174 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. [^fZ'niuSWo' 



becautiful objects ; tlio Caiyophyllacefe, or pink family, containing a 

 very great variety of very beautiful seeds, not the least beautiful being 

 the common chickweed and ragged-robin ; and the Orchidacese, charac- 

 terized by what had been termed the appearance of net-purses contain- 

 ing a single gold coin. The majority required no other preparation but 

 that of being mounted dry ; some, like the orchids, when mounted in 

 balsam, were good polariscope objects. For making out the several 

 coats of the seed and the embryo, sections cut on the plan recom- 

 mended by Dr. Halifax gave admirable results. The paper was illus- 

 trated by a large collection of seeds under the microscope and other- 

 wise, and by microscopic preparations, including sections showing the 

 several parts made by Dr. Halifax. 



Bristol Microscopical Society. 



Wednesday, February 16th.— Mr. W. J. Fedden, President, in the 

 chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed, 

 and some other business transacted. 



Mr. Roper was balloted for as, and elected, an honorary member of 

 the Society. 



Mr. T. G. Ponton, F.Z.S., Hon. Sec, then read a paper " On some 

 Points in the Anatomy of Tegenaria domestica — the House Spider," 

 especially in reference to the nervous and circulatory systems. 



TuNBRiDGE Wells Microscopical Society.* 

 The second meeting of this Society was held on the 1st instant 

 at the house of the President, Dr. Deakin, who read a paper " On the 

 Anatomy of Lichens," which was most clearly and ably demonstrated. 

 He exhibited some very beautifully executed drawings of the peculiar 

 construction of this interesting class of plants, showing the internal 

 structui-e of the thallus and the reproductive organs, as well as a large 

 number of very beautiful specimens of the plants themselves. 

 Two new members were elected. 

 The subject for the next meeting will be Diatoms. 



Oldham Microscopical Society. 



On Tuesday evening, the 11th January, the members of the Old- 

 ham Microscopical Society held their annual meeting, which was very 

 well attended. The summary of the year's proceedings, read by the 

 President, showed that the Society was in a prosperous state, having 

 doubled the number of its members and realized a respectable balance. 

 The following subjects had passed imder consideration, and papers 

 been read upon tliem by members, viz. " The best mode of Measuring 

 the Angle of Aperture of Object-glasses," " The Spider microsco- 

 pically considcrrid," " Our British Mosses," and " The Microscope in 

 Geology." 



After the business was concluded, a pleasant evening was spent in 

 viewing the numerous beautiful objects brought by the various mem- 

 bers and exhibited under tlieir instruments. 



* Eoport siip])lioil l.y tlio V^i-v. 1$. Wliil.olock. 



