73 
The attendance of meusbers was large. The Secretary announced the 
resignation of Mr. VV. H. James. 
The Secretary exhibited, through the kindness of Mr. George Finzel, a 
beautiful series of large photographs of Athens and the neighbourhood, 
taken by a native photographer, many of which were remarkable for their 
exceeding softness, as well as delicacy of finish. 
Mr. W. W. Stoddart then made a verbal communication upon a new 
application of the magneto-electric machine. He wished to show to the 
members a new experiment which he had seen at the Nottingham meeting 
of the British Association. The novelty consisted in using the current 
from a magneto-electric machine, instead of, as usual, from a voltaic 
battery, as the primary or exciting current in a large induction coil, the 
secondary current of which was made to pass through Geissler's vacuum 
tubes in the ordinary manner, showing the length of, and stratification in, 
the discharge. Mr. Stoddart minutely described the structure of the 
magneto-electric machine, showing how it owed its action to the property 
of induction, and pointed out that the quantity of electricity produced by 
its aid was much less than even by a small voltaic battery, and hence the 
spark obtained from the induction coil was in this case very small. He 
also drew attention to the fact that, in this arrangement of apparatus, 
no contact breaker was needed on the induction coil, as the current from 
the source of electricity was intermittent. 
A discussion then took place between Mr. Beattie, Mr. Stoddart, the 
President, Mr. Noble, and Mr. Carpenter on the laws and nature of force, 
the use and abuse and improper meanings attached to scientific terms, &c. 
ZOOLOGICAL SECTION. 
Thursday, Oct. 11th. — Mr. W. Sanders, F.R.S., President of the 
Society, in the chair. 
The attendance of members was limited. The paper on Baleen, by Mr. 
S. H. Swayne, announced for that evening, was postponed. 
Mr. C. O. Groome-Napier, F.G.S., read an elaborate paper on 
" Animal and plant prototypes," in which he endeavoured to trace the resem- 
blances and difi"erences between man and the lower animals, or even plants. 
The illustrations of man took two forms, analogy, and actual ressmblance. 
