PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 119 



stomata, or breatliing pores, and various forms of liair, and to 

 the modifications we may notice in divers seeds. Passing next to the 

 animal kingdom, we find the lowest animals, like the lowest plants, 

 are of the simplest structure, as a type of which I may mention 

 Amoeba, a little gelatinous speck we find gliding on the surface of 

 l^onds. After this we get species invested in a thin flexible shell, and 

 so we pass on to those beautiful perforated organisms dredged up 

 from the ocean bed. Next come the Sponges, and after these we have 

 the great group of Infusoria, the animalcules par excellence, for some 

 of them are the most minute of living creatures, all of them interest- 

 ing to watch when living, but unfortunately not capable of being 

 preserved satisfactorily. The gi'eat division of Articulata embraces 

 animals whose limbs are composed of jointed segments, and organs in 

 lateral pairs. Lowest of these, and passing as it were from the last 

 group, are the Worms, which have of late acquired considerable 

 importance, from the mode in which even human beings may be 

 infested by them, — I refer to the Trichina S2nralis, that minute worm 

 which, sometimes by millions, inhabits the muscles of animals used for 

 our food, and which thus get introduced into the human economy. 

 The Botifera. include many beautiful microscoj)ic animals ; there is 

 still much to be learned resj)ecting their anatomy and life-history. 

 Above these comes the group comprising the Crab, Shrimp, and Lobster, 

 as well as many minute forms which abound in our ponds. Follow- 

 ing these is the group comprising the Spiders and Mites. Both are 

 especially worth investigation. We novv arrive at the great class of 

 insects, the study of which, or Entomology, has now become most 

 ardently pursued. As objects of interest, even to the young, few sur- 

 pass a well-mounted collection of insects; and I do look forward to the 

 time, I trust not far distant, when the insect fauna of the district shall 

 be represented in the cabinets of this club by actual named specimens. 

 The last great division of the invertebrate animals are the Mollusca 

 or Slugs and Shell Fish, but of these time does not permit me to 

 speak. I may at least mention the names of the vertebrate animals, 

 these being Fishes, Amphibia, Eeptiles, Birds, Mammalia, and by 

 these we reach the prince and head of all creation — Man. And what 

 does the microscope teach us with regard to ourselves ? Not that we 

 stand aj)art from the rest of the organic world, but that of the many 

 thousands of living beings, each forms a link in the vast chain by 

 which even Man and the Amceba form one harmonious whole. To 

 man, however, is given something more — knowledge, reason, and con- 

 sequently responsibility, and by these we are led far beyond the 

 limits of the small circle in which we travel, still to find ever out- 

 reaching the farthest grasp of instrumental power, yet present every 

 moment to our iinaided vision, one Creator and Preserver of all, by 

 whom, and through whom, we, and all things, live, and move, and 

 have om- being. 



A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Dr. Braithwaite 

 for his interesting paper. 



The Chairman announced two excursions — one to Elstree, on May 

 27th ; and another to Homerton (for Hackney Marshes) on June 10th. 



