'^JouSjanSr^^^^ PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 67 
QuEKETT Microscopical Club. 
At the ordinary meeting, lield at University College, November 27tli, 
Arthur E. Durham, Esq., F.L.S., &c.. President, in the chair, six new 
members were elected ; sixteen gentlemen were proposed for member- 
ship ; 173 slides were presented to the cabinet, and a number of presents 
to the library were announced. In pursuance of notice previously 
given, the meeting was then declared special for the consideration of the 
following proposition : — " That any member desirous of compounding 
for his future annual subscriptions may do so at any time by payment 
of 10/. ; all such sums to be duly invested in such manner as the 
committee shall think fit." Upon being put from the chair, the 
resolution was declared to be carried unanimously, and was accord- 
ingly added to the bye-laws. The Secretary communicated the 
information that a microscopical society upon a similar basis to that 
of the Quekett Club had been recently established in Liverpool : he 
had been in correspondence with its promoters, affording them such 
information as they requested, and had since heard that a preliminary 
meeting had been held, at which fifty-eight members were enrolled. 
A paper by Mr. J. G. Tatem, of Heading, " On a new Melicertian, and 
on Melicerta Kingens," was read by Mr. T. Curties, the subject being 
illustrated by several beautifully executed coloured drawings. Some 
criticisms upon the paper were afterwards offered by Mr. Davis, and 
votes of thanks to the author and reader were unanimously passed. 
A highly interesting and valuable paper was also read by Mr. Lowne, 
" On the Proboscis of the Blow Ely," in which he detailed the results 
of a long series of careful observations upon the structure and 
functions of this remarkable organ, and illustrated his remarks by a 
series of excellent diagrams. The paper, which was listened to 
throughout with marked attention, elicited a hearty burst of applause 
from the members present, and a vote of thanks to the author was 
carried by acclamation. Some additional remarks upon the subject 
were made by Mr. W. T. Suffolk, and a short discussion ensued, in 
which Messrs. Breese, Lowne, Suffolk, and the President took part. 
The President announced that it had been in contemplation to hold 
an extra meeting in each month during the winter season, chiefly for 
conversational purposes and social re-union, so as to take the place in 
some measure of the summer excursions. By the very great courtesy 
of the Council of University College, facilities had been afforded for 
these meetings to be held on the second Friday evening in each 
month from December to March, and a committee of six persons was 
appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements. 
Mr. N. Burgess exhibited and described a new and convenient form 
of collecting case, recently brought out by Mr. Stanley; and the 
proceedings of the evening terminated with a converzatione, at which 
a number of objects of interest were exhibited. 
The first of the conversational meetings above referred to was held 
at the College, on December 11th, and was considered by all who were 
present to have been highly successful. Upwards of sixy members 
attended during the evening, and numerous interesting objects were 
exhibited under fifteen microscopes. 
