134 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
in its use was as yet too limited to form an opinion. He hoped, 
however, to report on the subject at the next meeting. 
Thirdly, that invented by Mr. Dancer, who places a circular 
mirror over the oblique tube of the microscope, previously remoy- 
ing the eye-piece; the light is thrown down to the Wenham’s 
prism, and thence through the objective on to the object. The 
only disadvantage of this method was that of not admitting of 
binocular vision; otherwise its simplicity, cheapness, and great 
facility of adjustment, render it far preferable to the others, while 
its effects are fully equal to theirs. It answers, moreover, equally 
well by day- or lamp-light, and does not require a condenser to be 
used. Mr. Hurst thought every binocular microscope would be 
fitted with it when their owners had seen its working. 
‘Mr. Hurst wished meanwhile to draw the particular attention 
of the members to the extraordinary beauty and clearness with 
which opaque objects—hitherto the despair of microscopists— 
were displayed by these methods of illumination, some being 
shown as clearly as if enlarged into a relatively gigantic model 
and viewed by the naked eye. Another peculiarity connected 
with them is that, as the object-glass itself acts as a condenser, 
the amount of light is increased with the magnifying power of 
the object-glass, contrary to the effect of other modes of illu- 
mination. 
Mr. Hurst thought the subject was in its infancy and that 
great improvements would yet be made, but that the idea of 
Mr. H. E. Smith, of making the object-glass its own illuminator, 
would prove to be one of the greatest steps in modern micro- 
scopic science ; and, as improved upon by Mr. Dancer, it was one 
so costless in price and rapid in its adjustment, that every micro- 
scopist, however economical either of time or money, could readily 
avail himself of its assistance. 
Mr. Coward then exhibited some interesting plants from India, 
illustrating abnormal forms of different natural families, especially 
of Leguminosez. 
January 17th, 1866. 
A. G. Latuam, Esq., President of the Section, in the Chair. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 
The following donations were announced:—Roper’s ‘ Catalogue 
of Microscopie Works,’ by the Author; Kélliker, ‘Manual of 
Human Microscopic Anatomy ;’ ‘ Beck on the Microscope,’ by 
the Secretary ; six slides of Seeds and Fungi, by the Secretary; 
several slides of sections of a Cidaris from the Indian Ocean, by 
Mr. Parry. The following purchases by the Section were ex- 
hibited :—A mahogany cabinet; Pritchard’s ‘Infusoria.’ 
