PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 207 



whose development, though arrested in the imago, was very con- 

 spicuous in the preceding pupal stage ; and from thence passed to the 

 corresponding disks and appendages in the blow-fly, to the observa- 

 tion of which he had been led by the study of the former insect. The 

 disks in question, which Mr. Lowne had somewhat doubtfully located 

 in front of the supra-oesophageal ganglia, were described as surround- 

 ing the anterior terminations of the tracheae of the larva. After some 

 allusion to the apparently anomalous situation of the posterior leg 

 disks of the blow-fly, as being attached to the tracheae instead of the 

 nerve centres, as is the case with the anterior and intermediate legs, 

 Mr. Hammond concluded by contrasting the mode of development of 

 the tissues in the two insects ; calling attention to the comj)lete and 

 sudden character of the changes in the blow-fly, as compared with the 

 more gradual processes followed in the development of the crane-fly. 



South London Microscopical and Natural History Club. 



An ordinary meeting of this club was held on October 19, 1875, 

 at the Angell Town Institution, Brixton. Charles Stewart, Esq. 

 M.E.C.S., F.L.S., presided. 



An address was delivered by Mr. James Reeves, on " Oysters." 

 The lecturer commenced by describing the oyster-beds, and then gave 

 an account of the spawn of oysters. Tracing the growth of the young 

 oyster from its birth, when it is lively and swims about the surface of 

 the water, to the time when, as it becomes heavier, it sinks to the 

 bottom of the sea, Mr. Reeves gave a long account of the various 

 enemies of the oyster ; the sea-anemone, the •' borer," the dog-whelk, 

 and the star-fish, attacking the oyster in turn. The various kinds of 

 oysters were then described; "Natives," "Channel" oysters, "Jersey" 

 oysters, and many other varieties. The Rejiort of the Commissioners 

 appointed to inquire into the oyster fisheries was then criticised, and 

 the theory that oysters were rendered scarce by over-dredging was 

 confuted. The important points — how to catch, how to keep, how to 

 open, and how to eat oysters — were then considered; and various 

 specimens of oysters were exhibited in illustration of the last two 

 points. 



A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Stewart, Hovenden, and 

 Reeves took part. 



At the ordinary meeting held on November 16, a i:)aper was 

 read by Mr. G. F. Linney, of Croydon, on " Conchology." After 

 describing the method of prosecuting the search for shells, and the 

 necessary equipments, Mr. Linney gave an account of the method of 

 killing the animals, cleansing the specimens, storing them, and arrang- 

 ing them for exhibition. The classification of the Molliisca was next 

 considered, and the various families of the classes ConcJdfera and 

 Gasteropoda described in detail. Mr. Linney then gave various in- 

 stances of the peculiar localization of certain shells, and of the effect 

 of heat, weather, &c., upon their growth. In conclusion, the micro- 

 scopical examination of some of the animals was described, their 



