248 American Quarterly Microscopical Journal. 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Space does not permit us to publish the proceedings of societies in 

 full. We are only able to notice the papers read and matters of 

 general interest. We would consider it a favor if secretaries of 

 societies would send us reports of meetings regularly. 



RECEPTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL 



SECTION OF THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF 



SCIENCES. 



The building of the Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia was the 

 scene of a large and interesting exhibition of microscopes and objects, 

 on the evening of Monday, April 7th. 



It is rarely that we find so many exhibitors and so much real 

 enthusiasm as was manifested on this occasion at such an exhibition. 

 To be sure, there was the usual lack of system in the arrange- 

 ments for the convenience and coipfort of visitors, but we are accus- 

 tomed to this. It will probably require another score of such exhibi- 

 tions before our Philadelphia friends will realize that it is desirable and 

 quite possible to accommodate as large a gathering as was present on 

 that evening, without the confusion caused by crowding and moving in 

 opposite directions. 



The dealers were well represented. Mr. Walmsley, of R. and J. 

 Beck, occupied two tables at one end of the library and furnished 23 

 stands. Mr. J. Zentmayer came next with 12 stands, and J. W. Queen 

 & Co. followed with 17. Further on, Mr. W. Y. McAllister had a table 

 with 9 microscopes. Some of these instruments will be noticed on 

 another page. 



At one table the Westchester and the Camden Microscopical Socie- 

 ties were represented. 



By actual count there were 140 stands on exhibition in the library 

 and adjoining rooms. We give below a list of the objects shown, 

 which we believe to be quite complete, and also the names of the per- 

 sons who furnished them. It will be seen that, as a rule, the objects 

 are familiar to all who use the microscope, but many of them deserve 

 special mention, for which, however, we have not the space. 



Prof. D. S. Holman afforded verj'^ instructive entertainment by 

 means of his "life " and "current" slides. 



Dr. J. G. Hunt had several objects of interest, among which may be 

 named the tongue of a fly entrapped by the sensitive organ of Stapelia 

 asterias, the tongue and the two pollen masses being shown in a beau- 

 tiful manner. Dr. Hunt also showed a transverse section of the small 

 intestine of a cat, and he claimed to be able to demonstrate that the 

 villi were ciliated. The preparation was not shown under a suffi- 

 cient magnifying power to enable us to judge as to the presence of 

 true cilia. 



