1 839 ' 40 
THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY 
143 
CHAPTER V 
1839-40 
Foundation of the Microscopical Society — Reconstruction of the 
‘ Dinornis’ — Corresponding Member of the Institute of France, 
1839 — First part of the Report on British Fossil Reptiles read 
before the British Association at Birmingham, 1839 — Part I. of 
the ‘ Odontography’ completed, 1S40. 
For some years Owen had taken a considerable 
interest in microscopical work, and had made 
many observations in the corpuscles of the blood 
in man and other animals. About this time, also, 
Dr. J. E. Bowerbank, of Highgate, gathered 
around him a few friends at certain stated times 
for the discussion of microscopical problems. 
The little band used to meet at each other’s homes, 
and Owen was a frequent but not a regular visitor. 
Eventually Bowerbank, Farre, and the rest 
determined to form a society which should have 
for its object microscopical research. Owen, 
from his abilities and position, was selected as the 
first president of the new society, and he occupied 
the chair in 1840 and 1841, and delivered the first 
two presidential addresses to the Royal Micro- 
