PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 335 



Mr. Crisp exhibited Collins's Aquarium Microscope, which couhl be 

 fixed by suction to the glass side of the tank, like the railway reading 

 lamps. Also Klonne and Miiller's Aquarium Microscope for examining 

 objects in a small aquarium or trough, specially constructed for the 

 purpose, and fitted with movable diaphragm slides. Also a new form 

 of Thury's Quinque-ocular Class Microscope, having a reflecting prism 

 made to rotate so as to exhibit the object upon the stage alternately to 

 each of five observers. (See this Journal, 1887, p. 796.) 



Mr. G-. Massee read a paper " On the Type of a new Order of Fungi 

 — Matulete," illustrating the subject by drawings on the board. (Sujyra, 

 p. 173.) 



Mr. G. Murray congratulated Mr. Massee on having recognized the 

 features of this very interesting type. The Gasteromycetes were com- 

 posed of a number of types which were linked together, but he should 

 not have expected that those which Mr. Massee had mentioned were so 

 closely related as he had shown them to be. 



Mr. Bennett quite agreed with the last speaker that this was a very 

 interesting paper. He had always considered that the Fungi must be 

 regarded as a division of the vegetable kingdom quite distinct from the 

 Alga?. Some years ago a method of classification was proposed which 

 would have abolished the difference between them. This he always 

 believed to be a mistake, and, therefore, though perhaps they could not 

 regard fungi as a single series, it was- encouraging to find one more 

 proof of their connection inter se, rather than with the Algge. 



Mr. Rattray gave a resume of his paper " A Monograph of the genus 

 Aulacodiscus" the subject being illustrated by diagrams, and by a 

 tabulated list of groups of allied species. 



Mr. Carruthers, whilst afraid that the account which had been given 

 by Mr. Rattray might not have been very attractive to the audience 

 generally, yet felt sure that when they saw the paper printed in extenso 

 they would find it very interesting to study. The table exhibited 

 showed the result of a very great deal of work with regard to that very 

 interesting group of diatoms. The genus was one which had long been 

 known, and perhaps specimens of Aulacodiscus formosus were in the 

 possession of every one interested in the subject. He wished that 

 Mr. Rattray had been able to give them a demonstration of the central 

 form and to explain the processes which went to form the distinctive 

 type. No one could look at the table without seeing that it represented 

 the result of a very careful examination of all the published information 

 relating to those groups, and Mr. Rattray had been afforded opportunities 

 of getting together the whole known material with relation to that 

 genu;:. What he had done was to describe the whole in harmony, and 

 when they came to read the paper they would find it to be a very 

 exhaustive monograph of that interesting genus. 



The Chairman said that Mr. Rattray had been setting them an 

 example which he hoped would be largely followed, for he was quite 

 sure that no better service could be done by any one than by working 

 out the whole history of a separate group in the way it had been done 



