1883-84-] EdinbnrgJi. Naturalists' Field Club. 187 



which met with great acceptance, and Avero most numerously at- 

 tended. At the first meeting, l)r J. M. Macfarlane was chosen Presi- 

 dent of the section, and the following is a sketcli of the work done at 

 the meetings : — 



The method of cutting and staining vegetable sections, and mount- 

 ing the same in Glycerine Jelly, Acetic Acid, and Canada Balsam, 

 was demonstrated by Dr Macfarlane and ]\Ir A. I). Richardson ; and 

 INIr John Heggie showed and explained the extraction, preparation, 

 and mounting of moUuscan palates. 



At the fifth meeting of the section, Mr A. Frazer, ]\I.A., optician, 

 submitted a short paper descriptive of the various metliods of micro- 

 metrical measurement. It was explained that the process is essen- 

 tially the same as that followed in measuring the length of any 

 substance by means of a foot-rule. The process was illustrated in. a 

 variety of ways. The construction of stage and eye-piece micrometers 

 having been explained, the method of using tliem was demonstrated 

 by measuring a blood corpuscle. It was also shown that the most 

 convenient method of micrometrical measurement is that of using a 

 stage-micrometer in conjunction with a camera-lucida. The action 

 of the camera-lucida having been explained, Beale's method of using 

 a sheet of paper divided into squares of a determined micrometrical 

 value was also demonstrated, and the size of a blood corpuscle 

 measured when its image was thrown upon the intersecting squares. 



A short discussion followed, in which. Mr Forgan, Mr Charles 

 Fraser, and others, took part. 



ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 



The Annual Business Meeting of the Club was held on the evening 

 of the 29th November 1883. The Secretary and Treasurer pre- 

 sented a brief report of the work done during the previous Session ; 

 and also submitted his Financial Statement, Avhich was approved of. 

 The various Office-bearers were elected, and the list for Session 1883- 

 84 stands as under, viz. : — 



President.— A. B. Hkkbeut. Vice-President —P. B. Gibb. 



T. B. SVRAGtJE. 



John Heggie. 

 Chas. F. Robeutson. 

 W. Tait Kinneau. 



Council. 



Robert Thomson. 

 George Bird. 

 Robert Stewart. 

 Dr L. DoBBix. 



John Walcot. 

 Symington Grieve. 

 Geo. L. Brown. 

 Chas. Fraser. 



Secretary and Treasurer.-— Andrew Moffat. 

 Auditors.— Alex. Matiieson ; J. A. Brodie. 



