NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 95 
appreciated—he meant the cockroach. He could not imagine why it should 
not be appreciated, and he did not see that there is anything in it to make it 
either feared or disliked. Alluding to the manner in which the cockroach is 
conveyed into houses, he said in nine cases out of ten it is taken in the laundry 
basket, in bundles of firewood and various other ways, and it is impossible to 
keep it out. One of the difficulties in extirpating it when it got into a house 
was that the eggs could not be very well destroyed. Insects were put into this 
world for the purpose of eating, and to do that alone the cockroach exists. To 
avoid them we should not waste any food, we should not have moist floors, and 
there should be no holes or creaks. The disagreeable ways of the cockroach, 
he contended, were simply a matter of taste ; there are others quite as disagree- 
able to the insect. Moreover it is distinctly a benefactor to mankind, because 
it consumes the food that we waste, thereby saving us from miasma and many 
other evils, and it destroys bedroom vermin. Coming to the earwig, which is 
so called because of the similarity of its wings to the human ear, he said it does 
no harm at all. Some people thought it was created for the purpose of 
destroying their prize flowers. It only goes into the flower for shelter, and it 
lives on the larvze of wasps and bees. Speaking of the common gnat, he 
remarked that during its life in the water it consumes certain animal and 
vegetable matter, which if not so disposed of would, with the warmth of the 
sun, produce gases productive of ague and asthma. We should be careful of 
calling any creature noxious, and he himself was very cautious of killing 
creatures the habits of which he had not studied, because he might be destroying 
a benefactor thinking it to be an enemy. He urged upon all the necessity of 
knowing all about an insect before killing it. The lecture, which was frequently 
applauded by the audience, was illustrated by means of chalk sketches of the 
insects mentioned, produced by Mr. Wood on a large sheet of black canvas. 
Mr. John Boyd, the president of the society, moved a vote of thanks to Mr. 
Wood for his lecture. 
Professor Williamson, seconded the proposition. He said it gave him great 
pleasure to perform this duty, although he was sorry to state that he was not a 
member of this association. He had been long familiar with Mr. Wood by his 
distinguished lectures and as a writer on various subjects, and nothing gave him 
more pleasure for a considerable time than the honour of meeting him there 
that evening. He thought all would agree with him that they had really had 
8h evening a perfect specimen of what a popular lecture ought to be. (Hear, 
ear.) 
The motion was carried with acclamation. 
MICROSCOPICAL ANNUAL MEETING.—The annual meeting of the 
Manchester Microscopical Society was held at the Mechanics’ Institution on 
Thursday night, February 24th. Dr. John Tatham, the president, occupied 
the chair. There was a good attendance of members. 
Mr. John Boyd, a member of the council, officiated as secretary, and read 
the report for the past year. It stated that although the Society had only 
reached its first birthday, the committee felt that they could candidly 
congratulate the members on the vigorous and healthy condition of the 
association. Previous to December, 1879, there was not in this city a society 
of a purely microscopical character, although several societies included to some 
extent in their membership students who used this instrument. Some of those 
present would remember the meeting held in that building attended by twenty- 
seven gentlemen, when it was determined to start this society. Since then the 
society had progressed rapidly ; numbers of good workers flocked to the 
standard, and the result was that the roll now numbered 148 members. <A very 
useful section of the society had been the mounting class, the average attendance 
at which had been about twelve. From the treasurer’s report the members would 
see that their finances were in a healthy condition, a very satisfactory result, 
