9 



Mr. Latham referred to Mr. Hepworth's method of 

 mounting insects in Canada balsam, and described his own 

 experience of the same. Mr. Latham spoke in very favour- 

 able terms of the facility with which slides can be washed off 

 and finished. He found that the balsam should be as thick 

 as possible, almost even to dryness ; then dissolved in chloro- 

 form, to a consistence only thin enough to flow easily under 

 the thin glass; the object having previously been mounted 

 by Mr. Hepworth's process, under thin glass tied on with 

 thread, exhausted of air, and saturated with turpentine. 

 After heating over a spirit-lamp the balsam sets hard almost 

 as soon as cool, when the slide, after cleaning with alcohol, is 

 ready for the cabinet. Mr. Latham exhibited several slides 

 thus mounted, with specimens of the gizard of a cricket, saw 

 fly, entire system of the silk -worm trachea, ichneumon fly, 

 spiracle of the silk-worm, goldfish scale, leaf of wheat showing 

 spiral vessels. 



Mr. Lynde exhibited a fine plumatella living on the shell 

 of a large lymnea or water-snail. 



Mr. MosLEY exhibited specimens of hydra and other 

 aquatic objects. 



October 15th, I860. 



A Circular was read, addressed to captains of vessels, with 

 a request that they will preserve the produce of the soundings 

 they make when abroad, in the envelopes sent therewith — 

 A Letter was read from Mr. Hayman, of Liverpool, to the 

 effect that circulars and envelopes have been supplied to the 

 captains of eight steamers belonging to Messrs. John Bibby 

 and Sons, in the Mediterranean trade; three of Messrs. 

 Mac Iver's steamers, plying between Liverpool and New 



