r 21 ] 



Mr. WONFOR remarked that, although they could not well 

 separate chemical from physiological oi' life action, cases cropped 

 up in which chemical action was seen to be produced without, 

 apparently, the intervention of life. There was another curious 

 fact, namely, that while on the one hand there was such a variety 

 of colour produced by the action of light, the brightest sea weed 

 was found in the deepest water, and in the darkest caves. 



Mr. DowsETT added, the bright sea weed could not be grown 

 in aquaria, unless the light reached it through a tinted medium. 



The Chaiem.\n (Mr. Haselwood) thought this would form an 

 argument to show that colour was not entirely due to light. 



Mr. DowsETT mentioned another strange circumstance ; that 

 lemon, turpentine, and bergamot were chemically the same, yet 

 emitted different odours. What produced the odours was unknown. 



Mr. Dennant directed attention to one practical outcome, 

 namely, the importance of insti-ucting children in the elements of 

 science. If, he said, the poor children of large towns knew ever so 

 little of the importance of maintaining a balance between animal 

 and vegetable life, their health would be much better than it was. 

 If they would foster and nurture plants in their neighbourhood, 

 they would be much happier and stronger than they were without 

 any kiad of foliage. 



October 22nd. 



MICROSCOPICAL MEETING. — "SECTIONS AND. 

 SECTION CUTTERS," BY DR. HALLIFAX. 



The Chaieman (Mr. J. E. Haselwood) read a letter from Mr. 

 T. W. Wonfor, who had announced the subject, apologising for his 

 absence through illness, and called upon Dr. Hallifax, who had 

 consented to fill up the gap. 



Dr. Hallifax said he much regretted the absence of Mr. 

 Wonfor, who would have enlightened them upon the subject much 

 more than he could. His object would be to give them a practical 



