138 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Microscopical Society, January QiJi, 1861. 

 E. J. Faerants, Esq., in the Chair. 



John Mackrell, Esq., A. J. Dumas, Esq., and Alfred Aubert, Esq., 

 were balloted for and duly elected members of the Society. 



Mr. H. Deane made some observations in reference to some new 

 diatom discs exhibited in the meetinej, which had been forwarded 

 from an old member of the Society, Mr. John Coates, now resident 

 and in medical practice at South Yarra, near Melbourne, where the 

 sihceous shells had been found. 



In the course of some works, in which a swamp emptying itself 

 into the River Yarra had to be crossed by an embankment, the soft, 

 boggy earth in which the shells were found was brought up from a 

 considerable depth. Dr. Ralph first found therein many infusorial 

 organisms, which led this gentleman and Mr. Coates to work at 

 them together very actively. Mr. Coates read a paper on the sub- 

 ject to the Royal Society in Melboui-ne, and exhibited some beau- 

 tiful preparations of the objects in the microscope. The bog is 

 estimated to be sixty feet deep ; but it has not been determined how 

 low these organisms extend. 



Among the forms, there is found in great abundance a disc ap- 

 parently new, which Mr. Coates proposes to call Coscinodiscus 

 Burkhji, after the governor of the district, Sir H. Barkly ; who is 

 the President of the Royal Society in Melbourne. They found, 

 also, three kinds of Pleurosigma, three of Campylodiscus, several 

 Naviculse and Pinnularise, and Surirella in abundance. 



Mr. Coates had found Melosira half a yard long in the River 

 Yarra ; and exjjected, as the season came round, to find the new 

 disc also, in a filamentous condition, in its early states of growth. 



