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chimney was not fixed to the lamp fitting, but to the rod, and he 

 thought that great credit was due to Messrs. Swift for bringing 

 out this improved form. 



Mr. Michael said he had used one of these lamps for some time, 

 and certainly thought the rack was an advantage. He also found 

 that the rod by which the chimney was attached conducted away a 

 great deal of the heat which came down it for a certain distance, 

 but not sufficiently to prevent the chimney from being removed by 

 the rod as soon as the lamp was put out. 



Mr. Randall exhibited an improved form of sounding apparatus, 

 which was fitted with a valve instead of indiarubber, ensuring much 

 greater certainty of bringing up samples of sea-bottom in good 

 condition than the methods hitherto adopted. 



The Chairman thought this would act admirably for bringing up 

 specimens from moderate depths, but it would hardly be of much 

 use as a deep-sea sounder, the essential requirements of which 

 were that it must carry a heavy weight which would be released 

 as soon as the bottom was touched. If the weight were not very 

 heavy, it would be carried away by the currents, and if it were not 

 detached it would prove too heavy to haul up. He thought the 

 construction of this apparatus was extremely ingenious, and that 

 it would be extremely useful in comparatively shallow water. 



Mr. Karop said he held the same view as the Chairman; the 

 reeling in of a weight sufficient to sink to great depths took a long 

 time and caused enormous strain on the line. He believed the 

 most perfect sounding apparatus was one invented by Commander 

 Sigsbee, U.S.N., described in the voyages of the U.S. Coast 

 Survey vessel Blake, where piano-wire was used instead of line, 

 and the sinker, a 601b. or 1001b. shot, was automatically detached 

 as soon as it touched bottom. They were greatly obliged to Mr. 

 Randall for bringing the apparatus for their inspection. 



Mr. VV. Burton read a note " On Polynema natans," found at the 

 last excursion of the Club in a pond at Totteridge, a specimen 

 being exhibited under the microscope in the room. 



Mr. F. Enoch said he had very little at present to add to what 

 Mr. Burton had told them about this very interesting find. This 

 insect was one which he had been looking for without success for 

 the last 19 years, but he found there was truth in the adage that 

 everything came to him who knew how to wait. Sir John 

 Lubbock was looking at some things in a basin of water in 1862. 



