mr. Morland said the Christchurch deposit contained a 

 quantity of Surirella contorta and other forms. It was rather 

 sandy, and therefore not very easy to pick out ; but some good 

 specimens could be got with patience. 



The Secretary said he had also received a batch of communi- 

 cations from Dr. Arthur Meade Edwards, which he should 

 have been glad to have read if possible, but, unfortunately, 

 having been written with an electric pen or some similar con- 

 trivance, the result was so far illegible that it was hopeless to 

 attempt to decipher it. 



Mr. C. L. Curties exhibited a small stand carrying a bottle 

 with polished sides, intended for filling wdth different solutions, 

 for the purpose of obtaining monochromatic light; also two 

 slides of Bhomboides, one mounted in quinidine and the other in 

 styrax. For photography there was some advantage in quini- 



