October lyth, iSpS.] Proceedings. xxi 



\Microscopical and Natural History Section?^ 



Ordinary Meeting, October 17th, 1898. 



Mark Stirrup, F.G.S., President of the Section, in the Chair. 



Mr. Stirrup exhibited and described a large series of fossil 

 corals from the Devonian and Carboniferous formations in the 

 districts round Torquay. 



Mr. Broadbent exhibited limestone corals from the Ingleton 

 district. 



Mr. W. Stanley exhibited and described a new form of 

 microtome perfected by Mr. Aylward, with a fine adjustment 

 capable of cutting sections g-^th of an inch in thickness. 



[Microscopical and Natural History Section.^ 



Ordinary Meeting, November 7th, 1898. 



John Boyd, Vice-President of the Section, in the Chair. 



Mr. Hyde drew attention to the number of sparrows at 

 Brooklands with white feathers occurring in the wing and tail 

 and on the breast. 



Mr. John Butterworth described and exhibited under the 

 microscopes a fungus attached to a fossil fern of the coal-measures, 

 found by him in the Oldham district. It occurred in a fork of 

 the fern and was recognised as being a fungus by the late Mr. 

 Brittain ; he drew attention to its similarity to the fungus known 

 to attack the potato. 



Mr. Mullen presented the Section with 18 rock-sections 

 for its cabinet of slides. 



Mr. Boyd made a short communication on " Springtails." 

 These little insects belong to the Thysanura. The Thysanura 

 are divided into three families, i. Campodidce. 2. Poduridcz, 

 3. Lepismidce. The "Springtails" are all included in the 

 Poduridae. This family again is divided into three tribes, 

 I. SmynthuridcB. 2. Poduridce, 3, Lipuridcz. After describing 



