17-1 PKOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



respectfully to remind the President tbat on the table in the jurors' 

 room by the side of my microscopes were placed a series of object- 

 glasses, ranging from 4-inch to ^^^-inch, ready at his disposition for 

 examination, and if they were overlooked by the President in his 

 official capacity as English juror of the only microscopes and object- 

 glasses of English manufacture, it was extreme carelessness on his 

 part, and proves that not even a superficial survey was bestowed by 

 the President upon my object-glasses. 



I remain, Sir, youi* most obedient servant, 



M. PlLLISCHEIi, F.R.M.S. 



PEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



EOYAL MiCKOSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



Kimg's College, March 4, 1874. 



Charles Brooke, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the j)receding meeting were read and confirmed. 



A list of donations to the Society was read by the Secretary, and 

 the thanks of the meeting were voted to the donors. 



Mr. Alfred Sanders read a paper entitled " A Contribution towards 

 a Knowledge of the Appendicularia," in which he minutely described 

 the appearance and structure of specimens found at Torquay and 

 Weymouth, and illustrated his remarks by drawings enlarged upon 

 the black-board. The paper will be found printed at p. 141. 



A vote of thanks to Mr. Sanders for his commimication was moved 

 by the President, and carried unanimously. 



Dr. Pigott thought he should just like to ask the reader of the 

 paper whether he had made any observations upon the cilia of these 

 creatures, and also he should like to inquire as to the actual size of 

 the animal. 



Mr. Sanders, in reply, said he had mentioned in the paper that the 

 whole of one of the species was ciliated, and that there were abundant 

 cilia upon the other ; he had also stated that the size was about half a 

 millimetre, exclusive of the appendage. 



Mr. Chas. Stewart inquired if Mr. Sanders had used the binocular 

 or the monocular microscope, as he had found the binocular of the 

 greatest advantage in examining these objects ? In looking at some 

 clear Ascidians with a single-barrel instrument, he had himself found 

 it very difficult sometimes to see the heart, but he could do so at once 

 with the binocular. He should also be glad to know if Mr. Sanders 

 had attempted in any way to preserve these delicate forms ? A weak 

 solution of picric acid had been recommended ; it had the slight dis- 

 advantage that it stained them a yellowish colour, but on the whole 

 their forms had been well maintained. They were so very easily 

 destroyed that he should like to know if Mr. Sanders had succeeded 



