876 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. [^SnS.Kfrffi.* 
diagrams, and by preparations exhibited under the microscope — was 
listened to with great attention, and led to an interesting discussion, 
in which the President, Br. Braithwaite, Messrs. Suffolk, Hainworth, 
and Lowne, took part. Mr. Love exhibited and described a new 
form of turn-table, so constructed as to be self-centering, and in which 
by a slight alteration in the shape of the pin the unsteadiness con- 
sequent upon the wearing away of the hole was entirely obviated. 
Dr. E. Braithwaite exhibited a specimen of moss {AntitrichcB Pendula) 
which he had recently gathered in the forest of Fontainebleau, where 
it was very abundant, growing upon trees in large tufts. Specimens 
were freely distributed amongst the members at the close of the 
meeting. Mr. Breese made a short communication on a method of 
making thin sections of vegetable structures, by saturating them in a 
solution of gum, and afterwards drying. When so prepared sections 
might easily be cut from the most delicate tissues, the gum being 
afterwards dissolved out if required. A paper by Mr. Kitton was 
taken as read, and ordered to be printed in the journal of the club. 
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Fitch, stating for the information 
of members that Melicerta and Stephanoceros might be found in great 
abundance in a pond opposite the Manor House at Finchley. A 
letter was also read from the Eev. E. C. Bolles, of Portland, Maine, 
U.S.A., expressive of his thanks to the members on the occasion of 
his election as an honorary foreign member of the club. The 
President announced that the monthly conversational meetings of the 
club would be continued through the summer, the council of University 
College having most courteously granted the use of their library for 
the purpose. The proceedings terminated with a conversazione, at 
which a variety of interesting objects were exhibited. 
Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. 
Microscojpical and Natural History Section, 
March 29th, 1869. J. B. Dancer, F.E.A.S., President of the 
Section, in the chair. Mr. Eobert B. Smart, M.E.C.S., was elected a 
member of the section. — The Eev. J. E. Vize, M.A., of Calveley, 
communicated some notes respecting the kangaroos of Beeston Castle. 
Mr. Walter Morris gave an account of a pair of kangaroo rats from 
Australia, kept by him some years ago. These were in shape pre- 
cisely like the large kangaroos, but were only about six inches high 
when resting on their hind legs — their characteristic posture. Mr. 
Sidebotham exhibited some very fine spikes of Celsia Cretica, but, 
instead of the bright yellow flowers, they were apetalous. Eev. J. E. 
Vize, M.A., forwarded a spike of the common plantain (Plantago 
major L.), which had bifurcated from the middle of the inflorescence, 
each portion producing perfect fruits. Amongst other vegetable 
monstrosities mentioned was that of a dandelion, which Mr. Hunt had 
collected some time ago, having several scapes united so as to form a 
single flat ribbon-like stalk, crowned by the various involucras, more 
or less blended together. 
