118 PBOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



The meeting then resolved itself into a conversazione. And it is 

 evident that a society of the kind has been much needed in the neigh- 

 bourhood, as so many mici-oscopes were brought by the members of 

 the club that it was impossible to exhibit all. Twenty-five of these 

 instrmnents were, however, shown, the various objects being viewed 

 Avith much interest by the members and visitors present, who did not 

 separate until a late hour. 



In the course of the evening fifty-six additional names were entered 

 upon the books of the Society ; thus making a total, since the forma- 

 tion of the club, of ninety-two members. 



An Ordinary Meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday, May 

 16th, at Glo'ster Hall, Glo'ster Place, Brixton Road; Henry Deane, 

 Esq., F.L.S., &c., in the chair. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Seven- 

 teen new members, whose certificates had been read at the last meeting, 

 were balloted for, and elected unanimously. The certificates of thii-teen 

 new members were also read. 



Dr. Eobert Braithwaite then read a paper " On the objects of the 

 Society, and the best methods of promoting them." We are sorry to 

 be unable to give the whole of this interesting paper, of which the 

 following is an abstract : — 



In speaking of the objects to be carried out by associations like 

 the present Society, it is scarcely necessary to dwell upon the advan- 

 tages resulting from an acquaintance with science and natural history, 

 for it must be profitable to everyone to know something of the struc- 

 ture and functions of the organic world around us, and especially 

 in the young is it laudable to foster those habits of observation and 

 orderly arrangement which hereafter will be of service in every walk 

 of life. And, since we must presume that those who know most of 

 God's works are indeed living nearer to himself, can we believe that 

 he would have granted to man the skill and thought required to 

 construct this glorious instrument, the microscope, placing him at the 

 gates of a new wonderland, and then that its exploring powers should 

 not be used to the uttermost ? 



And this leads me at once to what I should wish especially to see 

 cultivated, the natural productions of the district, the vegetation of 

 the soil, and the living things, particularly the insects, which are 

 found there also ; and I trust an herbarium and cabinet in which these 

 may be preserved will at no distant date form an important feature 

 in the objects of the club. 



Biology, or the study of living things, naturally divides itself into 

 two parts, the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Taking a rapid 

 survey of the vegetable kingdom, we place the Algce, or water-weeds 

 at the bottom of the scale, together with the minute forms (Diatoms 

 and Desmids) found in our ponds. Following these come the Fungi, 

 and above these the Lichens and Mosses. Next we place the Ferns. 

 These form the Crijptogamous, or non-flowering plants. From these 

 we pass to the Phenogamons, or flowering plants, in which jjollen is 

 produced. As well-known objects for the microscope, I may just 

 refer to the pollen, to the cuticle, or skin covering the leaves, with its 



