35 



occasion, however, the evening was devoted to the consideration 

 of " The Microscope and its Uses," without any formal paper. 

 Dr. Holden, of Glenarra, and Dr. Burden, with Messrs. 

 Anderson, Patterson, Ferguson, Gray, Murphy, and Smith, 

 exhibited and explained their respective microscopes and 

 microscopic objects. Of the latter there was a most extensive 

 and varied assortment, consisting of — 1st, Animal substance, in- 

 cluding sections of bone, horn, hairs, &c, with animal tissues and 

 injected preparations, shewn by Dr. Burden. Mr. Gray also 

 exhibited insect remains from the submerged peat below the 

 beach at Portrush. 2nd, Vegetable preparation, of which Mr. 

 Ferguson had a most interesting collection, including sections 

 of wood, dissections of flowers, and vegetable hairs. 3rd, 

 Living forms, including the circulation in plants and living 

 diatoms, shewn by Dr. Holden ; and eels ( Vibrio TriticiJ 

 obtained from grains of wheat, shewn by Mr. Gray. There 

 was also a good exhibition of fossil deposits, such as the curious 

 diatomaceous earths found near Toome Bridge, Lough Mourne, 

 Stoneyford River, and the Mourne Mountains. Similar de- 

 posits from all parts of the world were also exhibited. Of 

 opaque objects, there was also a good collection, and Dr. Holden, 

 with Messrs. Anderson and Gray, had a series of most beautiful 

 objects shown by the polariscope. A great variety of micro- 

 scopes and microscopic apparatus was exhibited and compared. 

 The instruments present were principally those made by 

 Smith & Beck, and Charles Collins, of London. Collins's 

 Bockett lamp was also shewn, and answered its purpose remark- 

 ably well. The simplicity and efficiency of Collins's apparatus 

 were particularly noticed. In addition to the microscopic 

 subjects, Professor Thomson, the chairman, exhibited a most 

 excellent collection of specimens, showing very distinctly the 

 glacial markings from the surface of the limestone of Castle 

 Espie, County Down. 



The Seventh Meeting was held on Thursday, 21st February, 

 when Mr. W. H. Patterson brought forward a short paper en- 

 titled, " Notes on a visit to Carlingford." The paper was 



