Jan. 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



23 



The Ethnological Society, Dec.^ 13. — Mr. S. 

 Lain^- exhibited an interesting collection of human 

 remains, stone implements, and other articles which 

 had recently been obtained in some extensive exca- 

 vations viiiich he has been carrying ou at Caithness, 

 and which are believed to date from a very remote 

 period in the history of man. Mr. Laing gave an 

 account of his explorations and described the various 

 articles M'hich had been found, and a lively discussion 

 followed, in which Professor Huxley, Dr. Thuruham, 

 and others took part. 



MiCKOscopiCAL Society of London, December 

 14, 1864. — Various presents were announced, 

 amongst which was Mr. Bridgeman's mahogany 

 rotating-table, a simple and ingenious contrivance, 

 whereby several persons may use the same micro- 

 scope without leaving their seats. It consists of a 

 stout board, sutiiciently large to hold a microscope 

 and lamp, a heavy pivot of iron is fixed beneath at 

 one end, and at the two corners of the opposite end 

 two castors at such an angle as to cause the board 

 to rotate freely. It is very steady, and offers con- 

 siderable advantages to those who are indisposed 

 to incur the expense of an ordinary rotating-table. 



Notice having been given of a subject for discus- 

 sion, viz., " The most advantageous means of illu- 

 minating objects under the microscope," the presi- 

 dent explained at considerable length his experience 

 in the matter, and coniined himself more particularly 

 to — 1, sources of light ; 2, condensed or uncondensed 

 light ; 3, histiological subjects ; and 4, minute 

 structures, diatoms, &c. Having tried gas, naptha- 

 lized gas, caraphine, and the other volatile oils, he 

 considered Belmoutiue to possess a greater amount 

 of those properties so very desirable for microscopic 

 work, than any of the others he had named, as it 

 gives a white Light, burns steadily, and does not 

 readily carbonize. He likewise generally approved 

 of oblique rays. One member strongly advocated 

 direct rays, whilst another referred to the frequent 

 advantage of diffused light. Mr. Shadbolt disap- 

 proved of the Belmontine of the present day, but 

 spoke favourably of "Diamond Crystal oil." Mr. 

 Claisher stated he had used gas and camphiue, but 

 both had been set aside in favour of " Carbonile," a 

 recent invention, which after a three months' trial, 

 he thought superior to anything he had hitherto 

 used. Mr. Tomkius exhibited a small working 

 m.odel of the necessary arrangement for obtaining 

 this light, by passing ordinary coal gas over the 

 " carbonile " contained in a vessel constructed for 

 the purpose. The effect was magical, and the light 

 dazzling, the flame being solid and vvliite compared 

 to the common gas flame, which in comparison was 

 pale, thin, and vapoury. It was stated that it gives 

 three times the ordinary light by an equal consump- 

 tion -of gas ; consequently tliose who are content 

 with their present amount of light can, by means of 

 " carbonile," obtain it at one-third the cost for gas. 

 Mr. Slack was announced to read a paper on the 

 " Yinegar Plant " at the next meeting. 



Society oe Amateur Botanists (Loudon). — The 

 Second Annual Meeting of this Society was held at 

 192, Piccadilly, on Wednesday evening, Dec. 21st, 

 v.lien the President delivered an Address embodying 

 a Report of the Society's Proceedings during the 

 past year. He stated that the excursions on Satur- 

 day afternoons had taken ])lace durmg the favourable 

 weather, with more or less success. Tlie annual 

 excureion, to which a special day was devoted, was 

 this year taken to Darenth Wood, in Kent. The 



interchange of specimens had hitherto been confined 

 nearly exclusively to members, but it was hoped, at 

 no very distant period, to extend it to other societies 

 having similar objects. Papers had been read with 

 tolerable regularity, and some of these had been 

 deemed of sufficient importance and interest to be 

 solicited for publication in the Journal of Botany, 

 in which two or three had appeared. The Library 

 and Herbarium were gradually increasing in extent 

 and usefulness. The aggregate number of members 

 was reported to be forty-seven, of whom fifteen had 

 been elected during the year. The Ti'easurer pre- 

 sented a balance-sheet, shov/ing a balance of upwards 

 of £5 in favour of the Society, which, considering 

 the very low rate of annual subscription, was ad- 

 mitted to be highly satisfactory. After the usual 

 complimentary resolutions of thanks to the Officers, 

 they were unanimously re-elected for tiie ensuing 

 year, and a Council of four members was constituted 

 to conduct the business of the Society, so as to leave 

 the entire evenings of meeting, for the future, free 

 for the consideration of the subjects brought forward 

 by members in their papers. 



Manchestee, Eielb Naturalists' Society.— 

 The Report of the Committee for the year 1863 

 proves this Society to be in a flourishing condition. 

 The aggregate number of members is 537 ; there is 

 cash in the bank, property which it has been con- 

 sidered advisable to insure for £300, and evidence 

 of good work done. The Saturday afternoon excur- 

 sions have been well attended, and the winter soirees 

 completely successful. These facts seem to prove 

 the truth of the assertion at the commencement of 

 the report, " of a daily-extending interest in the city 

 and its neighbourhood, with respect to pursuits and 

 studies such as the Pield Naturalists' Society was 

 mainly instituted to promote." _ One work which 

 this Society has accomplished will commend itself 

 to botanists all over the country. It is the registra- 

 tion and publication of a list of all the mosses found 

 in the iieighbourhood of Manchester, which list is 

 appended to the Report. Mr. G. E. Hunt, who was 

 the presiding genius of this work, has conferred a 

 boon ou Bryologists, and set an example which 

 other local societies would do well to imitate. 



Morley Naturalists' Society. — A society of 

 naturalists has been formed, with every prospect of 

 success, at the Star and Birch Inn, Morley. The 

 meetings are held fortnightly. Mr. Daniel Slack 

 has been elected prciident, and the Society numbers 

 twelve members. 



Da. Hunter's Early Work.— On his arrival in 

 London, Mr. Thomas, in company with Mr. Nicol, 

 called on Dr. Hunter; they found him dressing. 

 " Well, young gentleman," said Hunter, when the 

 first ceremonies of introduction were over, " so you 

 are come to town to be a surgeon ; and how long do 

 you. intend to stay ? " " One year," was the reply 

 " Then," said he, "I'll tell you what, tiiat won't do 

 I've been here a great many years, have worked hard, 

 too, and yet I don't know the principles of the art 1" 

 After some further conversation, ]\ir. T. was directed 

 to call again in an hour, which lie did, and accom- 

 panied Hunter to the hospital, v.-hcre he said to him, 

 after the business was over, "Come t9 me to-morrow 

 morning, young gentleman, and I will put you fur- 

 ther in the way of things ; come early in the morning, 

 as soon after four as you can." It was summer : 

 Mr. Thomas kept the appointment, and found 

 Hunter, at that early hour, busily engaged iu dis- 

 secting heeths.— Hunter's Memoirs. 



