34 The President's Address. 



form agrees with that of three other members of the veget- 

 able kingdom. 



At the same meeting, Dr.Wallich, in a paper, entered into 

 a discussion on the structure of the diatom valve ; believing, 

 from his observations, that the growth of the valve ceases 

 either at or shortly after its liberation from the parent. 

 That, subsequently, no change in shape occurs in the 

 siliceous valve except at its margins. That the mark- 

 ings are circular, and arranged determinately according to 

 species ; the figure being dependent upon forces occurring 

 during its connection with the parent frustule ; the size and 

 relative fineness of markings depending upon the condition 

 of the frustule while in the stage of generation. As to 

 the gelatinous envelope, its growth may probably go on in- 

 definitely. 



The next paper relates to the zoophyte division of the 

 animal kingdom. 



Professor AUman described, in a paper read 14th March, 

 1860, a new genus of Lucernariidse, Carduella, identical 

 with the species L. cyalldformis of Sars, but differing from 

 the true Lucernariidte in the margin of the circular disc not 

 being produced into the rays, the tentacles not springing from 

 the edge of the cup, and in these being situated in a single circle. 



From a careful description of its anatomy, he believes it 

 to I'cpresent a true hydrozoan type, notwithstanding a resem- 

 blance to the actinozoan,in the presence of the vertical lamellae 

 connecting the stomach with the outer wall of the animal. 



The papers relating to the improvement in the microscope 

 itself, and in the apparatus connected with it, have been, 

 during the last year, more numerous than in any preceding 

 one. Thus, there have been two on the Binocular form, by 

 Mr. Wenham ; one on a Portable Field or Clinical Micro- 

 scope, by Dr. Lionel Beale ; and another on a Dissecting 

 Instrument, by Mr. James Smith. All these are fully de- 

 scribed and illustrated in the ' Transactions,' and are Avorthy 

 of the greatest attention from their being the contrivances of 

 men qualified in every possible way to show to the uninitiated 

 Avhat is truly good and useful. Mr. Wenham's invention, 

 however, is one which requires more than a passing notice, 

 as it is likely to prove of greater use to the observer 

 than any other form of instrument which has yet been 

 brought before the notice of the members of this Society ; 

 and glad should I be if the limits of this address would 

 allow me to enter fully into some of its advantages. 



The next duty I have to perform is a painful one, viz., to 

 remind you that although our little community scarcely 



