252 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE 



Here we reach the limits of microscopical science, and the further 

 investigations are in the hands of the chemist and physicist. 

 Protoplasm is the most complex substance known ; twenty-nine 

 of the eighty-two known elements occur in it. Here Dr. Leeson 

 explained the chemical composition of protoplasm and the 

 grouping of the atoms. " Life is a function of the interaction of 

 these atoms." The immense possibilities of variation owing to 

 the formation of stereo-isomers (substances having the same 

 chemical composition but with the atoms differently arranged) 

 was then dealt with, and the lecturer passed on to the structure of 

 the atoms themselves. " Just think," he said, " of the material 

 Nature has to work with, and marvel no more at her inj&nite 

 variety." As atoms may be differently arranged, so electrons 

 may be differently arranged in the atom, and we have an endless 

 possibility of variation, and we marvel not at the variety of 

 Nature, but at Nature's restraint. 



After a few remarks by the President, the meeting closed with 

 a hearty vote of thanks to Dr. Leeson for his interesting paper. 



At the 555th Ordinary Meeting of the Club, held on November 9 th, 

 1920, the President, Dr. A. B. Eendle, M.A., F.R.S., in the chair, 

 the minutes of the meeting held on October 12th were read and 

 confirmed. 



Mrs. Mary Fletcher, Mrs. Emilia Frances Noel, Mrs. Gertrude 

 Addey, Messrs. Henry Hubert Harris, Ernest Erant, Thornton 

 Knowles, Wilfred Eldridge Watsoii and Cyril Dickinson were 

 balloted for and duly elected members of the Club. Nine nomina- 

 tions were read for the first time. 



The Hon. Secretary announced that a pamphlet from the Mos- 

 quito Investigation Committee of the South-Eastern Union of 

 Scientific Societies had been received. (The pamphlet contains 

 notes on the life-history, distribution, etc., of Anopheles plumheus, 

 and appeals for help in obtaining further information.) Copies 

 of the British Museum (Natural History Section) pamphlets on 

 " Furniture Beetles " and the " House Fly " had also been 

 received. The Hon. Secretary read a note from Mr. Woods 

 recommending that in the case of mounts in media containing 

 glycerine a ring of cement should be put on the cover-glass as 

 well as on the slip, as good contact is obtained more easily than 



