420 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



declared the meeting open, and the members were not slow in 

 gathering round the microscopes, which, to the number of some 

 five-and-twenty, stood ready at the tables. The exhibits repre- 

 sented a systematic survey of the animal kingdom, the exhibi- 

 tion being designed to be an illustration of the course of lectures 

 on zoology which is being at present delivered by Professor A. 

 C. Haddon, M.A., under the auspices of the Society for the 

 Extension of University Teaching. At the head of the first 

 table Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., illustrated with his usual 

 success the subject of Foraminifera. Mr. Alexander Tate, C.E., 

 exhibited fine specimens of the slipper animalcule, Par am cerium, 

 which were much admired. Other primitive forms, such as 

 Stentor and Vorticella, were shown by Miss Boyd and Mr. P. 

 F. Gulbransen. Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R.I. A., undertook the 

 demonstration of the beauties and wonders of the group of 

 sponges. Mr. James Murdock exhibited the Hydra, or fresh 

 water polyp, an old favourite of microscopical workers, and the 

 movements of which as revealed by the microscope were watched 

 with interest, as well as the more active, not to say lively, 

 motions of many of the animals mentioned above and subse- 

 quently. The fixed marine Poiyzoa, such as Sertularia and 

 Flustra, were under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. Swanston, 

 F.G.S. Messrs. James Stelfox and W. S. M'Kee showed a 

 number of beautiful living objects, including fresh water Folyzoa 

 and rotifers. The perhaps unpopular but highly important and 

 interesting group of worms was illustrated by Mr. W. D. 

 Donnan. Miss S. M. Thompson showed spines and other 

 portions of sea-urchins, brittle- stars, &c, representing the great 

 group of the Echinodermata. Mr. I. W. Ward exhibited the 

 dental apparatus of limpets, snails, &c. The interesting class 

 of spiders was undertaken by Mr. John Donaldson. The 

 insects were well represented, beetles being shown by Mr. G. 

 W. Ferguson ; flies, by Mr. John Jacques ; butterflies and 

 moths, by Miss Clara Patterson ; and bees and wasps, by Mr. 

 W. D. M'Murtry. Among the vertebrate animals, the beauties 

 of fish scales and reptile skins were demonstrated by Mr. S. 

 Cunningham. 



