1618 Microscopical Society. 



P.S. Since the foregoing was penned, many of our rarer Lepidoptera 

 have turned up in plenty, viz. Sphinx Convolvuli, Deilephilae Galii, 

 Livornica and Celerio, (a doubted native) , Acherontia Atropos, Mames- 

 tra nigricans ? Graphiphora Dahlii, and " mirabile dictu," ! subrosea, 

 of which about a dozen examples were found by a boy in August last, 

 near Whittlesea Mere. J. F. S. 



E. C. September, 1846. 



Report of the Microscopical Society of London. 



October 14, 1846. — J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., President, in 

 the chair. 



A paper by John Anthony, Esq., on a method of rendering the ap- 

 pearances in delicate structures visible, by means of oblique trans- 

 mitted light. This method depends upon the placing the object in 

 such a position, that the fine lines, or other delicate markings, are 

 exactly at right angles to the illuminating rays when these lines, 

 &c, will be at their maximum of distinctness ; and thus tissues 

 may be rendered distinctly visible, whose existence, when viewed in 

 the ordinary manner, might be considered exceedingly doubtful. 

 The object employed to illustrate this position, was the Navicula of 

 the Humber, one of the most delicate of test-objects, which under or- 

 dinary circumstances appears perfectly transparent, but when viewed in 

 this way, not only exhibits a double set of lines, but also transverse 

 lines, giving the whole the appearance of being covered with a delicate 

 net-work. Four drawings of this object were exhibited, showing it in 

 as many different positions, making a complete revolution of the field 

 in which the markings just mentioned were distinctly visible. In order 

 to bring out these appearances, it is necessary that the light should 

 be very oblique, and must be passed laterally through the " bull's- 

 eye " in such a manner, that the object (the Navicula) may appear of 

 an intensely blue colour, nearly opaque. The stage is then to be 

 gradually turned round until the shell is in the position to be best seen 

 as described. 



November 11, 1846.— J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., President, in 

 the chair. 



A paper was read by Mr. John Quckett, entitled " Additional obser- 

 vations on the intimate structure of bone." The author after allud- 



