PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
Royat Microscoricat Society oF Lonpon. 
June 13th, 1866. 
James GLAIsHER, Esq., President, F.R.S., in the chair. 
The PRESIDENT announced to the Society with deep regret the 
recent and almost sudden death of Dr. Greville, of whose labours 
in connection with microscopical science he spoke in high terms. 
The following paper was read “ On the Surface Fauna of Mid- 
Ocean,” by Major Saul Owen, Member of the Royal Micro- 
scopical Society, and Associate of King’s College, London. (See 
‘Trans.,’ p. 115, vol. xiv.) 
Mr. Henry Lex, referring to a recent discussion on the subject 
of Major Owen’s paper before the Linnean Society, said—The 
great question that arose on that occasion was with reference to 
certain examples found in surface skimmings, which had hitherto 
been supposed to exist only at the bottom. 
Mr. JEFFERIES rose to ask whether these were found beyond 
the influence of the Gulf Stream, and thought they might be dead 
specimens floating on the surface. Major Owen had mentioned 
in his paper that he only found them at night, never by day. 
Now, these must have been in possession of full vital powers, 
because they were sensible to light, and this fact proved the 
possibility that the same examples existed at a depth of two or 
three miles as at the surface of very deep oceans. Major Owen 
has mentioned that in some places he found specimens to be very 
abundant, and in others very scarce. It occurs to me that another 
observer skimming the surface in the same places might meet 
with contrary results, as conditions of the air or sea may have 
existed which caused the objects to sink down during the day 
and to rise at night. 
Mr. Brown1ne thought Major Owen’s suggestion as to ob- 
taining the spectra of various animals might be advantageously 
worked out. This would, however, require a spectroscope to be 
made for the special purpose, as the ordinary spectroscope would 
