( 86 ) 

 PEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.* 



EOYAL MiCEOSCOPICAL SoCIETY. 



King's College, January 11, 1871. 



James Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S., in tlie chair. 



The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. 



A list of donations to the library and cabinet was read, and the 

 thanks of the meeting given to the respective donors. 



The Secretaries exhibited two slides for opaque objects, furnished 

 with neat and easily-removed thin brass covers to protect objects. These 

 useful slides, invented by Mr. Aylward, were presented by Mr. Jack- 

 son, Hon. Sec. of the Lower Mosley Street Schools' Natural History 

 Society of Manchester. 



It was also announced that a specimen of diatomaceous earth and 

 shells from Caracas had been sent by Mr. A. Ernst. In announcing 

 this present, the Secretary said that before next meeting he would 

 endeavour to get the shells uiicovered and the earth examined. 



A vote of thanks was proposed to each of the donors. 



The Chaii-man then announced that Dr. Lawson, the Editor of the 

 Journal, would bring forward the motion with reference to the alter- 

 ation of the day of meeting, of which notice had already been given. 



Dr. Lawson said that great difficulty had arisen in the publication 

 of the Joiu-nal, o^dng to the fact that the second Wednesday in the 

 month sometimes fell on so late a date as effectually to prevent the 

 issue of the Joui-nal on the 26th or 27th of the month, later than 

 which no Journal could be fairly and successfully published. If, 

 therefore, it should suit the convenience of the Fellows to meet at an 

 earlier date, much trouble would be saved in the preparation of the 

 matter for publication, and the Jom-nal could be more efficiently 

 managed. He accordingly proposed that the future meetings of the 

 Society be held on the fii-st, instead of the second, Wednesday in each 

 month. 



Mr. Slack seconded the motion. Upon inquiry he had found that 

 the alteration would cause the Society's meetings to clash with those 

 of other societies much less than at present, and would frequently 

 enable the Fellows of the Geological Society to be present, who 

 could not now attend. The Council had looked at all the cii'cum- 

 stances of the case, and had come to the conclusion that it would be 

 advisable to support Dr. Lawson's proposition. 



The Chairman having put the question that the proposed alter- 

 ation be made, and that it commence from March next, he declared it 

 to be carried, with only one dissentient vote. 



The Chairman then read the house list to be proposed at the next 

 meeting. 



The Chairman read a paper left by Mr. W. H. Ince, proposing 

 the appointment of two new Secretaries in place of Messrs. Slack and 

 Hogg, which did not find a single supporter, and fell to the ground. 



* Secretaries of Societies will greatly oblige us by writing tlieir reports legibly 

 — especially by printing the technical terms thus : H y d r a — and by " underlining " 

 ■words, such as specific names, which must be printed in italics. They will thus 

 secure accuracy and enhance the value of their proceedings. — Ed. M. M. J. 



