174 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 
the wings are raised or depressed, just above the large muscles of the wing. It 
is so formed that when going with the wind, the air passes through an inverted 
cone-like curl in the wing at that point, acting like the sail to a ship. When it 
wants to go across the wind, the fozsers come into play, and act as a balancing 
pole. The spiracles form two distinct sets, those on the segments of the body 
are the expirating valves, and those between the legs the inspirating valves. 
The shape and arrangement of the hairs is extremely interesting. They are so 
arranged that they offer the least resistance to the atmosphere ; they are keel- 
shaped, being flat at the back, and a fine edge at the front: at the base or root 
of each hair is a bulb, forming a single cell ; from this bulb runs a number of 
fibres forming the hair. On the surface of the skin the hair passes through a 
highly polished horny ring; it thus forms a true ball and socket joint. The 
portion of the hair which is likely to come in contact with the ring is smaller in 
diameter. When flying against the wind, the hairs lie down, and the point of 
one comes between the two hairs above it like tiles on a roof. On going with 
the wind, these hairs are elevated, and act like miniature sails. Like every other 
organism it is subject to parasites, of which there are three—two animal and one 
vegetable. 
After a slight discussion, the meeting resolved itself into a conversazione, at 
which Mr. Tozer exhibited Slides mounted by Topping, and by himself 
exhibiting the different structures to which he had referred. 
ROCHDALE AND WHITWORTH MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.— 
This society held the first of a series of rambles in search of animal and veget- 
able micro-organisms, on Thursday afternoon, June 2nd. There was a very 
fair muster. The Rochdale members met the Whitworth contingent at Broadley 
station at 2-30. The ramble was conducted by Dr. J. Shackleton of Whit- 
worth. Turning into the fields to the left of Broadley station, the party 
proceeded through Smallshaw via Weaste to Prickshaw, thence via Spring 
Mill Waterworks to Doctor’s Wood. Here some good finds of Diatoms and 
Desmids were made. A few botanical specimens, rarely to be met with in this 
district, were also found, among which were Pimguicula vulgaris, Polygala vul- 
garis, two varieties, Lathyrus macrorhizus, No. i variety, Callitriche verua, 
Sagina procumbens, Viola palustris. 
After a ramble of four hours, the members adjourned to the house of Dr. 
Welsh of Whitworth, where the usual monthly meeting of the society was held. 
Dr. Welsh presided. The general business of the society having been trans- 
acted, the meeting resolved itself into a conversazione, when the following 
subjects were put under the microscopes for examination :— 
Closterium 
Cosmarium 
SPIOLY RAMs “oslo ceatyote saucins spe ceere wets sons: vas aeeeeeam Results of finds, 
Pinnularia 
Navicula 
Likelena VtvidiS—QTCEN s..000sescecanes sinokvo ne ceoonoseecahannne Mr. J. Astin. 
heeds sultana 
ara and Nitella 
Euglena viridis—brown [ns Mr. Bolton. 
Fresh Water Algze 
Golden Fern 
Lsthmia nervosa 
Coscinodiscus Sena teenbeataadababentns snmnstn Mr. I. Renshaw. 
Section of Human Tooth 
THE WINDSOR AND ETON SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.—The in- 
augural meeting of the Windsor and Eton Scientific Society, which has just 
