487 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Botanical Society of London. 



Friday, February 6, 1852. — John Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer, in 

 the chair. 



The following donations were announced: — British plants from 

 Mr. Hewett C. Watson, Mr. G. Maw, Mr. J. A. Brewer, Mr. W. Gour- 

 lie, and Mr. Ibbotson. ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of 

 England ;' presented by the Society. * The Gardener's Companion 

 and Florist's Guide ' for February ; presented by the Editors. ' The 

 Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions ;' presented by the Pharma- 

 ceutical Society. ' Journal of the Statistical Society of London ;' 

 presented by the Society. 



The following paper was read : — 



' Notes on some of the British Plants for Distribution to the Mem- 

 bers of the Botanical Society of London in 1852;' by John T. Syme, 

 Esq., Curator to the Society (see p. 468). — G. E. D. 



Microscopical Society of London. 



December 21, 1851. — Dr. Lankester in the chair. 



A paper by J. H. Huxley, Esq., entitled ' Lacinularia socialis, a 

 Contribution to the Anatomy and Physiology of the Rotifera,' was 

 read. The author commenced by stating that the Lacinularia socia- 

 lis, a very singular and beautiful Rotifer, was found by him, in 

 great abundance, on leaves of Ceratophyllum, in the River Medway, 

 a little above Farleigh Bridge j and as they present especial advan- 

 tages for microscopical investigation, on account of their relative large 

 size, their transparency, &c., he had availed himself of an opportunity 

 which occurred to him, of inquiring somewhat minutely into their 

 structure. He proceeded to mention their general appearance and 

 habits, and then entered more minutely into the description of their 

 various organs, viz., the trochal disk (which he stated to be wide and 

 horse-shoe shaped, the edges being richly provided with large cilia, 

 presenting a very beautiful and wheel-like movement), the mouth and 

 its appendages, the oesophagus, and the intestines. He next described 

 the water vascular system, quoting at the same time the opinions of 



