246 



not keep insects dry because of the white ants, and this led him to put them 

 into balsam. 



Mr. Curties said he was under the impression that Mr. Lowne's plan had been 

 adopted, but that this one was attempted as an improvement upon it, and in 

 order that the objects might be utilised for future observation both of form 

 and structure. 



The President thought that there were two objects in view, and that Mr. 

 Lowne's was the one likely to be taken by a systematic entomologist rather than 

 by a microscopist. 



Mr. Mclntire said that some time ago Mr. Curties showed him a number of 

 these slides, and he was very much struck by many of them. They seemed to 

 throw much light upon some subjects of interest to him. The gnats were the 

 only diptera found here with scales on their wings, but in this collection there 

 were other diptera with scales. There were also several slides of Podiirce, but 

 they seemed the same as Degeeria Domestica. As to mounting insects in balsam 

 at once, it was a plan which he was very much in favour of ; they should be killed 

 inspirit and then transferred at once to soft balsam. A little dirt would some- 

 times get in, but this was less detrimental than some of the effects of mounting 

 in the usual way. 



Dr. Matthews recommended the use of benzole in cases where the object was 

 subject to adiposere. Balsam could be dropped into it, and so it might be used 

 as a medium. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Joseph Bell, of Hetton Colliery, near 

 Durham, asking for information and assistance in establishing a Microscopical 

 Club amongst the mining population of that district, and stated that the infor- 

 mation asked for had been sent by him in the name of the Club. 



Announcements of Meetings, &c., were then made, and the meeting ter- 

 minated with a conversazione, at which the following objects were exhibited : — 



Various Foraminifera ... ... By Mr. Bartlett. 



Parasite of Horseshoe Bat (Ceylon) Mr. Curties. 



Spiniferous Tubercles of Lingthorn Mr. Dunning. 



Gizzards of two Fleas Mr. Glasspoole. 



Polycistinge Mr. Hind. 



Tank Microscope Mr. Kichards. 



Ova of Toad in different stages of development Mr. Topping. 



Attendance— Members, 90; Visitors, 17; total, 107. 



February 13th, 1874. — Conversational Meeting. 



The following objects were exhibited : — 



Tick of Aa.rd-vsiTk {Orycteropus Capensis) ... Mr. Curties. 



Sand-blast cell and examples of mounting ... Mr. Hailes. 



Achromatic Bull's-eye Condenser Mr^ Ingpen. 



Palate of Wb elk Mr. Martinelli. 



Zoophytes in Fluid Dr. Matthews. 



Section of Cat's lip (polar) Mr. Moginie. 



Ovary of Rabbit — stained section Mr. E. T. ISTewton. 



Frog's bladder ,, ,, 



Various Brazilian Beetles Mr. J. A. Smith. 



Lung of Salamander Mr. Topping. 



