Proceedings. ci 
was ensured. The paper was illustrated by diagrams on the 
lantern-screen.* 
November 19th. — Mr. Howard Martin read a paper on 
“Oysters” (Trans., Art. 126). The paper was illustrated by 
diagrams, and by several specimens of oyster in various stages 
of growth; also by photographs showing the method of culti- 
vation. 
Dr. Parsons showed a series of fossil oysters, among which 
were some growing upon a nautilus. The larve must have 
attached themselves during the life of the nautilus, as the shell 
of the latter had partly grown over them. 
December 17th.—The President read a short note on some 
tuber-like growths on the roots of a beech tree in the Sander- 
stead Road, and explained the manner in which they had 
probably arisen. 
Mr. C. H. Goodman read some interesting ‘‘ Notes on the 
House Cricket” (Trans., Art. 127), the result of somewhat pro- 
longed investigation. The paper was illustrated by photographs. 
The Twenty-sixth Annual Soirée was held at the Public Hall 
on November 27th; but, though the attendance was only 513 as 
compared with 542 in 1894, more tickets were sold, and the total 
expenses were smaller. The number of microscopes exhibited 
was somewhat smaller than usual, but there was a great variety 
in the objects shown, and we were indebted to members of the 
Royal Microscopical Society, Quekett, Holmesdale, and Redhill 
Clubs for several interesting objects. Bacteriological cultures 
were exhibited by Dr. Blaxall and Dr. Hobson. Mr. Crowley 
exhibited butterflies, including the new and beautiful Ornithoptera 
paradisea from German New Guinea, and birds’ eggs; Dr. 
Parsons, dried plants, fungi, and a basket of flowers from gardens 
on Park Hill. Owing to the severe weather in the autumn, 
there were only 72 different kinds, as compared with 138 in 1894. 
Botanical specimens were also shown by Mr. Mennell and Mr. 
Salmon. A beautiful collection of stuffed birds was shown by 
Mr. Thorpe; Mr. J. Chisholm contributed a portion of the late 
Mr. Henry Lee’s collection (the Bchinide), some horns of African 
antelopes, walrus tusks, African birds, &c.; insects were shown 
by Mr. Goodman ; British land and fresh-water shells, by Mr. 
* There are many persons who would like to know something of botany, 
but who yet have neither the time nor inclination to wade through some of 
the modern text-books, overladen as they are with strings of words derived 
from the Greek. To these I would recommend a little book recently pub- 
lished, ‘The Story of the Plants,’ by Grant Allen, which describes the 
life-history of plants in a scientific manner, but in plain and untechnical 
language, so that he who runs may read. 
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