ProceeiHngx. xv 



of flowers, like campanulas, are most difficult to preserve by the 

 ordinary method of drying. The action of both sulphurous acid 

 and salicylic acid seems to be to destroy the vitality of the plant 

 at once, and to prevent any fermentation setting up in the juices. 

 It is this fermentation which affects the colours. A very fine 

 series of beautifully preserved and mounted plants were also 

 exhibited by the Messrs. Salmon. The collection of flowers 

 gathered in the open air on the day of the Soiree was in the 

 hands of Dr. Franklin Parsons. The series was a very large 

 one considering the havoc caused in all exposed gardens by an 

 unusually early and severe frost. Mr. Low Sarjeant showed a 

 very carefully arranged collection of British land and fresh water 

 shells ; and a Campbell sunshine recorder, and a series of photo- 

 graphs illustrating the progress and results of a tornado, were 

 exhibited by Mr. Bayard, Objects of general interest from 

 Egypt, by Mr. E. B. Sturge. Native weapons, &c., from India, 

 by Mr. C. J. N. Yuill. Other weapons from the Maoris, by Mr. 

 Evan Carpenter. Some interesting original drawings of mollus- 

 can odontophores by Prof. Sars were shown by Mr. K. McKean ; 

 and several calculating machines, by Mr. W. F. Stanley. Mr. 

 Thorpe, of George Street, lent a number of zoological specimens, 

 trophies, &c. ; and Mr. H. C. Collier showed some ethological 

 specimens from Barrows, near Arundel. The President's exhibit 

 was his collection of stalk-eyed Crustacea from the British seas, 

 including every known species but two or three. A very good 

 exhibit was made by the Photographic Section, both of prints 

 and transparencies ; but a comparatively small number of photo- 

 graphers were represented, considering the large number there 

 are in the Club. The enlargements by Mr. W. Low Sarjeant, 

 Mr. Hirst, and one or two otliers, were very fine, and a capital 

 series showing the different warm tones to be obtained on 

 bromide paper were shown by Mr. Weir Brown. Two lantern 

 exhibits were given during the evening in the old School of Art 

 Room, and were well patronised. The spacing arrangements 

 were, as usual, in the skilful hands of Mr. Berney, and the 

 decorative plants were again kindly lent by Mr. Crowley. Through 

 the generous co-operation of Messrs. Mennell, Crowley, Berney, 

 Budgen, McKeau, with my suggestion to provide the refresh- 

 ments ourselves, and thus relieve the Club of this important 

 item of expense, the financial result of the Soiree was eminently 

 satisfactory, and the satisfaction given to our visitors more so. 

 Our total Soiree expenses, as will be seen, was only about £36, 

 whilst our sale of tickets rose to the unusually high figure of over 

 £26, thus reducing the net cost to the Club to some £10, an ex- 

 ceedingly gratifying result, and one not often attained. 



Our Conversational Meetings have not been much better than 



