Proceedings. Ixxxix 
examining any excavations which are being made by the Cor- 
poration in order to take note of the strata exposed. One of the 
_ members has made a small beginning by noting the beds in the 
oo made for draining the new cemetery on the Mitcham 
oad.” 
Botanical Sub-Committee.—The discovery of Carex fusca, known 
to British botanists better by its name of Carex Buxbaumii, is one of 
the most interesting additions to the flora of Great Britain made for 
many years. This plant was found by our former member, Mr. W. 
F. Miller, near Arisaig, on the west coast of Scotland. It had 
previously only been known as a British plant from Lough Neagh, 
Ireland. It is a satisfaction to us that this interesting discovery should 
have fallen to the lot of one of our members, who for so many years 
contributed the record of the dates of the flowering of plants in this 
neighbourhood, and in many other ways assisted in the botanical work 
of the Club.—H. T. MENNELL. 
The Microscopical Sub-Committee held one Conversational Meet- 
ing, at which several slides, principally relating to geological 
subjects, were exhibited and discussed. I cannot but regret 
that the microscope is not quite so much in favour with our 
members as formerly. This may be attributed to the fact that 
‘the common objects for the microscope” are all more or less 
familiar, and so familiarity breeds indifference. It may also be 
due to the idea that a very large and expensive microscope is 
necessary, or that high scientific training is indispensable. But 
this is not so. An inexpensive microscope, and the more simple 
the better, will teach a beginner things he has hardly hitherto 
dreamed of, and there is no pleasanter way of spending a spare 
evening than in examining by its means water from a stagnant 
pool, or the parts of a flower, or the growth of the crystals of a 
salt on a slip of glass. It is not necessary that the object should 
be mounted. That can be done when the observer becomes 
more accustomed to the use of his instrument. There is no 
occasion for a microscopist to mourn, like Alexander, because 
there are no more worlds to conquer. All branches of science 
are indebted to the microscope. In botany, in zoology, and in 
geology, it is absolutely indispensable. The very modern science 
of bacteriology would never have come into being without it, 
and the medical man finds that his diagnosis may be made with 
more accuracy when he is able to bring the microscope to his 
assistance. The members of the Sub-Committee are at all times 
willing to render assistance, and in the Club Cabinet is a large 
collection of slides for the use of members. 
Excursions. 
Twelve excursions were arranged, and several of them were 
well attended, and all enjoyable. 
