41 



three new species of Animalcules/ — were read by the President, the 

 former illustrated by specimens. The next paper was by Mr. Carr, 

 of Dunstan Hill, ' On the composite names of places, of Anglo-Saxon 

 derivation, chiefly in Northumberland.' Mr. Tate, of Alnwick, fol- 

 lowed with a paper ' On polished and scratched Rocks, viewed in 

 connexion with the Northumbrian boulder Formation,' which was 

 listened to with great attention. ' Notes on a species of Hydra 

 found in the Northumberland lakes,' and extracts of an elaborate 

 paper (which time would not allow of being read entire) ' On the 

 Anatomy of the Freshwater Bryozoa, with descriptions of three new 

 species,' by Mr. Albany Hancock, were read by the Secretary. Mr. 

 Wailes in conclusion, called the attention of the meeting to the 

 splendid coloured plates of Bateman's ' Orchidaceae of Mexico and 

 Guatamala,' a copy of which he had kindly sent for inspection, 

 together with another beautiful work. Hooker's ' Rhododendrons of 

 the Sikkim- Himalaya.' " 



Microscopical Society of London. 



November 13, 1850. Dr. Arthur Farre, President, in the chair. 



Dr. Carpenter made some remarks on Foraminifera, in reference to 

 the paper by Mr. Williamson on that subject, read at the meeting in 

 June last. 



Mr. De la Rue described the construction of a dissecting micro- 

 scope, made by M. Nachet. 



A paper by J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., * On Ciliary Action in the 

 Spongiadse,' was read. 



After some preliminary remarks, in which some observations of Dr. 

 Dobie on the same subject were alluded to, Mr. Bowerbank stated 

 that, wishing to follow out the investigation, he had, in the autumn 

 of the present year, located himself in Tenby, in South Wales, where 

 the sponge {Grantia compressa) examined by Dr. Dobie is found 

 abundantly. The specimens selected for examination were not more 

 than a quarter of an inch in length, and upon placing one of these 

 beneath the microscope, in a closed cell, after a short time the excur- 

 rent action commenced, and continued steadily for a considerable 

 time, the fecal matter being ejected with much force. On examining 

 the exterior of the same specimen, the incurrent action over the whole 

 of its surface was equally well, although less forcibly, demonstrated. 



Vol. IV. G 



