PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 145 
Mr. Mosley read extracts from a report to the Cotton Supply 
Association, of a microscopical examination of a sample of cotton 
supposed to have some peculiarities. On comparison with good 
American cotton, it was found to contain a greater proportion 
of round and partially flattened filaments, all more or less twisted, 
but full and well developed; the polarized colours were more 
bright and vivid, all indicative, he considered, of strong and 
vigorous growth in a congenial soil, and careful gathering when 
the pod was at its highest stage of development. The fibres 
varied in size, from flattened ribbons of ,45 of an inch broad to 
cylindrical fibres of ;455 of an inch in diameter, the variation 
being due mainly to the amount of compression of the cylinder 
rather than to actual difference in bulk. The staple measured 
from linchto 12 inch in length. The contrast with some inferior 
cottons was strongly marked, as regards their twisted, flat, tape- 
like appearance, and faint polariscopic colouring, which he attri- 
buted either to weakly growth or to having been picked from 
over-ripe pods, when the fibre had become dry and sapless. Too 
little is, however, known to form an exact opinion; dissection of 
buds and pods in all stages of growth would be necessary for 
a full and exhaustive investigation of the subject. 
In reply to a question from Dr. Robertson, Professor William- 
son stated that, like all vegetable hairs, the cotton-fibre in its 
early stage is unquestionably cylindrical. 
Mr. Sidebotham exhibited a convenient and effective form of 
binocular microscope, by Mr. Dancer, suitable for naturalists and 
others. 
Mr. Brothers exhibited a mounted slide of Foraminifera, and a 
drawing of Coleochete scutata, a minute fresh-water alga. 
Mr. Whalley exhibited Zrichoda lynceus, marine infusoria ; 
also an objective, #~; of an inch focus, by Messrs. Powell and 
Lealand. 
16th February, 1863. 
Mr. Josrru SrprsornamM, Vice-President of the Section, 
in the Chair. 
Captain Fletcher, of the ship Tigris, presented a portion of 
harbour mud from Singapore, and five soundings from the coasts 
of Java and Sumatra. 
Mr. R. D. Darbishire presented specimens of mud and fossil 
shells (received through Dr. P. P. Carpenter), from the post- 
pliocene or latest tertiary deposits at Logan’s Farm, Mile End 
Quarries, near Montreal, Canada, described by Sir C. Lyell’s 
‘First Travels in North America,’ vol. ii, p. 1385, and in papers 
by Dr. J. W. Dawson, in the ‘Canadian Naturalist, 1858 and 
1859. Mr. Darbishire, in a note to the Secretary, stated that 
one of the peculiarities of the deposit is that it seems to have 
been formed in a quiet hollow{; spicula of sponges are found in 
position, as if the sponge had grown, and been quietly buried 
on the spot. Amongst other fossils are many kinds of Forami- 
