244 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



given by Mr. Hickie are very valuable to workers if thoroughly jier- 

 formed and conscientiously reported ; but I may be pardoned for sug- 

 gesting that in future cases they would be still more useful if a typical 

 glass of some English maker were included in the trial. Many who 

 may be hesitating between investing in, say a Powell and Lealand 

 and a cheaper Zeiss or Gundlach, would be glad to gain some notion 

 as to how much they would lose in quality by choosing the latter, 

 though they might be supremely indifferent as to the precise relative 

 value of the work of Seibert or Schieck — names almost unknown 

 here. Moreover, if Zeiss were paramoimt among his compatriot 

 makers, we must not forget that the one-eyed would be king among 

 the blind. 



I presume Mr. Hickie* means the ordinary silvered mirror, and 

 not a silver speculum. 



Mr. Dallinger doubtless (though he does not name it) has some 

 arrangement for constantly placing his new lamp and the microscope in 

 the same relative position, as by dropping them into sockets in a base- 

 board, since that would greatly facilitate adjustment. The supple- 

 mentary stage he speaks of is probably similar in principle to that 

 which I described in 'M. M. J.' six or seven years ago in connection 

 with Ecade's diatom-prism, and which I find eminently serviceable. 



I am, Sir, yours obediently, 



Feederick W. Gbiffin. 



PKOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



KoYAL Microscopical Society. 



King's College, April 5, 1876. 



H. C. Sorby, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 



A list of donations to the Society since the last meeting was read 

 by the Secretary, and the thanks of the meeting were voted to the 

 donors. 



The President said they were favoured that evening by the 

 presence of M. Eenard, of Louvain, who was the author of the paper 

 to be read on that occasion ; he had, however, preferred rather to 

 have his paper read than to read it himself, therefore Mr. Charles 

 Stewart would kindly undertake to do this. 



Mr. Charles Stewart then read the paper by M. Eenard, " On Some 

 Results from a Microscopical Study of the Plutonic and Stratified 

 Rocks of Belgium." The paper was illustrated by an explanatory 

 drawing made on the black-board by the President, and by a series of 



* Foot of p. 193. 



