EchTS] Royal Microsco^pical Society. 151 
torily under a pressure of many atmospheres; and even bright 
colours are developed in the absence of any appreciable quantity of 
hght. 
In what way inorganic matter in these deep-sea regions is 
brought within the life circle is not yet determined. Few naturalists 
now expect to find broad distinctions separating the animal and 
vegetable worlds ; but the highest creatures living and growing in 
the sea depths must be dependent upon lower organisms, which, 
whatever work may be assigned to them, perform the functions of 
plants. The coccoliths and coccospheres, upon whose structure 
and character Dr. Wallich has thrown much light, appear to play 
an important part at great depths ; but they are not confined to 
them, and Dr. Wallich states that they may be found abundantly 
off the west coast of Plymouth and other localities at about seventeen 
fathoms. Being thus available without much difficulty to many 
English microscopists, it is to be hoped that efforts will be made to 
study them in the living state and at various stages of their growth. 
Professor Huxley has given the name of Bathyhius to a proto- 
plasmic matter found abundantly in deep-sea mud, and whether or 
not the theories he has associated with this substance may prove 
correct, its existence may help to illustrate the formation of the 
Eozoon; and Dr. Carpenter may, as he seems to anticipate, at 
some future time have the satisfaction of seeing that singular 
creature in a living as well as in a fossil form. 
The chalk mud found extensively in the Atlantic sea bed shows, 
as Professor Wyville Thompson suggests, that we are still in what 
geologists term a cretaceous epoch ; for near our shores chalk, 
with its characteristic mineral peculiarities and with its charac- 
teristic fossils, is still in process of formation from day to day. 
Passing to another subject, I would simply allude to Dr. Bas- 
tian's paper on " Mounting and Tinting Animal Tissues," as affording 
very valuable information and suggesting more methods. Many 
anatomical structures, such as the brain and dehcate nerve-tissues, 
can only be revealed to us when the microscope is assisted by such 
modes of preparation. The researches of Dr. Lionel Beale have 
made us familiar with this fact, and the experiments recorded by 
Dr. Bastian cannot fail to exercise a beneficial influence on future 
investigations. 
Mr. Mclntire read at our December meeting a paper on the 
"Scale-bearing Podurse;" and as microscopists or entomologists 
have hitherto much neglected the study of these curious insects, his 
researches will be regarded as a useful contribution to a branch of 
knowledge in which our late esteemed colleague, Mr. Eichard Beck, 
was engaged at the time of his lamented death, and concerning 
which he accumulated important facts, as well as leaving behind 
him many valuable drawings which he caused to be made. 
