9 
Mr. Latham referred to Mr. Hepworth’s method of 
mounting insects in Canada balsam, and described his own 
experience of the same. Mr. Latham spoke in very favour- 
able terms of the facility with which slides can be washed off 
and finished. He found that the balsam should be as thick 
as possible, almost even to dryness ; then dissolved in chloro- 
form, to a consistence only thin enough to flow easily under 
the thin glass ; the object having previously been mounted 
by Mr. Hepworth’s process, under thin glass tied on with 
thread, exhausted of air, and saturated with turpentine. 
After heating over a spirit-lamp the balsam sets hard almost 
as soon as cool, when the slide, after cleaning with alcohol, is 
ready for the cabinet. Mr. Latham exhibited several slides 
thus mounted, with specimens of the gizard of a cricket, saw 
fly, entire system of the silk -worm trachea, ichneumon fly, 
spiracle of the silk-worm, goldfish scale, leaf of wheat showing 
spiral vessels. 
Mr. Lynde exhibited a fine plumatelia living on the shell 
of a large lymnea or water-snail. 
Mr. Mosley exhibited specimens of hydra and other 
aquatic objects. 
October 15th, 1860. 
A Circular was read, addressed to captains of vessels, with 
a request that they will preserve the produce of the soundings 
they make when abroad, in the envelopes sent therewith. — 
A Letter was read from Mr. Hayman, of Liverpool, to the 
effect that circulars and envelopes have been supplied to the 
captains of eight steamers belonging to Messrs. John Bibby 
and Sons, in the Mediterranean trade; three of Messrs. 
Mac Iver’s steamers, plying between Liverpool and New 7 
