PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



593 



Professor Abbe's note was read with reference to tbe description 

 of bis camera lucida, ante, p. 261, in wbicb be stated tbat tbe benefit 

 of tbe arrangement consisted simply in tbe ease witb wbicb it may be 

 used. In otber respects it did not possess any advantage over tbose 

 forms wbicb fulfil tbe condition tbat tbe image is seen witbout 

 reflection or otber loss of ligbt. 



Mr. Ahrens exhibited and explained tbe construction of bis new 

 erecting binocular Microscope. In general outline it presented mucb 

 tbe same appearance as tbat of Mr. Stepbenson, tbe tubes being 

 inclined, wbilst tbe stage was borizontal. Tbe erection of tbe image 

 was, bowever, obtained by introducing a Nacbet erecting prism over 

 tbe objective, anotber prism similar to tbe Wenbam being used above 

 to divide tbe pencils. 



Dr. Millar said tbat, wbilst be could speak witb great praise of tbe 

 advantages of tbe erecting binocular as an instrument to work witb, 

 leaving nothing to be desired for comfort and convenience, be thought 

 the one now before them did not appear to give an entirely satisfac- 

 tory stereoscopic effect. 



Mr. Michael said there was no doubt that a binocular Microscope, 

 with a flat stage and an erecting arrangement like that of Mr. 

 Stepbenson, was an immense help to those who worked at living 

 objects. In drawing from living insects he had found it of the greatest 

 practical service. 



Professor Liversidge's communication on the "silver-fish" of 

 Sydney was read, in which he defended tbe accuracy of the observa- 

 tions of Hooke recorded in his ' Micrographia '" (1665) as against the 

 strictures of Mr. W. Blades in his ' Enemies of Books ' (3rd edition. 

 1881). Specimens of the insects were sent, and labels and sheets of 

 paper destroyed by them exhibited (see p. 500). 



Mr. Hartog said there was no doubt as to the animal being 

 Lepisma saccharina, tbe same that was often found in this country. It 

 was mentioned by Emerson Tennant as being thought by some to prey 

 upon books, but tbe author was of opinion that it rather preyed up >n 

 the insects which were found in the books, a view which he (Mr. 

 Hartog) considered an error. 



Mr. Thorn's letter on Saccharomyces was read, in which he men- 

 tioned that he had devoted all his spare time for ten years in tracking 

 these organisms, and now made all his bread without any yeast, so 

 called. 



Mr. Bennett, to whom the letter was addressed, made some remarks 

 upon the subject. 



Mr. Badcock's note was read (in bis absence from illness) as to 

 bis observation of eyes in the adult forms of Melicerta ringens, M. 

 tyro (or tubicularia), and Stephanoceros Eichhornii, also as to the de- 

 velopment of the latter form from the egg. He also pointed out that 



Ser. 2.— Vol. II. 2 R 



