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PKOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
EoYAL Microscopical Society. 
King's College, May 5, 1875. 
H. C. Sorby, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the chair. 
The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 
A list of donations to the Society was read, and the thanks of the 
Fellows were voted to the donors. 
Mr. Slack said that, in addition to the list which had been read, 
they had received a donation from California from Mr. Hanks, who, 
it would be remembered, was some time ago elected a Corresponding 
Fellow of the Society. This gentleman was living at San Francisco, 
and had sent from there a valuable collection of objects, chiefly speci- 
mens of minerals, as a present to the Society. These would be care- 
fully examined, and brought under the notice of the Fellows at an 
early opportunity. Mr. Hanks had also sent some diatomaceous earth 
in the solid state ; and this Dr. Matthews had undertaken to examine, 
and the results of his examination would be reported to the Society. 
The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Hanks for his 
present. 
The President said that at the last meeting a valuable and inter- 
esting paper by the Eev. W. H. Dallinger and Dr. Drysdale was not 
read on account of the shortness of time at their disposal ; but it was 
suggested that as it would be printed in the Journal before the 
present meeting, the Fellows of the Society would be enabled to read 
it, and that any discussion arising out of it might be taken on the 
present occasion. He had read the paper himself, and was very much 
pleased with the manner in which the experiments had been carried 
out. Not having studied monads, or other minute bodies of that kind, 
he hardly felt qualified to say more upon the subject ; but he should 
much like to hear the remarks of any gentlemen present who had 
studied them. 
In the absence of any further observations on the subject. 
The President said it had also been suggested that there might be 
some discussion upon the paper which he read at the preceding 
meeting ; of course, he should be very happy to answer any questions, 
or to afford any further information desired. 
Dr. Pigott felt sure that the Fellows of the Society were very 
much obliged to the President for bringing the subject before them ; 
it was one which had been very much neglected, and which he was 
glad to see so ably taken up. He was himself but little acquainted 
with the subject ; but he should like to ask one question, and that 
was — what was the highest power which was found available in these 
researches ? 
The President said that everything would depend upon the nature 
of the object to be examined ; as a rule, he always used the lowest 
power possible, especially with the binocular. 
Dr. Pigott inquired what was the highest power used in the exa- 
mination of blood-globules — could a \ inch be used ? 
