NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 15 
Mr. J. Mitchell Wilson, M.A. ; Foraminifera, Mr. F, Milner ; Lower Forms 
of Animal Life, Mr. J. M. Kirk ; The Structure of the Blow-fly, Mr. W. Roberts; 
Cellular tissue of Plants, Rev. W. Smith, M.A. ; The Preparation and Staining 
of Wood sections, Mr. M. H. Stiles ; on the Embryonic Metamorphosis of the 
Cirrhipeda, by Mr. J. B. Withington, M.R.C.S., President. 
LIVERPOOL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The eighth ordinary 
Meeting of the twelfth Session of this Society was held at the Royal Institution 
on Friday evening, Noy. 5th, Dr. Hicks, F.R.MLS., President, in the chair. The 
Hon. Secretary, Mr. I. C. Thompson, F.R.M.S., announced the donation of six 
slides of marine algz from Mr. Grattann, of Torquay, honorary member. Mr. 
W. A. M’Murtrie and Mr. F, B, Allan were elected ordinary members. The 
Rey. William Banister read a communication he had received from Mr. G. E. 
Massee, of Scarborough, on “ Fungi of the order Myxomycetes.” Mr. Massee 
succeeded in growing spores of Spumaria alba, and found that threads of differ- 
ent kinds appear on two or three points of the surface of the spore. One kind 
is of a mycelioid character; the other consists of oval cells multiplying by 
gemmation until a torula-like chain is formed, which divides; becoming 
nucleated, each cell increasing rapidly in size and remaining as a resting spore 
for nearly a year, and not taking any amceba-like form. After this some immature 
Spumaria appeared in a pulpy homogeneous mass, in which were numerous 
bright specks, each being a focus round which the plasma formed naked cells of 
amceboid character, or plasmodium. After three days all movement ceased ; the 
cells assumed a spherical shape, bright nuclei appeared, and within twenty-four 
hours the cell wall was absorbed and the mature spirulose spores set free. The 
paper of the evening was read by F. T. Paul, Esq., F.R.C.S., on ‘The Struc- 
ture, Growth, and Development of Bone.” The author introduced the subject 
with a short sketch of the comparative anatomy of the skeleton, alluding to the 
supporting framework of the lowest forms of life, the calcareous and horny exo- 
skeletons of intermediate forms, and the cartilaginous, dentinal, and osseous 
endo-skeletons of the vertibrata. A minute description was given of the micro- 
scopical character of bone, showing it to consist of layers of hardened fibres and 
bone cells arranged in peculiar concentric circles, called Havarsian systems. 
Blood vessels occurred at intervals, but the nourishing fluid was brought into 
intimate contact with the tissue by means of the bone cells. Bone was classed 
as a connective tissue, and its origin was traced from the first appearance of this 
tissue in the embryo to the formation of membrane on one hand and cartilage 
on the other. Ossification in membrane and ossification in cartilage were then 
separately described. Following this was the process of growth, which varied 
in different bones. The paper was freely illustrated by diagrams and micro- 
scopic specimens, At the close, on the motion of Dr. Carter, a hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded to Mr. Paul. The meeting concluded with the usual 
conversazione and microscopical exhibition. 
MANCHESTER CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY.—The usual monthly 
meeting of this Society was held on November 13th, Dr. Carrington the Presi- 
dent occupying the chair. A donation of a number of specimens of Sphagnaceze 
or bog-mosses was announced, from Dr. Braithwaite, being a continuation of a 
series which he had formerly presented to the Society. Mr. Robertson of Glasgow 
sent a packet of the moss Bryum roseum in fruit, which he had culled from the 
island of Cumbrae. This species is often met with in the Manchester district, 
but has not probably been observed in fruit since the finding it in that condition 
by the late Mr. E. Hobson near Hale Barns. Mr. W. H. Pearson exhibited a 
species of Jungermannia new to Britain, the Fungermannia socia, which he had 
found upon Cader Idris. The annual report was read by the Hon. Sec. and was 
unanimously adopted. Votes of thanks were passed to the contributors and to 
the officers of the Lower Mosley Street Natural History Society, for the use of 
their room. 
