PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Vo 
undertaken, at the unanimous request of the Society, to print; 
and the following objects were exhibited, with comments and 
explanations. 
By Professor Westwoop—The scales of certain butterflies, 
affording criteria for the discrimination of species. 
By Mr. Rozperrson—Young fish, in the ova or newly hatched, 
displaying the circulation of the blood. 
By Professor Puinnreps—Sections of wood, charred for greater 
distinctness, aud mounted in balsam. 
By Professor Rotieston—Sections of the molar teeth of a 
Sumatran and American Tapir. 
By Mr. TuHomas—A scarce Rotifer, not known to have been 
anywhere described. 
By Dr. Tuckwrit—A. portion of human Epidermis, containing 
the burrow of Sarcoptes scabiei, with the acarus, its ova and excre- 
ment, 7 situ. 
By the Szorprary—Diatoms embedded in the tissues of a 
caterpillar. 
At the first Meeting nine microscopes, at the second, eighteen 
microscopes were displayed. 
The Society, starting with thirteen members, has risen in three 
months to forty-six. A room in the Museum has been placed at 
its disposal by the President, and a first-class microscope, due to 
the munificence of the Radcliffe Trustees, ordered for its use. Its 
surplus funds will be devoted to the collection of books, drawings, 
photographs; and the formation of a cabinet of slides. Gifts of 
various kinds are beginning to fiow in, and the President has 
offered a handsome sum of money towards the establishment of 
periodical prizes on subjects connected with the microscope. 
British Association, Bara. 
MrcroscopPrcaL Sorrte BY THE Baru AND Briston Socreriss, 
AssEMBLY Rooms, Baru.—September 20, 1864. 
Two hundred years ago, August 13th, 1664, Mr. Samuel Pepys 
wrote in his memorable diary, ‘‘ Comes Mr. Reeve, with a micro- 
scope and scotoscope. Jor the first I did give him £5 10s., a 
great price, but a most curious bauble it is, and he says, as good, 
nay, the best he knows in England.” 
Whether we regard the greatness of the price, or the curious- 
ness of the bauble, the contrast between 1664 and 1864 is striking 
enough. At the soiree we are about to describe, the micro- 
scopes were insured for £6000, and saloons of noble proportions, 
thronged with the members and associates of the body specially 
devoted to the “Advancement of Science,” bore witness to the 
progress of this “curious bauble.” 
The conception and entire arrangement of this soirée were of a 
