Allene) 156 | [April 17, 
Prof. Hartt made some remarks on the similarity of the 
African and South American fables. Some of the lat- 
ter were like old friends, as,for example, a story of a race be- 
tween a tortoise and a deer. 
The thanks of the Society were voted to Prof. Hartt and 
Mr. Tyler for their communications. 
Section of Microscopy. April 10, 1872. 
Mr. R. C. Greenleaf in the chair. Eight members present. 
Mr. Stodder exhibited some photographs taken by Dr. 
Woodward with Wenham’s Opaque Illuminator. This illu- 
mination is not really opaque, as some light is transmitted. 
A similar effect may be got with Tolles’ opaque illuminator 
and the mirror. | 
Mr. Minot exhibited some micro-photographs taken by 
him, and explained the process. 
Mr. Edward Burgess exhibited a dissecting microscope 
made by Carl Zeiss in Jena, and recently imported. 
Mr. Greenleaf said that with a detached mirror and very 
oblique illumination, he thought he had resolved Amphi- 
pleura pellucida with a Tolles 1. 
Dr. Geo. H. Brown of Boston was elected a member of 
the Section. 
April 17, 1872. 
The President in the chair. Thirty-seven persons present. 
Mr. J. A. Allen made some remarks concerning geographi- 
cal variation in mammals and birds, speaking more especially 
in reference to the latter. 
He referred briefly to the variation in size presented by indi- 
viduals of the same species living at different localities, and to the 
