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NOTES AND NEWS. 



The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society continues to hold its 

 meetings in different towns of the island. At a recent one papers ' On the Mammals 

 of the Isle of Man,' and on its butterflies (the latter including 23 names) were read. 



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We are pleased to hear of the establishment of the Kendal Natural History 

 Society, which has been formed in connection with the Kendal Literary and 

 Scientific Institution. The Rev. George Crewdson is chairman, and Mr. Joseph 

 Severs secretary. We note that the society includes several members well known 

 for their scientific work, and we wish them and the society all prosperity. 



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The Manchester Geological Society held its annual meeting on the 6th of 

 October, when a report of a favourable character was presented. The number of 

 members now stands at 218, and the financial balance at £\od. Mr. H. M. 

 Ormerod, F.G.S., who was stated to be the oldest member of the society, was 

 elected president, and Messrs. George Wild, R. T. Burnett, F.G.S., W. S. Barrett, 

 and H. A. Woodward, vice-presidents. Mr. H. S. Ormerod was chosen treasurer, 

 and Messrs. J. S. Martin and Mark Stirrup re-elected secretaries. 



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The Manchester Microscopical Society having lost a valuable officer in the 

 person of their late Secretary, Mr. Charles L. Cook, who is leaving Manchester, 

 advantage was taken of the opening of the winter session to present him with an 

 illuminated address and a purse containing ^23. At the same meeting — held on 

 the 1st of October — the president, Dr. John Tatham, delivered an address, and the 

 veteran Mr. Leo H. Grindon spoke of the beginnings of microscopic study in Man- 

 chester more than forty years ago. 



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It appears that it was in 1842 that microscopy might be said to have begun in 

 Manchester. Several young men, including Prof. W. C. Williamson, then 

 practising as a surgeon, the late Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, Mr. John Ashworth, long 

 since dead, Mr. Thomas Gray, and Mr. Leo H. Grindon, were induced to com- 

 mence work with the instrument. They gave their attention very particularly to 

 aquatic vegetation and the then famous fossil infusoria from Barbadoes. After the 

 lapse of fifteen years more the little band of students was reinforced by the late 

 Mr. Thomas Brittain, and a little later still by Mr. W. H. Hayes, and little by 

 little since then the study grew in their hands. 



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The annual meeting of the Wakefield Naturalists' and Philosophical Society 

 was held on the 23rd of September. The report spoke of the society's position 

 having become much firmer, and gave particulars of the year's proceedings. 

 Mr. E. B. Wrigglesworth, to whom the society is much indebted for his five years' 

 tenure of the secretaryship, retired from that office, and Mr. W. Rushforth was 

 chosen as his successor, Mr. G. Ianson as president, Messrs. G. Parkin and E. B. 

 Wrigglesworth vice-presidents, Mr. Councillor A. Lupton treasurer, Mr. G. C. 

 Ramsden financial secretary, and Mr. H. Emmett librarian. 



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The ' Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund,' established ' for the advancement 

 and prosecution of scientific research in its broadest sense,' now amounts to $25,000. 

 As the income is already available, the trustees desire to receive applications, 

 addressed Dr. C. S. Minot, 25, Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A., Secre- 

 tary of the Board of Trustees, for appropriations in aid of scientific work. This 

 endowment is not for the benefit of any one department of science, but it is the 

 intention of the trustees to give the preference to those investigations, not already 

 otherwise provided for, which have for their object the advancement of human 

 knowledge, or the benefit of mankind in general, rather than to researches directed 

 to the solution of questions of merely local importance. Applications for assistance 

 from this fund should be accompanied by a full statement of the nature of the in- 

 vestigation, of the conditions under which it is to be prosecuted, and of the manner 

 in which the appropriation asked for is to be expended. 



Jan. 1886. 



