PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
707 
Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell called attention to a volume wliicli had only been 
presented to them that day, ‘ A Text-Book of Histology,’ by Mr. Arthur 
Clarkson, a gentleman whom, he regretted to say, he did not know, and 
whose name did not appear upon the list of the Fellows of the Society. 
The book, as they would see, was a large one, and contained 174 coloured 
illustrations, but it had so recently arrived that he Had not been able to 
look into it, and was therefore not in a position to say anything as to its 
merits. 
Mr. T. Charters White said he had only been able to glance through 
Mr. Clarkson’s 4 Text-Book of Histology ’ before the meeting, but thought, 
judging from the full manner in which the various studies in histology 
had been treated, that the work would prove a very valuable aid to those 
who were working in this direction. He thought that the illustrations 
were perhaps a little too diagrammatic, but no doubt they would suffi- 
ciently indicate the chief features of the various structures shown, and 
would serve to teach the student the characters to be sought for in them. 
Judging from the index, so far as he could see, the work seemed to treat 
of every subject the histologist would be likely to require. 
The President said, as regarded the illustrations, they certainly 
were, as Mr. White had pointed out, somewhat diagrammatic, but dia- 
grammatic illustrations seemed to be the fashion of the day, and there 
were some people who thought that they were the most useful and best 
kind of illustrations. He did not say that he himself was of that way 
of thinking, but there were many persons who thought so. The book 
itself seemed one upon which a great deal of trouble had been expended, 
and their thanks were certainly due to the publishers for this valuable 
donation. 
Prof. Bell said there was one other donation to the Library to 
which he might call attention, the 4 Report of the Geological Survey of 
Canada,’ a subject which could hardly be said to fall within the scope 
of the Society’s operations, and, considering the crowded state of their 
shelves, they were beginning to feel rather overcharged with literature 
of this kind, and might have to place some limit to it. 
The President said that their brethren on the other side of the 
Atlantic were much more generous in their distribution of literature of 
this kind than we were ourselves. Sometimes the reports received were 
of very great value to the Society ; but, of course, as might be expected, 
they did at other times receive publications which were not particularly 
suited to the wants of microscopists. In any case, however, they could 
but admire the generosity with which these reports were distributed. 
The thanks of the Society were, on the motion of the President, 
specially voted to the donors of the books to which attention had been 
particularly called. 
The President regretted that a paper by Mr. E. M. Nelson, which 
they hoped would have been read that evening, was obliged to be post- 
poned to the next meeting, owing to the unavoidable absence of the 
author. A note on another subject by Mr. Nelson would, however, ho 
read by their Secretary. 
Prof. Bell then read the following, by Mr. Nelson, on the old 
“Powell” Microscope in the Society’s collection — the instrument in 
