PROCEEDINGS OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 159 



the preparation and preservation of animal tissues for microscopic pur- 

 poses. He stated that he had recently been much occupied with 

 observing the animal of the stony corals, which is exceedingly simple 

 in its structure ; and that he had observed numerous fasciculi, or net- 

 works of apparently small vessels in its structure, which had led him 

 at first sight to arrive at conclusions as regards their formation. By 

 accident he found that this network of apparent minute vessels, was 

 due to the development of a Confervoid vegetable in the brine, of ex- 

 treme delicacy. 



Some discussion ensued on this subject, in which Mr. Owen and Mr. 

 D. Cooper took part. 



Mr. George Busk exhibited, after the meeting, a species of the genus 

 Acarus, obtained from a pustule on a sailor's leg, which appeared to be 

 a new species. The disease was contracted at Sierra Leone, by wear- 

 ing the shoes of a West Indian. The matter was referred for further 

 investigation. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



October 1th, 1841. Sir Henry Marsh in the Chair. 



THE minutes of the last meeting having been read, 



Mr. Bergin moved, and Mr. Callwell seconded, that the first Thurs- 

 day in November be considered the Anniversary of this Society ; when 

 a report from the Secretary of the proceedings of the year, and from 

 the Treasurer as to the funds, shall be presented, and the officers for the 

 ensuing year be elected. Agreed to. 



Mr. Yeates presented the description of his Modified Compressor, an 

 account of which will be given in a future number. 



Mr. Moore presented a species of Alga, which he believes to be un- 

 described. 



Mr. Ball exhibited some portions of mud, lining the valves of a dead 

 specimen of Cyther&a Chione, taken up at Plymouth, July 1841, which 

 contained a number of remarkable forms, accompanied by rough 

 sketches of them. 



The Right Honourable the Bishop of Meath was proposed by Sir H. 

 Marsh, seconded by Dr. Croker, and admitted a member of the Society. 



Notes on the Plants (?) exhibited at the meeting of the Microscopical 

 Society of Dublin, on Thursday, 7th October, 1841, by Mr. D.Moore, 

 were then read. 



Potysiphonia fibrittosa (?) if not, new to our marine Flora. The 

 microscope showed the ultimate ramuli of this beautiful species, beset 

 with fibrillse in a remarkable degree ; the main filaments many- striated, 

 and both kinds of fructification perfect. The specimens, which were 

 collected at Malahide, are much smaller in all their parts than English 

 specimens of P. fibrillosa, and further disagree in general appearance 

 from them. 



Gomphonema ampullacea. Greville. This singular substance has 

 twice occurred to Mr. Moore in great abundance ; once in the North, 

 and again in the West of Ireland. It appears to be in perfection from 

 July to September. 



