PKOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
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from various parts of the colonies. During the past twelve months 
eleven meetings have been held, and the papers read and objects 
exhibited have been generally of great interest. At the inaugural 
meeting our late President, Mr. W. H. Archer, gave a very able 
address, which the leading papers of the colony thought fit to publish 
in extenso, and which was reprinted in the ‘ Monthly Microscopical 
Journal ’ of England. Among the principal subjects at the subsequent 
meetings was a very interesting paper by Mr. T. S. Balph, our new 
President, “ On the Fungus affecting the Eye-grass,” which proved to 
be Isarici graminiperda, and this was borne out by Mr. Sydney Gibbons, 
who had investigated the same parasite. Mr. Archer brought forward 
some living specimens of Hydra viridis , and a fresh-water polyzoon, 
found in a pool on the banks of the Yarra, which he considered a new 
species allied to the Fredericella. Some entozoa found in sheep and 
rabbits on a run near the Werribee, and which had proved very fatal 
to those animals, were kindly sent to the Society by Dr. Youl. Mr. 
Ealph and Dr. Wigg undertook to examine and report upon the same, 
and they were found to be a species of tapeworm — filaria and hydatids. 
Mr. Sydney Gibbons reported on some deposit found near Bacchus 
Marsh, consisting for the most part of diatoms. The microspectro- 
scope — the advantages derivable from the use of it in microscopic 
researches, especially in plant chemistry, toxicological, and medico- 
legal inquiries, were pointed out by Professor Ellery, and the committee 
trust at some future date to hear more upon this subject from such an 
able exponent. Mr. Gibbons read a paper “ On a Mode of Detecting 
Sewage Contamination in Water,” and mentioned an interesting fact as 
a proof of the purity of the Yan Yean, that the fungi found in impure 
water would not live in Yan Yean. A resume of works on natural 
history having reference to this colony was given by Mr. Archer, and 
will be found of great value to those who may wish to refer for 
information in their microscopical and natural history studies. Mr. 
Gibbons gave a practical lecture “ On the Method of Applying Be- 
agents to Objects in situ under the Microscope,” and showed some 
ingenious contrivances for collecting and preparing objects. Dr. 
Strn't also added some others. A paper “ On the Mouth of the Yarra 
as a Collecting Pound,” by Dr. Sturt, proved of great interest, and it 
is the intention of some members of the Society to form fishing and 
dredging excursions in and around the bay ; and in connection with this 
subject the committee refer with pleasure to the visit paid by some 
members of the Society to H.M.S. ‘ Challenger,’ when, through the 
kindness and courtesy shown by the officers of the ship, both naval and 
civil, they were enabled to inspect the whole apparatus used in 
connection with the trawling and dredging in deep seas. Mr. Murray 
has kindly promised, at the end of the voyage, to forward dredgings 
from various parts of the world to this Society. Mr. S. Gibbons took 
up the subject now under discussion so much in the microscopical 
world, and read a precis of a paper “ On the Transformation of Monads, 
with some Observations on Heterogenesis.” Mr. Bobert Scott drew 
attention to the necessity for “ standard gauges for microscopical 
apparatus,” and suggested that this Society should take up the subject 
