ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
1873. 
, 
The following are the subjects that have been introduced, and 
the Meetings, Excursions, &c., that have taken place. 
February 19th, 1873.—Paper on ‘‘ Tue Orcans or Respiration IN 
SOME OF THE INVERTEBRATE Animas,” by Mr. J. S. Jounson, 
and ‘‘Some Notes or Ogsservations oF AnimMAL Lire IN THE 
Bricuton Aquarium,” by the PResmpEnt. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Secretary. 
The Presipent called the attention of the Club to a proposal 
which had been confirmed by the Annual Meeting, that a library 
of select scientific works should be formed for the use of the 
members, and invited suggestions for books to be placed in it.* 
Mr. J. S. Jonnson then read his paper, ‘‘ On the Breathing 
Organs of the Invertebrate Animals,” illustrating it by numerous 
diagrams, showing their peculiar habits and mode of obtaining 
oxygen for the support of life, either from water or the atmos- 
phere. He first gave an account of the similarity existing between 
plants and animals at the first moment of their existence, and 
___ explained that they all consisted of a cell, containing a nucleus, 
which has the property of reproducing others like itself. Under 
the influence of light, heat, and moisture, pure water, so kept that 
_ nothing but air shall have access to it, will, after a time, produce 
them in abundance ; the vegetable organisms appearing first, and 
the animal as soon as there is enough of vegetable matter for their 
subsistence. Aquatic animals and vegetables for the most part are 
provided with vibratory organs, which project from their bodies. 
These are, in some, agents of locomotion ; in others, both for 
movement and the production of a current of water, so as to 
gain fresh supplies of oxygen. Next the fresh water polypos 
- came into consideration ; their form and long arms, or tentacles, 
were shown, and the manner of seizing their prey; they breathe 
_ by means of these tentacles, which are covered with minute 
processes, called cilia. The leech and earthworm breathe on the 
_ aquatic principle; they have no respiratory organs. Water contain- 
_ ing oxygen is absorbed through their skin. Of the Crustacea, 
* See list of books, with rules for lending, at the end of the report, 
