270 Prof. W. J. Sollas. 



May 26, 1898. 

 The LORD LISTER, F.R.C.S., D.C.L., President, in the Chair. 



The following Papers were read : 



I. " On the Cytological Features of Fertilisation and related Phe- 

 nomena in Pinus silvestris, L." By V. H. BLACKMAN, B.A., 

 F.L.S. Communicated by FRANCIS DARWIN, F.R.S. 



II. " The Skeleton and Classification of Calcareous Sponges." By 

 G. P. BIDDER. Communicated by ADAM SEDGWICK, F.R.S. 



III. " On Surfusion in Metals and Alloys." By W. C. ROBERTS- 

 AUSTEN, C.B., F.R.S. 



IY. " Note on the Complete Scheme of Electrodynamic Equations of 

 a Moving Material Medium, and on Electrostriction." By 

 J. LARMOB, D.Sc., F.R.S. 



V. " Aluminium as an Electrode in Cells for Direct and Alternate 

 Currents." By E. WILSON. Communicated by Professor 

 HOPKINSON, F.R.S. 



VI. " Contributions to the Study of < Flicker.' " By T. C. PORTER. 

 Communicated by Lord RAYLEIGH, F.R.S. 



VII. "On the Kathode Fall of Potential in Gases." By J. W. 

 CAPSTICK. Communicated by Professor J. J. THOMSON, F.R.S. 



The Society adjourned over the Whitsuntide Recess to Thursday, 

 June 9. 



" On the Intimate Structure of Crystals. Part I. Crystals of 

 the Cubic System with Cubic Cleavage." By W. J. 

 SOLLAS, LL.D., D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Geology in the 

 University of Oxford. Received January 20, Read 

 February 3, 1898. 



The remarkable advance in our knowledge of the constitution of 

 gases that has marked the latter half of this century has immensely 

 strengthened a belief in the doctrine of atoms. It is to this doctrine, 

 therefore, that we naturally turn to assist us in the study of the 

 intimate structure of solids. The solid, however, stands at the oppo- 

 site pole to the gas ; in the one the particles are unrestrained, free 

 to move about any axis, and along paths of comparatively wide 



