PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 357 



Journal. — It having been found practically impossible to compress the 

 Journal within narrower limits, the Council have consented to an enlarge- 

 ment of the page, so as to give more matter within the same number of 

 pages, and it is hoped that by this means any necessity for an increase in 

 the latter may be obviated. Arrangements have also been made for provid- 

 ing a somewhat thinner paper, so that the bulk of the Journal as a whole 

 will be reduced. The Fellows will understand, however, that the volumes, 

 although apparently smaller that hitherto, contain, in reality, more matter. 



The subdivision of the Summary has been carried still further by 

 subordinate headings being given to the Anatomy and Physiology of the 

 Botany section, and also to both divisions of Microscopy, thus facilitating a 

 reference to the notes relating to any given subject. 



Meetings. — The interest in the Evening Meetings has been extremely 

 well sustained during the year, the attendance having been larger than in 

 any previous year. The Society are much indebted to the indefatigable 

 exertions of the Secretaries for the subjects brought before the Society, the 

 varied character of which has contributed largely to the interest of the 

 meetings. 



Meeting of 9th Maech, 1887, at King's College, Steand, W.C, 

 Mr. W. T. Suffolk, Vice-Pkesident, m the Chaie. 



The Minutes of the meeting of 9 th February last were read and con- 

 firmed, and were signed by the Chairman. 



The List of Donations (exclusive of exchanges and reprints) received 

 since the last meeting was submitted, and the thanks of the Society given 

 to the donors. 



Bastow, E. A., Mosses of Tasmania, as described in Hooker's Flora From 



of Tasmania, with the addition of forty-three new species from 

 varions authors. 6i pp. and 1 table. (8vo, Hobart, 1886) .. The Author. 



Castracane, F., Eeport on the Diatomacese collected by H.M.S. 

 ' Challenger ' during the years 1873-6. iii. and 178 pp., 30 pis. 

 (4to, London, 1886.) Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, C.M.G. 



Slides of Astrorhiza angulosa and Plumularia Wattsii Mr. H. Watts. 



Mr. E. C. Bousfield's note accompanying some photomicrographs ex- 

 hibited by him was read as follows : — 



" The photomicrographs of Amphipleura pellucida are not offered as 

 examples of first-rate photomicrographic work, for which mere accviracy of 

 focusing and proper correction of the objective used are by no means 

 sufScient. They will suffice, however, to show what may be expected 

 from the employment of Prof. Abbe's new lenses, and in that respect may 

 prove interesting. The objective employed was a very fine 1/8 apochro- 

 matic homogeneous-immersion, N.A. 1-46, projection eye-piece, and the 

 illumination was obtained by a small pencil of very oblique rays from 

 the margin of an Abbe condenser of 1 • 4 N.A. The illumination of the 

 object, as shown by the darker central portion of the negative, was by 

 no means all that could be desired, but the sharpness of the negative, as 

 testified by the considerable enlargement which it bore, leaves little to be 

 desired, and I hope shortly to be able to bring still more perfect examples 



