PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 279 
unabated interest in its proceedings has been manifested, not only 
by the good attendance at the meetings, but also by the free 
discussion and friendly intercourse which has been maintained, 
and which it is hoped may be still further increased by the genial 
influences of a soirée at no long distant day. 
“ Satisfied with the past, hopeful in the future, it only remains 
for us to remind the members that it rests chiefly with themselves 
individually to advance the interests of the Club. Let the 
pleasure which they may have experienced at these meetings be 
extended by the introduction of their friends, and as new members 
are enrolled, we shall be multiplying the sources of enjoyment, 
and at the same time be enlarging the usefulness of the Club. 
On retiring from the office of President, Dr. Lankester delivered 
a short address; and the following gentlemen were elected officers 
for the ensuing year :— 
“President—Ernest,Hart. Vice-Presidents—Arthur E. Durham, 
F.L.S.; Tilbury Fox, M.D.,M.R.C.P.; William Hislop, F.R.A:S.; 
K. Lord, F.Z.S. 
“ Treasurer—Robert Hardwicke, F..8. Secretary—Witham 
M. Bywater. 
“ Committee—J. A. Archer; Richard Beck; J. Bockett; C. J. 
Breese ; P. Le Neve Foster, M.A.; W. Gibson; H. F. Hailes; 
S. Highley, F.G.S.; E. Jaques; T. Ketteringham ; W.W. Reeves ; 
Joseph Smith. Excursion Committee—W. J. de L. Arnold; W. 
W. Reeves; Joseph Smith; W. T. Suffolk.” 
The first meeting of the second session, 1866-67, was held in 
the Library of University College on Friday evening, August 24; 
Ernest Hart, Esq., President, in the chair. After the usual. 
preliminary business, the Secretary announced that the special 
classes open to all members for the instruction of beginners in 
microscopic manipulation, which had been so successful during 
the last session, would be continued; Mr. Suffolk having again 
kindly consented to undertake the direction of them. It was 
proposed to limit the number in each class to fifteen, and, if 
necessary, several classes would be formed. The next field-day 
excursion into the country in search of living natural-history 
specimens will be advertised, with the time and place of meeting, 
in the September number of Hardwick’s ‘ Science Gossip.’ Dr. 
Tilbury Fox, one of the Vice-Presidents, then read a papef “On 
Human Vegetable Parasites.” The author’s chief aim was to 
elicit from the members information in regard to the part played 
by fungi in the production of diseased conditions of plants, men, 
and insects ; and he confined his remarks to the following points 
—first, the probability of the frequent existence of the germs of 
fungi in the textures of healthy living beings, and in situations to 
which the external air has no access; the modes by which fungi 
effected an entrance to those spots; the fact that parasitic germs 
enter the systems of plants and animals at a much earlier date 
than is generally believed, through the soft textures of the young 
