318 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 

H. Weightman, seconded by Mr. C. Botterill, Mr. F. T. Paul, F.R.C.S., was 
elected president for the year 1883. Messrs. Reginald P. Thacker and Edward 
Friend were elected honorary members. The paper of the evening was read 
by Mr. F. T. Paul, F.R.C.S., the president-elect, entitled “On Hair and Allied 
Structures.” He said that as the subject was a very wide one he would limit 
his remarks to a consideration of the morphological relations of the various 
tegumentary appendages which must be regarded as allied to hair. The struc- 
tures which were included in this general association were of the most opposite 
character, but were uniform in the possession of certain common qualities of a 
protective or attractive nature. After a few general remarks upon the adapta- 
tion of the external covering to the requirement of the individual, showing the 
combination of as much attractive beauty as was consistent with the welfare of 
the species, the development of the skin in vertebrate animals was described. 
Special attention was called to the history of the two layers of which it is com- 
posed, showing their separate origin and different character throughout life— 
that the epithelial layer may be modified to form horny or calcified tissues, and 
the connective tissue layer to form bone, ivory, cartilage, muscle, nerve, &c., 
so that where complicated structures like teeth, spines, feathers, and so forth 
were produced, they always knew what share each layer had taken in their 
formation, because they knew to begin with what modification each layer was 
capable of undergoing. The appendages were divided into two classes—those 
developed from comparatively large areas of skin tissue, such as nails, claws, 
hoofs, horns, scutes, and beaks, and those developed from a small bud or germ 
from the epithelial layer, such as hair, feathers, scales, spines, teeth, and glands. 
The developmental relations of the first class were then considered, and special 
reference was made to the fossil remains of birds that have recently been dis- 
covered and described by Professor Marsh, of America, in which there is a full 
set of reptilian teeth in the beak or jaw, which, together with the abortive germs 
in some existing species, and the serrated beaks of fossil and recent birds, show 
a gradual change from the reptilian jaw to the present beak. Taking the second 
class, fish scales were omitted as too large a subject to be compressed into one 
paper; but the development of the hair, the various phases of its life history, 
its decay and reproduction, were fully considered ; and the microscopical charac- 
ters of the most striking varieties of hair were illustrated. Attention was called 
to the character of the papilla, and the effect of its modifications in size, shape, 
and position in producing special kinds of hair—size, shape, curling, &c.; but 
more particular allusion was made to the extremely complex nature of the 
papillze which inspires the extraordinary combination of cells resulting in the 
production of a perfect spine or feather. A short account was given of the 
glands of the skin, especially in such animals as the naked amphibians, in which 
they act as weapons of defence by pouring out an acrid secretion which is ob- 
noxious to the palate of some of those animals that are naturally disposed to 
prey upon them. The paper concluded with some suggestions for preparing 
these tissues for the microscope, and the author specially recommended a new 
staining fluid which possessed a remarkable power of colour differentiation. 
The paper was largely illustrated by skillfully-prepared drawings, and at its 
close, on the motion of Dr. Carter, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Paul. The evening concluded with the usual conversazione and micro- 
scopical exhibition. 
MANCHESTER MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.—The October meeting 
of this Society was more than ordinarily interesting. The chief feature was an 
exhibition of amateur work, as well as demonstrations of the various operations 
in the preparation and mounting of objects, by the several gentlemen who have 
taken such a keen interest in the mounting class from its commencement. The 
meeting was open to members and friends, each member being supplied with 
several complimentary tickets for the occasion. A glance at the tables showed 

