ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



1880. 



November ii. — Eighth Annual Meeting. The Report of the Council 

 and Balance Sheet were read and adopted, followed by the election of officers 

 for the ensuing year ; to those retiring a hearty vote of thanks was proposed, 

 specializing Mr. F. Stewart. Mr. Martin Burgess, the President, then read 

 his Address, glancing at the present and future of the Society, followed by some 

 remarks upon Microscopical work in general. 



November 24. — About twelve members represented the Society at the 

 Annual Soiree of the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club. 



November 25. — The Ninth Gossip. Several objects, including the 

 Bolton tubes, Cyclops, some diatoms, and various forms of Polycystina, were 

 shown. The meeting was well attended, and conversation took place as to 

 what methods should be adopted to further the advance of the Society in the 

 year now commenced. 



December 8. — Soiree of the Greenwich Microscopical and Natural History 

 Society, at which many members attended and exhibited. 



December 9. — Some valuable donations to the Library were announced. 

 W. T. Suffolk, F.R.M.S., gave a paper "On Illuminating Apparatus (of Micro- 

 scopes)." This was principally confined to that above the stage, many forms of 

 which were explained thoroughly by the aid of blackboard drawings. The 

 Rev. R. Gardner Smith, F.L..S., proposed a vote of thanks, and offered some 

 remarks upon his own experience ; this was seconded by W. J. Spratling, 

 B. Sc, F.G.S., advising all who were interested in the subject to work out 

 their theories and make trial of them. Mr. G. S. Dixon showed Polycystina by 

 a special system of illumination. 



December 23. — Monthly Gossip. An interesting meeting with several 

 exhibits, including : Philodina Roseolo (Bolton tube), Asillus Vulgaris, Hairs of 

 Deutzia Scabra, and Injected Small Intestine (human). 



1881. 



January 13. — ^J. Jenner Weir, F.L.S., F.Z.S., gave a Lecture upon 

 " Certain Aspects of the Evolution of Life, in conjunction with Darwin's Theory 

 of Natural Selection." Commencing with the details of the Embryo, he 

 explained and illustrated the various stages of animal life and growth by iliagrams 

 and charts, some of which were of great interest, and very minutely worked 

 out. After the thanks of the meeting had been given, the Rev. R. Gardner 

 Smith, F.L. S., spoke further in support of the vote, and on the subject in 

 general, drawing attention to the difference in weight of brain in Man, and in 

 the Chimpanzee and Ourang-outang, as proving the non-identity of these species. 



The President announced his intention of holding a class for the study and 

 mounting of microscopic objects. 



The Soirees of the Erith and Belvedere and the Hackney Societies for the 

 15th and 24th proximo respectively were announced. 



