DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 103 



dell's ; hence Mr. Archer was inclined to suppose this would turn 

 out a distinct species from Niigeli's. 



New Species of Staurastruvi, exhihited. — Mr. Arclier further 

 showed examples of a large and rather striking new species of 

 Staurastrum, taken on the same occasion in Scotland, in the 

 famous " Pass of Glencoe." This somewhat resembled Stauras- 

 trum Pringsheimii, Reinsch, plus three usually (sometimes two 

 only, sometimes four, or even five), long, stout, subulate spines at 

 each angle ; but it further diifered, amongst other points, from that 

 species in that the spines on the surface were not very numerous 

 and indefinite in number, but were few and definite. Across the 

 broadly elliptico-fusit'orm semicell, on each front sui'face, near 

 the base, runs a series of four spines, a marginal series of five 

 above this ; on the Upper surface, seen in end view, occur fifteen 

 spines — two, one behind the other, obliquely pointing towards 

 each of the three angles, and a series of three on each side between 

 each of the innermost of the pairs at the angles. When the angles 

 bear two or three of the long and rather stout spines (as de- 

 scribed) they are usually superposed, and one only usually presents 

 itself to view in the end view, though they may occasionally some- 

 Mhat diverge ; but in the rare cases, when there are more than 

 three angular spines, they seem to form an obliquely-radiating 

 group (somewhat comparable to the mode of arrangement of the 

 feathers of a "shuttlecock"). 



Attention to these features would, Mr. Archer thought, suffice 

 for the present to distinguish this species, which is decidedly 

 most distinct. He would have great pleasure in naming it 

 Staurastrum Royanum, in compliment to his esteemed friend and 

 valued correspondent, Mr. John Eoy, of Aberdeen, to whose acute 

 judgment and hearty co-operation he had for some time been so 

 greatly indebted in their joint effort to " work out" this family. 



A new (Younfs) Section-cutting Bazor. — Mr. B. Wills Eichard- 

 son exhibited a section-cutting razor, of large size, recently 

 brought out by Mr. Young, the surgical instrument maker, of 

 North Bridge, Edinburgh. The cutting edge of this instrument 

 is 4^" in length, which is sufficient for the cutting of a large 

 number of structures at one sweep of the Made; thus, it is long 

 enough for the complete section of the spinal cord at one cut. He 

 (Mr. Richardson) might mention that he recently made with it 

 some very even sections of one lateral half of the pons varolii. 

 The cutting edge of a knife of the razor form is less liable to 

 accident than a fixed-handled blade, requiring a case for its pro- 

 tection, and is necessarily more expensive. 



Occurrence in Scotland of Euglypha tincta, Quadrula irregularis, 

 and Ditrema flavum, Archer.^ — Mr. Archer desired to mention 

 that he had taken in Scotland the three new and seemingly rare 

 Rhizopoda lately shown by him to the Club — Euglypha tincta, 

 Quadrula irregularis, and the new yellow Amphistomatous form, 

 with smooth and naked test, shown 17th February last. This last 

 he would name Ditrema flavum . Of it he had, indeed, seen but a 



