1824.] Proceedings 6f Philosophical Societies. 65 



of muscular activity be excluded, which accompanies the motion 

 of the eye-ball. 



" Let us consider how minute and delicate the sense of mus- 

 cular motion is by which we balance the body, and by which 

 we judge of the position of the limbs, whether during activity 

 or rest. Let us consider how imperfect the sense of touch 

 would be, and how little of what is actually known through the 

 double office of muscles and nerves, would be attained by the 

 nerve of touch alone, and we shall be prepared to give more 

 importance to the recti muscles of the eye, in aid of the 

 sense of vision : to the offices performed by the frame around 

 the eye-ball in aid of the instrument itself." 



A plate accompanies this communication, showing the mus- 

 cles of the eye as seen in front, and in profile. 



(To be continued.) 



Article XIV. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. . 



The first meeting of this Society for the present session took 

 place on the 20th of November last, when Major Gen. Sir G. 

 Murray and John Renuie, Esq. were admitted Fellows ; and the 

 Croonian Lecture was read, 



On the Anatomy of the Human Brain as compared with that 

 of Fishes, Insects, and Worms; by Sir E. Home, Bart. 

 V.P.R. S. 



This lecture was very short, and consisted, principally, of 

 remarks illustrative of the microscopical drawings by Mr. Bauer, 

 with which it was accompanied, some more particular observa- 

 tions being reserved for the explanation of them. Occasion 

 was taken to award a high and just tribute to the microscopical 

 investigations of Swammerdam, which were unequalled, by any, 

 it was remarked, except those of Mr. Bauer. The ability of 

 both observers was of such and so rare a nature, that, with 

 respect to each, it had been ascribed to some particular con- 

 struction of the microscope ; and it had even been suspected 

 that Swammerdam had a peculiar method of using the in- 

 strument, which had died with him. 



A portion of very recent human brain, merely steeped in 

 distilled water, was examined by Mr. Bauer, who perceived in 

 it rows of globules proceding in straight lines from the cortical 

 into the medullary part. A comparison was instituted of the 

 human brain with the same organ in fishes, insects, and worms. 

 In the tench, the brain has a central cavity, and its basis is 

 nodulated. In the bee, that organ is larger in proportion than 

 New Series, vol. vn. f 



