210 



He (Mr. Loy) had often seen them feeding on the sap so obtained. With regard 

 to the statement that the jaws of the Stag-beetle had not much power, Mr. Loy 

 considered that they were on the contrary very strong, as he had experienced 

 when bitten by them ; tht'y would also hold a stick very tightly. As far as he 

 had observed their feeding time was about eleven to twelve o'clock at night, 



Mr. Lowne was glad to hear that the Stag-beetle could bite, and equally glad 

 that he had not experienced the fact in his own person. 



Mr. Loy remarked on the muscular irritability in these insects ; a pair of the 

 mandibles removed from the head retained the power of motion for some hours. 



Mr. Lowne could well believe this. It was well known that the legs of some 

 Phalangidie would move as long as twelve hours after separation from the 

 body. 



Mr. J. E. Ingpen then made a communication relative to a portable microscope 

 which he had brought down for the inspection of members, and which he 

 thought superior to the small instruments generally employed on holiday excur- 

 sions, inasmuch as an instrument is often useful on such occasions capable of 

 examining, in contradistinction to merely recognising objects. The microscope, 

 which was originally a Smith and Beck's instrument, had been very ingeniously 

 modified to suit these requirements, whilst great attention had evidently been 

 given to lightness and economy of space. In a small case were contained three 

 powers, viz., 2-in., |-in., and 4-in., three eye pieces, and a Kelner eye piece, the 

 latter being employed also as an achromatic condenser, a small bullscye con- 

 denser, live box, compressorium, polariscope, camera lucida, spot lens, micro- 

 ?! eter, spare slides, forceps, &c. Nothing new was claimed except in the 

 adaptation of the instrument to seaside work, and the arrangement by which a 

 complete apparatus was comprised in a very small space. 



Thanks were voted to Mr. Ingpen, and carried unanimously. 



Notices of the next excursion and the gossip meeting for September were then 

 given, and the meeting closed with the usual conversazione. 



Tiie following objects were exhibited : — 



Section of Eye of Drone-fly Mr. A. Topping. 



Spiracles of DyiiscMs wiar^maZiS polarised Mr. Sigs worth. 



Wir\g oi Vanessa lo Mr. G. Williams. 



Collection of Diatomacece, made by Mr. F. Kitton, > -^t tt ^ Hailes 

 of Norwich ) 



12tli September, 1873. — Conversational Meeting. 

 The following objects were exhibited : — 



Crystals of Silicate of Potash in Cobalt glass — ) 



dark ground j Mr. Sigsworth. 



Palate of Helix lapicida Mr. J. Slade. 



Endothelium on diaphragm of Eabbit ... ... ... Mr. Ward. 



Tongue of a West Indian Spider Mr. Mclntire. 



Echinus Spines ... ... ... ... -^ 



Spicule of 8y7iapta , ... j Mr. Golding. 



Pollen of Pass//?om Mr. Martinelli. 



Fungus on Tea Leaf ... ... ... -^ 



Marine Organism (unknown) ) Pett. 



Terpsinoe musica Mr, J, E. Ingpen. 



Swift's New ^th Objective Mr. Geo. Williams. 



