PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 109 
mouth or intestines; and if these organs are absent, they would 
resemble the male rotifers, the nature of which Mr. Gosse and 
others have elucidated. Mr. Beck was kind enough to show me 
his specimens, and I thought it would be as well to call attention 
to Dr. Claparéde’s remarks, because they show the importance, 
when experimenting on the agamic reproduction of acari, of 
excluding individuals of different shape that might prove to be 
males in disguise. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Beck. 
A paper “On Cells and Cell Mounting” was read by James 
' Smith, Esq., F.L.S. (‘ Trans.,’ p. 34.) 
Mr. Beck then read a paper “On Improved Growing Cells.” 
(‘ Trans.’ p. 36.) 
Mr. Logs (referring to Mr. Beck’s paper) stated that he had 
received a letter from Professor H. L. Smith, of Gambier, Ohio, 
U:S., calling attention to an article on a new growing slide in 
‘Silliman’s Journal’ for September; and he had also received a 
slide from that gentleman. 
Mr. Jasez Hoee.—I do not think Mr. Beck’s cell will replace 
that of Mr. Smith, or the one that was shown by Mr. Suffolk. 
It seems to me that the great use of that cell would be in viewing 
very fine objects, that is, in using very high powers for the pur- 
pose of viewing them. If we use Mr. Beck’s cell we have an 
interference with the light through the thick glass, but in viewing 
objects in Mr. Suffolk’s ingeniously-contrived cell it appeared 
that we had obtained the long-desired use of the thin glass for 
objects in fluid, and I think there is very little to be gained by 
going away from the live-box that has been so long in use to the 
old deep, thick glass cells, and that the live-box will even be as 
serviceable as the one proposed by Mr. Beck. I do not think we 
should get the same good from his proposition that we do from 
the other. I rather differ from the view he has taken of the inge- 
nious cell shown to us the other night by Mr. Suffolk. I should 
like to hear what Mr. Suffolk has to say about this cell, because 
he has had the opportunity of using it over and over again. 
Mr. Surrotx.—The cell is not my own contrivance; I copied 
it from the description in ‘Silliman’s Journal.’ Mr. Hogg, I 
think, mistakes the use of the cell, which is to keep a feeding-cell 
for the animal. I have seen Mr. Beck’s cell to-night, and I think 
it will answer the purpose perfectly ; but I am afraid it has the 
disadvantage of not allowing the parabola to work closely enough 
to the under glass. 
Mr. Becx.—I have not altered in any degree the principle 
suggested by Mr. Smith, except that in Mr. Smith’s cell we look 
through a considerable thickness of water, which would entirely 
prevent the use of the parabola, whereas here we look through a 
piece of glass. Mr. Smith has two thicknesses of glass and one of 
water, whereas I have only one of glass. It is the same principle, 
and I do not claim anything for this invention. 
Mr. Hoee.—Mr. Smith’s cells can be easily cleaned by taking 
