PBOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
163 
inhabited by rotifers. Mr. F. Barnard read some observations on a 
fungus infesting the leaves of one of the eucalypti, and not known to 
have been described. He also showed the specimen by means of his 
new imported microscope by Boss. Mr. Sydney Gibbons then ad- 
dressed the meeting on " Methods of Modifying Light " for the relief 
of the eyes in microscopic observations, and showed some simple and 
effective contrivances for the purpose. He recommended the use of 
very pale cold blue glass, not purple, applied to the diaphragm and 
as a removable cap over the eye-piece. After experimenting on the 
subject, he preferred these appliances to all others. 
The Microscopical Society of Victoria held its monthly meeting 
on March 30, the president (Mr. T. S. Ralph) in the chair. Mr. T. 
Burrows, of Hawthorn, was announced as the new hon. secretary. 
Mr. Sydney Gibbons read a paper on the use of the microscope in 
post-mortem analysis, chiefly addressing himself to the identification 
of structures found in the viscera of subjects under examination. In 
illustration, he described some curious cases, in which, by examining 
the various particles of food in the stomachs, and recognizing tissues, 
cells, and hairs of known plants, he had been able to throw consider- 
able light on the cause of death. In one case, for example, of some 
cattle that died in a singular way, he found the stomachs highly 
inflamed and inordinately distended with matter in which, by the 
aid of the microscope, he identified among other things the structures 
of maize, and declared his opinion that death had been caused by the 
congestion often produced by gorging with succulent fermentable 
food, such as young maize, and accelerated by large draughts of 
water. The President then gave an interesting demonstration on 
the art of making cells for preparations and for microscopic observa- 
tion. He illustrated his remarks by specimens and operations show- 
ing methods of working in glass to construct the apparatus required. 
San Francisco Microscopical Society. 
A regular meeting of the San Francisco Microscopical Society 
was held on Thursday evening [curiously enough, no date is given]. 
President William Ashburner in the chair. 
Mr. H. G. Hanks presented a very beautiful slide, being a section 
of chlorite in quartz, which, viewed with the spot lens and an inch 
and a half objective, was a most interesting object. The convolutions 
and peculiar crystalline form of the greenish chlorite imbedded in 
the transparent quartz were particularly noted. 
A paper sent to the Society through the hands of Mr, J. P. Moore 
was read by that gentleman, who supplemented the same by exhibit- 
ing the spores of the fungus and also a twig showing the manner in 
which the tree on which it is found is injured by the parasitic growth. 
Dr. Harkness' Paper. 
Sacramento, June 29, 1876. 
Dear Sir, — I have to-day forwarded for the Society's cabinet a 
specimen of Peridermium, a fungus which is attacking the small pine 
trees in the vicinity of Colfax, at which point Mr. Moore and myself 
