1890.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 117 



he first brought it forward in 1875. Nearly all present makers, 

 he believed, employed a coiled spring to move the clutches, and 

 this was either so stiff as to need care to prevent its chipping 

 the slide, or else was not stiff enough to permit of the applica- 

 tion of a cutting tool to the cell while upon the table, and most, 

 of the arrangements, which had come under his notice, required 

 the use of both hands to place or to release the slide. He felt 

 sure that the right and left screw was altogether the most con- 

 venient, effective and economical mechanism for controlling the 

 clutches, and thought the manufacturers would confer a great 

 benefit upon the preparers of specimens if they would return to 

 that original and simple device. 



Mr. Stephen Helm, in relation to his exhibit, stated that in 

 England he had never seen a branched Melicerta, while here' 

 such a form is very common, and seems peculiar to America. 

 He had lately found one specimen with thirty-six branches. 



Mr. Dudley explained the sections of petrified wood from 

 Cairo, Egypt, and also the spicules and gemmules of sponge 

 from a Termite's nest from Colon, S. A. 



The Secretary announced that the Department of Microscopy 

 of the Brooklyn Institute would hold its Annual Reception on 

 the evening of the 8th inst., and that he had received pro- 

 grammes and tickets of admission for the use of the Society. 



On motion it was resolved that the thanks of the Society be 

 hereby tendered the Department of Microscopy of the Brooklyn 

 Institute. 



Meeting of May i6th, 1890. 

 The President, Mr. P. H. Dudley, in the chair. 



OBJECTS EXHIBITED. 



1. Sections of Chalcedony in agate : by T. B. Briggs. 



2. Sections of a Meteorite, which fell May 2nd, 1890, in 

 Iowa : by George F. Kunz. 



3. Serial sections of the Brook Trout, two days from the 

 egg : by L. Riederer. 



4. Termes flavipes, soldier : by P. H. Dudley. 



5. Calotennes jnilesnasitermcs, soldier : by P. H. Dudley. 



6. The same, young, with the beak Just developing : by P 

 H. Dudley, 



