294 EEPOETS FEOM THE SECTIONS. 



The Chairman made some remarks upon tlie work, and stated 

 that much had been done of infinite value to science by earnest 

 observers using what would appea.r to us with our modem advan- 

 tages totally inadequate instruments ; and he wished, while 

 speaking on the subject, to pay a tribute of respective the memory 

 of the late Mr. Wm. Sharp M'Leay, who, with only a simple dis- 

 secting miscroscope, rendered vast service to microscopic science 

 by his researches, more particularly in those relating to the 

 minute anatomy of insects. 



Mr. Wm. MacDot^^nell exhibited a new hand magnifier by 

 Browning, and called by him the Platyscopic lens. This is a triple 

 achromatic combination, in which the spherical and chromatic 

 aberrations were corrected by a central lens of dense glass. It 

 is remarkable for its large and flat field and excellent definition. 



A competitive trial of objectives of ^ in. focus took place, and a 

 committee was appointed to report upon the merits of the glasses. 

 The following makers were represented : — Messrs. Ross, Powell 

 and Lealand, Smith and Beck, Crouch, Swift, Pillisher, and 

 Gundlach. After careful examination, it was unanimously decided 

 that Swift bore the palm for excellence of definition and resolving 

 power, Eoss and Powell and Lealand following very closely. 



The E-ev. G-eo. Martzn" exhibited some very beautiful forms of 

 discoidal diatoms, and some specimens of diatoms from Port 

 Jackson were exhibited by the Chairman. 



THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBEE, 1876. 

 Alfeed Eobeets, M.E.C.S., in the Chair. 



This meeting was postponed from the 15th inst. 



A paper was read by Mr. J. U. C. Coltee on two species of 

 insectivorous plants, JDrosera hinata and Drosea spathulata, indi- 

 genous to the Colony, and found in marshy ground near Sydney. 

 The paper was accompanied by specimens of the plants in their 

 na^tural state, and also by slides showing their microscopical structure. 



Mr. Gr. D. HiEST made some remarks upon the paper read by 

 Mr. Colyer, and exhibited some coloured drawings of the Drosera 

 hinata illustrative of the anatomy of the tentacles ; these 

 drawings he presented to the Section. 



The Chaieman stated that he hoped Mr. Colyer would make 

 the paper delivered only the first of a series on the subject. Mr. 

 Colyer undertook to prosecute the matter further and place the 

 results before the Section. 



The Seceetaet read a paper received by him from Mr. H. J. 

 Brown, of Newcastle, on the milky juice of the climbing fig. 

 The paper was accompanied by a specimen slide forming a good 

 polariscopic object. He also, on behalf of Mr. Brown, presented 

 to the Society's Cabinet several slides, being chiefly spiculse of 

 marine animals found on the coast near Newcastle. 



