EEPOETS FEOM THE SECTIONS. 291 



must be mechanical, as the mineral contains no constituent soluble 

 in water. It yielded him the following results by analysis : — 



Water 1064 10 64 



Ferric Oxide 2-92 ^ 



^!^f^^ ; ^:^n Soluble in acid 13-87 



Magnesia "52^ 



Alumina 636 "^ 



Lime 1-38 > Insoluble in acid 75-76 



Silica 68-02) 



100-27 100-27 



Hardness 1. — Specific gravity of powder 2'1, of mass dry about 1. 

 It is infusible before the blowpipe, but contracts greatly by 

 heat ; adheres slightly to the tongue, and is devoid of plasticity. 



Peofessor Liyeesidge mentioned that specimens of a very 

 similar mineral had been sent to him as meerschaum from the 

 Eichmond and Clarence Eivers. 



SECTION C— GEOLOaY AND PAL^ONTOLOaT. 



At the preliminary meeting of this Section, it was resolved to 

 amalgamate it for the present with the Chemical Section. 



SECTION D.— ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, INCLUDING 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



No meetings of this Section were held. 



SECTION E.— MICEOSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 

 PRELIMINARY MEETING— 23 JUNE, 1876. 



The first meeting of this Section was held on the 23rd June, 1876. 



Peoeessor LiVEESiDaE, as General Secretary, opened the 

 proceedings by drawing attention to the circular summoning the 

 meeting. The election of officers was then proceeded with, with 

 the following results : — Alfred Eoberts, M.E.C.S., Chairman. 

 Committee : Mr. "Wm. MacDonnell, Mr. H. Paterson, Dr. Milford, 

 Dr. Belgrave. Secretary, Mr. G. D. Plirst. 



It was resolved that the Council should be applied to for a 

 specimen cabinet for the reception of microscopic slides. 



It was decided that the future meetings of this Section should 

 be held on the third Wednesday in each month. 



