NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 67 

NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 
BOLTON MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The usual monthly meeting 
of this Society was held on Friday evening, Jan. 13th, when Mr. W. W. Midgley 
read a paper on ‘‘Some forms of aquatic life.” The audience were asked to 
suppose themselves standing by the side of a pond, where the Lecturer described 
various forms of life one by one, which were generally to be found in such a 
locality. Various interesting creatures were described in detail, and were shown 
on the canvass by means of a pair of oxyhydrogen lanterns, kindly lent and 
manipulated by Mr. Shipperbottom. Almost the whole of the illustrations were 
the work of Mr. Shipperbottom, he having succeeded in obtaining micro- 
photographs of exquisite beauty and finish. At the conclusion of the lecture, 
which was listened to with great interest, Mr. A. S. Pennington proposed a 
vote of thanks to Mr. Midgley for his valuable paper. A similar compliment 
having been paid to Mr. Shipperbottom for the elaborate way in which he had 
illustrated the paper, the Society spent the remainder of the evening in examin- 
ing a variety of forms of pond life by means of the microscope. 
BOLTON MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The usual monthly meeting 
of this Society was held on Friday, February 1toth. The minutes of the pre- 
vious meeting having been read and confirmed, the Rev. W. E. Codling, The 
Manse, Edgeworth, was proposed as a Member. It was moved by the Rev. R. 
Best, seconded by Dr. Hunt and carried, that an arrangement be made to sub- 
scribe to Mr. Bolton, of Birmingham, for a supply of twenty-six tubes, contain- 
ing living specimens of pond life, to be sent at such times and in such quantities 
as the Society may require. It was also moved and carried that during the 
recess, arrangements be made for one or more field excursions in search of 
specimens of pond life and other micro-organisms, under the leadership of 
Messrs. Midgley and Shipperbottom; these gentlemen, together with the 
Honorary Secretary (Mr. Rideout), to form the Committee, and make the 
necessary arrangements. 
During the meeting, Mr. Jackson exhibited Davis’ graduating diaphragm, for 
use behind the objective, as described in the Worthern Maicroscopist. Its per- 
formance was tested by many of the Members, and was greatly admired, the 
result in giving penetration being better than had been expected. Mr. Jackson 
also exhibited some remarkable specimens of saws and saw-flies, and remarked 
upon the curious modification in these organs to suit the conditions under which 
these creatures live. : : 
The Rev. R. Best exhibited a series of mounts of spores of ferns, put upon 
black paper backgrounds without covering glasses. This method of mounting 
them was considered to afford many advantages, especially when saving of time 
was an object. 
Mr, Pennington exhibited some very beautiful preparations of zoophytes, 
from the Zoological Station at Naples, and also some prepared by himself and 
Mr. Russell. . 
Mr. Midgley exhibited some stained vegetable sections, and a discussion took 
place on staining with aniline dyes. It was stated as the experience of several 
Members, that while these dyes are excellent for staining vegetable matter, 
when applied to animal substances the dye is perfectly soluble, and washes 
completely out in spirit, oil of cloves, or even in balsam. 
Mr. Walmsley exhibited Lepisma alive, and several Members brought 
specimens of failures in mounting for criticism and correction. 
LIVERPOOL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The thirteenth annual 
meeting of the Microscopical Society of Liverpool was held on Friday, January 
2oth, in the picture gallery of the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, under the 

