18S3.] Analyses of Books. xog 
read at the meetings. The value of these is greatly increased 
by the publication in another part of the book of the discussions 
following the reading of the said papers, a course which has 
always been the practice of the Royal Microscopical Society. 
As may be expected from the extensive use of the microscope 
as a means of reseach, the papers are of a varied description. 
Those on biological subjects comprise: “Further notes on the 
British Oribatidae,” by A. D. Michael, F.L.S. The strange 
forms of these minute creatures, so accurately figured by the 
author in this and many preceding communications, must attraCf 
the attention of the most casual reader. Mr. Michael is pre- 
paring the results of his observations for publication on a more 
extended scale than is afforded by the limits of an occasional 
paper. Dr. John Anthony’s communication “ On the Threads of 
Spiders’ Webs, ’’places on record some interesting fads respecting 
the structure of the web of Epeira diadema. Dr. R. L. Maddox 
contributes two papers, “ On some Micro-Organisms from Rain- 
water Ice and Hail,” and “ On some Organisms found in the 
Excrement of the Domestic Goat and the Goose.” “ Note on 
the Spicules found in the Ambulacral Tubes of the Regular 
Echinoidea,” by Professor T. Jeffrey Bell, M.A., one of the 
editors of the Journal ; and “ On the BaCteria of Davaines Septi- 
caemia,” by G. F» Dowdeswell, M.A. ; note by F. Kitton on Rev. 
G. L. Mills’s paper on “ Diatoms in Peruvian Guano “Plant 
Crystals,” by Dr. Aser Poli, complete the biological portion. 
Among apparatus described are a “ New Growing or Circula- 
tion Slide,” by T. Charters White, and “ A further Improvement 
in the Groves-Williams Ether Freezing Microtome,” by J. W. 
Groves. Mr. Stephenson’s* communication on “ Mounting 
ObjeCts in Phosphorus and other Dense Media,” and Dr. B. 
Wills Richardson’s, “ On a Simple Process of Imbedding Tissues 
for Microtome Cutting,” complete the papers on manipulation. 
Two portions of a most valuable optical paper by Professor 
Abbe, of Jena, entitled “The Relation of Aperture and Power 
in the Microscope,” appear in the present volume. 
The address of the President, Professor P. Martin Duncan, 
is chiefly occupied by an admirable exposition of recent optical 
discoveries. Calling attention to the small number of papers 
received by the Society, he reminds his readers that a very large 
number of observations principally worked out by means of the 
microscope have been recorded during the past year in the. 
transactions of other societies, and that the microscope is always 
being carried into new fields of research. It promises to be of 
great assistance to the chemist, and while but a few years ago 
no one thought of including it among the essential tools of the 
geologist, it is extensively applied to the examination of rocks, 
and most valuable results have been brought to light by its aid. 
* Journal of Science, vol. iv., p. 376, 1882, 
