NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 19 

will rest content without possessing a microscope of their own, that each one 
will do some real work so far as time and duties allow, that he will bring to the 
meetings anything of interest he may discover, and seek to give or to gain 
information. Teachers and students of physiology will find special aid in 
facilities for conducting those microscopical demonstrations which are essential 
to success in the line they follow, whilst those who are beginners in the use of 
the instrument will have assistance and advice from the more experienced mem- 
bers. It is our purpose to give our Society an educational and instructive 
character, as well as to make our meetings interesting. Courses of subjects 
relating to vegetable tissues, insect structure, and so forth, will occupy a portion 
of some of our meetings, the topics discussed being illustrated by slides obtained 
for the purpose or mounted by members. Such slides and others will gradually 
form a cabinet, which may be open to examination by members ; whilst instruc- 
tion in the art of mounting objects would probably excite much interest and do 
good service. Books of reference will be purchased for the use of members, 
and such magazines and periodicals taken in as may suit their wishes and 
requirements, and keep them acquainted with the most important current 
literature on the subject. First-rate instruments and apparatus may be too 
costly to purchase, the subscription to the Society, being only ten shillings a 
year, but through the liberality of members even these may possibly in due 
time be had. Our object must be to make our Society a thoroughly practical 
and useful institution, and if we determine that no pains shall be wanting on 
our part to make it a success, I think we shall not fail. And then, as we search 
more and more deeply into the secrets of nature, and dive into those recesses 
which our instrument alone enables us to explore, we shall increasingly wonder 
at the power and goodness of Him who made all, who, whilst He studded space 
with suns and worlds, clothed also with exquisite beauty organisms too minute 
to be brought into view save with the highest powers of the microscope, and 
others, doubtless equally lovely, which elude our vision. (Loud applause.) 
Mr. Allison moved a vote of thanks to Canon Carr, expressing a hope that 
the Microscopical Society, though separated from the Scientific Society, would 
not work in opposition to it, but that both would carry on their studies 
together. (Applause.) 
Mr. Hallowes seconded the motion, which was carried amid applause. 
The various instruments were then set in operation, and the proceedings were 
brought to a close about ten o’clock. 
MANCHESTER CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY.—At a meeting of this 
Society, held on Monday, the 21st of November last, Capt. Cunliffe, F.R.M.S., 
who presided, said he had mnch pleasure in bringing before the notice of the 
members some specimens of Wedssta mucronata, which he had very recently 
found growing near his own home at Handforth, Cheshire, and which was the 
more interesting on this account, insomuch that it had not hitherto been 
recorded as growing within the district of the Manchester Flora. Mr. Cunliffe 
also exhibited a few other rare mosses from the same county, and which had 
been collected during a recent excursion. TZortula rigida and Spherangium 
muticum were amongst the microscopic slides, and were much admired as per- 
fect specimens of microscopical manipulation. 
Mr. Stanley also exhibited a good series of microscopical slides, chiefly 
Hepatics, shown not on account of their rarity or beautiful forms, but more as 
as specimens of the microscopical work which is necessary to display the char- 
acters of this class of Cryptogams. 
Mr. Pearson read a few notes translated from G. Limpricht’s recently pub- 
lished paper on the European Bog Mosses. The notes read had a more 
immediate reference to Limpricht’s strictures upon C. Wornstoffs new classifi- 
cation of this particular group of mosses. The subject proved to be very 
interesting to the members present, was well discussed, and suggested several 
new openings for microscopical investigation, 

