332 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



several times during the evening, and whicli required high powers 

 and special manipulation. The wheel-and-anchor spicula of the 

 Synapta were sent alive for the exhibition, by ]Mr. Robert Patter- 

 son, of Belfast, but the animal died in the closed bottle before the 

 meeting. 



The assembly room was set apart for the use of the makers, ac- 

 commodation being provided for sixty microscopes, five feet apart, 

 with gas for their illumination. Messrs. Smith, Beck and Beck 

 exhibited twenty-five microscopes, thii'teeu of which were of the 

 binocvilar construction on Mr. AVenham's pi'iuciple ; each micro- 

 scope showing the one object named in the catalogue. Mr. Beck, 

 by proper illumination, showed in the binocular, with an eighth 

 objective, the markings on the Navicula anguJatum. 



Mr. Eoss exhibited ten binocular and single microscopes, with 

 a variety of objects in successive changes. 



Mr. Dancer, of Manchester, exhibited nineteen microscopes, 

 thirteen of which were of the binocular construction with a new 

 arrangement, in which the tubes diverge at equal angles, and with 

 equal light in each tube ; he also exhibited a number of choice 

 objects, as crystallization in process, &c. 



Mr. Darker, of London, exhibited his series of selenite plates, 

 and objects to illustrate their use, with polarized light. 



The mode of illumination of the objects contributed not a 

 little to the success of the soiree ; in the assembly and drawing 

 rooms gas was provided, but in the large hall, as before stated, 

 small paraflin lamps were used, which gave an excellent bright 

 and clear flame, whose intensity was softened by a slip of pale- 

 blue glass placed under each transparent object. These lamps 

 will, no doubt, come into extensive use for the microscope ; they 

 are cheapj clean, give little or no trouble, and the oil sold by the 

 Paraffin Light Company is not explosive, as was proved by expe- 

 riments before the sub-committee previous to deciding upon its 

 use ; a lighted match dropped into the oil is immediately extin- 

 guished. 



The general arrangements of the soiree were placed under the 

 charge of the following gentlemen composing the Local Micro- 

 scopical Sub- Committee : — Arthur Gr. Latham, Esq., Cliaii-man ; 

 Dr. Thomas Alcock ; J. B. Dancer, Esq., P.E.A.S. ; James Gr. 

 Lynde, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., P.G-.S. ; Dr. AVilliam Roberts ; George 

 Mosley, Hon. Secretary. 



Upwards of 2000 persons were present on the evening of Thurs- 

 day, September 5th, and there certainly never was a more magni- 

 ficent display of microscopes. Too much praise can hardly be 

 given to the local sub-committee for the admirable manner in 

 which everything was arranged. 



A catalogue of the objects exhibited was prepared by the sub- 

 committee, and published in the programme of the proceedings of 

 the Association, 



