314 



house fly, with short, thick, and often very heavy bodies, furnished 

 vpith proportionate wings, shorter legs, and conspicuous winglets. 

 Trom these circumstances it might be inferred that the long legs 

 of the light-bodied flies acted as rudders, while the winglets 

 helped the wings in flying. The wings consisted of two mem- 

 branous laminae, united by veins or nerves, aad upon their 

 arrangements, and the form of the antennse, the distinguishing 

 characters of the Diptei-a were founded. 



The several parts of the wings, and nerves, and their appen- 

 dages, as seen in the great groups Nemocera and Brachycera were 

 next pointed out, and the papera, illustrated by very beautiful 

 camera lucida drawings, made by Mr. Peake, and by microscopic 

 preparations of the wings, &c. 



May 26.— The President, Mr. T. H. Hennah, P.RM.S., in 

 the chair. 



As this was the first meeting of the section, Mr. Wonfor, 

 Hon. Sec, announced the objects sought in forming a section. 



Mr. Hennah then read a paper on " Systematic Recent Exami- 

 nation, with Moderate Powers." 



As we glance through the history of the microscope, we cannot 

 avoid noticing how little has depended upon the instruments, and 

 how much upon the method and perseverance of the men who 

 have accumulated so vast an amount of information ; and although 

 the wonderful perfection of modern high powers, — and, indeed, 

 of the microscope generally, — has undoubtedly increased both 

 our means of research and the number of observers, the conclusion 

 is forced upon us that — accordingly as we use it — the microscope is 

 either a new sense, or a mere toy. I hope the growing tendency 

 to the latter result may find no place amongst us. Pride in the 

 possession of a fine instrument, and a consequent desire to exhibit 

 its powers, often leads to the exclusive study of conventional test 

 objects, which, while it gives command of the microscope in a 

 special way, and stimulates opticians to improvements, too fre- 

 quently arrests original investigation. 



Whether we use high or low powers we should — in original in- 

 vestigations — be on our guard against the unconscious tendency of 

 the mind to make " the wish father to the thought ;" and, although 

 we cannot be altogether free from preconceived ideas, their influ- 

 ence should be limited to the suggestion of inquiry. It is necessary 

 for a just appreciation of our own work (and that of others) that 

 we should be well acquainted with the literature of the microscope. 

 It is, however, already so much scattered that it is difiicult to as- 

 certain the actual amount of knowledge on any given subject, and 

 much time is wasted in investigations which should be but past 

 steps in our progress. At the same time, we should not too 

 readily accept authority on matters difiicult of proof, as a false 

 idea of the state of microscopical knowledge is frequently given 

 and doubt arises as to our powers of observation or the instru- 

 ments we are using. In the frequent intercourse of men engaged 

 in a common pursuit — such as it is the intention of this section to 



