Microscopical Society. 2505 



Mr. Shadbolt stated that those he was now about to describe were taken from a spe- 

 cimen of one of the Tarantulida?, in the possession of a friend, which had been found 

 alive amongst some logwood, but whose original locality he had been unable to ascer- 

 tain. The creature is entirely covered with short closely-set hairs, of a dark brown 

 colour, excepting on the abdominal portion, where they are dark red: among these 

 some longer hairs of a light brown colour are pretty plentifully interspersed. The 

 dark brown hairs, and also the longer ones from the thorax, when examined with the 

 microscope, present the appearance of a central shaft, with numerous small hairlets 

 covering the whole length, and presenting very much the appearance of a mouse's 

 tail. Those from the dorsal part of the abdomen are, however, the most remarkable 

 and curious, being extremely compounded in their structure, and having more the ap- 

 pearance of feathers than of hairs. They consist of a central shaft, formed somewhat 

 like a flattened cylinder, having a number of slight lateral appendages near the base. 

 These are succeeded by a number of flattened blades, situated in the same plane as 

 the former, having their free ends pointed and inclined towards the apex of the hair. 

 Beyond these the shaft is covered with a considerable number of slightly elevated, 

 obtusely pointed projections, which incline towards the base of the hair, being in the 

 opposite direction to those before mentioned. These again are succeeded by six flat- 

 tened blades, similar to those in the lower part of the shaft, and in the same plane 

 with them , but pointing towards the base of the hair, instead of the apex as in the 

 former instance. Beyond these is a slight projection similar to a continuation of the 

 shaft, which terminates the hair. 



A second paper, by John Quekett, Esq., ' On a peculiar form of Elastic Tissue 

 found in the Ligamentum Nucha? of the Giraffe (Camelopardalis Giraffa).' The au- 

 thor, after noticing the principal kinds of fibrous tissues found in the bodies of the 

 higher animals, went on to describe that known as the elastic, which occurs in the 

 most marked form in the ligamentum nucha? of the neck of certain animals, and in 

 none on so extensive a scale as in the neck of the giraffe. In this animal the length 

 of the ligament was 6 feet 2 inches, its weight being nearly 9 lbs. ; and as a proof of 

 its great elasticity, it was stated that immediately on its separation from one of its 

 attachments it contracted to four feet. On microscopic examination the individual 

 fibres presented the usual curled extremities, so characteristic of this form of tissue, 

 but with the addition of transverse markings or stria? : the diameter of the largest 

 fibres was about the ^th of an inch, while others occurred as small as the s^th. The 

 stria? were generally arranged at equal distances, and were of equal breadth, being on 

 an average as far apart as the fibre was wide. The author then concluded by stating 

 that as a striated form of elastic tissue had never to his knowledge been hitherto 

 described by any anatomist, and as the true position of the structure in question 

 would appear to be somewhat intermediate between muscular fibre and ordinary elas- 

 tic tissue, he had thought proper to bring the subject before the notice of the Society. 

 — G. Busk. 



May 23, 1849.— George Busk, Esq., President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 



A certificate in favour of Frederick Barber, Esq., of Camberwell, was read, and 

 ordered to be suspended in the meeting-room. 



Joseph Bainbridge and Samuel Gurney, Esqrs, were balloted for, and duly elected 

 members of the Society. 



