Ivi PROCEEDINGS, OCTOBEPw 



number of people was always found. He was sure they were all very 

 much indebted to Mr. Andrew for the paper, which gave a most 

 interesting account of diamond mining. 



Mr. R. M. Johnson thought Mr. Andrew had no need to make any 

 apology for reading such a paper, which was most interesting, and 

 contained many particulars of a highly scientific character, set forth in a 

 very clear and lucid manner. The origin of the diamond was a question 

 of scientific interest, and he thought the carbonaceous shales referrsd to 

 had something to do with it. He poinded out that diamonds had been 

 produced by an artificial process, of which Mr. Ward could probably 

 give an account. Most minute granules of diamonds had been produced 

 on the heated surface of a tube, but the chemists came to the conclusion 

 that it was only by a process that they could not command that the 

 diamond of commerce could be obtained. 



Mr. W. F. Waed explained that diamonds had been artificially 

 produced from hydro-caibon, by condensation in vessels heated for a 

 long time, but they were very minute, as were also the artificially pro- 

 duced rubies and sapphires, and cost five to ten times more than natural 

 stones. Regarding the trimming of diamonds into shape, the work was 

 sometimes roughly performed by splitting, the diamond having lines of 

 cleavage. As to the origin of diamonds he scarcely thought carbonaceous 

 shales could be credited, as that was a water formation in which they 

 were deposited. His brother had forwarded a package of the Kimberley 

 stuff to his father, who examined it to see if the beginning of a diamond 

 could be found by the microscope. Many of the diamonds were broken 

 up, and had apparently been formed in another rock. 



Mr. T. Stephens thought all the authorities were agreed in connecting 

 the diamonds with the igneous rocks in which they were found, but, 

 as Mr. Andrew had said, the more recent authorities differed as to 

 the actual origin. He congratulated the Society upon the character of 

 the paper, and hoped Mr, Andrew would be persuaded to write 

 something about the West Coast of this island of which he had an 

 extended experience. 



THE BUILDING ROTIFER. 



Mr. R. A. Bastow read the following paper on a Building Rotifer : — 

 Until late on Saturday evening last I was under the impression that the 

 rotifer now on the stage of the microscope was Melicerta ringens, or 

 what is known commonly amongst microscopists in Great Britain as 

 the building rotifer, but on further and closer examination 1 find that 

 although it is of the same family of Floscularia, it is Limnias, and not 

 'vielicerta. Both animals are very beautiful, and have received much 

 attention from Gosse, Slack, and other naturalists. The ciliatory 

 wreaths projecting from their cases are of a singularly interesting 

 appearance, and are continually at work, forming whirlpools to ensnare 

 their prey. On the slightest alarm the creatures instantly rush into 

 their homes, and when quiet is restored the flower-like wheelwork is 

 again expanded therefrom. The Limnias possesses two large rotating 

 discs, and a ringed case ; the Melicerta, two large and two small discs, 

 and a case made of pellets, which the little creature is continually adding 

 to, as it were, brick by brick, these bricks and pellets being made 

 by the animal itself. I have specimens under gradually increasing 

 powers of magnification here on the table, each animalcula industriously 

 working at its assigned task, and never resting, not even sleeping, until 

 the work of its life is accomplished, and it ceases to exist. These 

 were collected from the pond in front of the residence of Mr. Curzon 

 AUport, Davey-street, and, being placed in a small aquarium, they have 

 multiplied exceedingly." In connection with the paper were a number 



