




222 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 

beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), and the beautiful building rotifer (JJelicerta 
ringens ) attached to the pond weeds was discovered and transferred to bottles 
or tubes of the members. In the same pond was seen the great newt ( 7rztox 
cristatus ), and several tadpoles of it were secured for aquaria. The common 
hydra ( Hydra vulgaris) had here a happy existence amongst an abundance of 
water fleas, cyclops, &c. A little further on in the fields a pond was reached 
which proved a fruitful source of interest. The surface is just now adorned 
with the somewhat rare water lily (Muphar lutea), which Mr. Midgley described 
in detail, explaining the utility of the air cavities being larger in the peduncles 
than in the petioles; the existence of stellate crystals of lime in the structure of 
the plant, with other interesting lore in connection with it. Here they found 
that wonderful rolling plant, the Volvox globator, in abundance; and, by means 
of Mr. Shipperbottom’s collecting apparatus vast numbers of these beautiful 
desmids were procured. Attached to some duckweeds were found the tree 
vorticella Carchestum polypinum and other infusoria. A grand polype ( P/uma- 
tella repens) was also found. The pond seemed full of life, whilst around its 
banks the botanically minded amongst them had a variety of plants seldom met 
with in this part of the county. From this pond they wended their way 
through the fields across the railway, where in one of the ponds along Clegg- 
lane, Mr. Shipperbottom found the phantom larva, an object of great trans- 
parency, in which the nervous system was afterwards well shown under the 
‘microscope. In another pond was found a patch of the water buttercup 
(Ranunculus aguatilis ) in full flower, forming a pretty sight as it floats on the 
surface. The double foliage was noticed as well as the reason of the submerged 
leaves being so multifid, and the floating ones trifid. Another dip brought out 
the flagiliate infusorian (Zuglena viridis). In another pond was growing the 
stately yellow flag (ris pseudacorus), a spike of which was plucked and the 
position of the anthers in relation to the stigmas of the flower pointed out. 
Many other wonders in pond life were met with, which we are sure will furnish 
ample material for study for many a day to come, 
MANCHESTER MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The above Society’s 
excursion to Ashley for Castle Mill, announced for Saturday, July 8th, under 
the leadership of Mr. Graham, took place notwithstanding the threatening 
character of the weather, which however had an influence on the numbers 
present, only seventeen joining; but they were apparently of the right stamp, 
enthusiastic as to the business in hand, therefore pretty indifferent as to the 
behaviour of the elements. It was well such composed the party, for hardly 
had Ashley been left behind, when a thunderstorm broke, with heavy down- 
pour for nearly half-an-hour. Shortly afterwards the ponds in the neighbour- 
hood of Castle Mill, wherein grows the Bladder-wort, Utricularia vulgaris, 
were reached, and all were soon actively engaged in securing specimens, of 
which there was no lack; but the plant was hardly in a satisfactory condition, 
either for the herbarium or microscopic preparations, it having passed its prime 
and assumed a brownish hue, the bladders being dark with the remains of the 
insects their remorseless trap doors have closed upon. _It proved, however, to 
be rich with /loscularia, Stephanoceros, Melicerta and numerous other microscopic 
treats. 
From the ponds there were also obtained vast numbers of Zztomostraca, 
evidently of the family Diagtomide, although not agreeing in all respects with 
any one of the three genera of that family described in Baird’s work. 
After a lengthy stay at the ponds in question, the party proceeded by field 
paths to Morley, and then on to Lindow Common, where they added to the 
spoils Polytrichum piliferum, in fe condition of fruit; Sphagnum cuspidatum, 
var. plumosum, Colypogeia, Trichomanes, and Gymnocolea inflata, as well as the 
Sundew Drosera rotundifolia, the other insectivorous plant the expedition had 
in view to obtain, 

