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FIRST REPORT

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

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a CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

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ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD

JANUARY 18, 1871.

CROYDON :

PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘‘ CHRONICLE” OFFICE.

1871.

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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

FOR THE YHAR 1871.-

President :

HENRY LEE, F.LS., F.G.S., F.R.MS., &e.

Trensurer :

JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &e.

Honorary Secretary :

HENRY LONG, M.Q.M.C.

(90, High Street, Croydon).

Conumitice :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. G F. LINNEY
WM. REEVE COOPER | GEORGE PERRY

HENRY LANCHESTER, M.D. HENRY STRONG, M.D.
FREDERICK WEST, Joy.

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

In presenting their First Report, the Committee of the
zoydon Microscopical Club feel great pleasure in congra-
tulating the members on the prosperity and success of the
Club. Since the highly interesting Inaugural Meeting took
place—only about nine months ago—the number of members
has increased to 116, and although during that time the
Club may have contributed little of original discovery to
microscopical science, one addition, at least, has been made
to the list of the fauna of the neighbourhood, and some new
and interesting objects have been prepared and exhibited by
its members. The Monthly Meetings have been well at-
tended, and the interest evinced by the members generally,
and the progress made by many of them in the delicate
manipulation of preparing and mounting microscopic objects
are very encouraging.

The Papers read have been of a high class, aud their
authors have, in every instance, imparted the results of ther
own personal investigations so pleasantly and clearly ‘as to
secure the earnest attention of their hearers.

In accordance with a suggestion made by the President,
the members generally have exhibited at the meetings objects
illustrative of the paper read during the evening; and the
Committee have reason to believe that this systematic
method of working has been advantageous to the members,
and a great assistance to the lecturers.

The Excursions arranged during the summer recess were

“made scientifically profitable to those who participated in

them by the permission given to the Club, by gentlemen of

6

position in the neighbourhood, to inspect their beautiful
grounds in search of natural objects of interest; and es-
pecially agreeable by the hospitable and kind entertamment
accorded by those gentlemen to their visitors.

The Committee have also to express their satisfaction
with the eminent success of the Soirée held at the Public
Hall, on the 23rd of November last ; an entertainment which
not only afforded the members and their friends an evening’s
enjoyment, but which obtained for the Club the most
gratifying public recognition. The display of microscopes
and objects of interest in science and art by the members
themselves, was such as would have been creditable to any of
the most important provincial societies in this country; and
the generous assistance cordially given, at the cost of no.
small personal inconvenience, by a large number of gentle-
men well known in connection with similar societies in
London, rendered the exhibition one which elicited the
hearty commendation of all who were present.

At a meeting, held at the residence of the President,
before the Inauguration of the Club in April last, it was re-
solved and embodied in the rules, that the Annual General
Meeting should be held on the third Wednesday in January ;
the first report of the Committee refers therefore to the pro-
ceedings of only nine months. Satisfactory as is the retro-
spect of that period, the Committee hope that, in the year
now entered upon, the Club may be progressively prosperous.
that an increasing number of members may take part in the
monthly meetings, and that by exhibiting objects, and other-
wise promoting the interest of the Club they may assist in
extending its usefulness.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.
1870-71.
The following are the subjects which have been intro-
duced, and the Meetings, Excursions, &¢., that have taken
place :-—

April 6th, 1870.—T HE Inavcurat Mrnrine was held in the Public

Hall. There were present .__the Rev. J. B. Reade, F.R.S.,
President of the Royal Microscopical Society ; Dr. Bower-
bank, one of the founders and an early President of that
Society ; James Glaisher, Esq., F.B.S., its past President ;
Professor Rolleston, F.R.S.; Frank Buckland, Esq., H.M.
Inspector of Fisheries ; Robert Hudson, Esq., F.B.S.; the
Rev. Thomas Wiltshire, F.L.S., Secretary of the Paleonto-
graphical Society ; Dr. Millar, F.L.S., and Captain Tyler,
F.L.S., members of Council of the Royal Microscopical
Society; W. Marshall Hall, Esq., F.G.S.; Robert W. Fuller,
Esq., President of the Croydon Chamber of Agriculture; and
other gentlemen.

The President, Mr. Henry Les, F.L.S., delivered the
following address :—

GEntLEMEN.—Two months ago Thad no expectation that
a Microscopical Club would, by this time, be established in
Croydon. I had, indeed, thought of such a society for the
last three years, and had consulted with gentlemen now
present as to the possibility of our bringing together in this
manner a few brother naturalists and microscopists ; but we
feared that the number of those in the district feeling an in-
terest in these subjects was too small to enable us successfully
to carry out our project ; and we felt that unless we had good
reason to believe that our contemplated little society would
haye permanent vitality, it would be better to wait patiently
for an opportunity of commencing it under more favourable
circumstances. That opportunity has now arrived ; and, as
the origin of our Club may at some future time be a subject of
interest to those who come after us, 1 feel much pleasure in
recording that we are ‘ndebted to Mr. Henry Long for having,
by his advertisement in the Croydon Chronicle, addressed to
« Microscopists and others,” elicited a more general expres-

8

sion of a desire to join in the study of microscopical science
than any of us had previously supposed to exist in our town
and neighbourhood. We commence with upwards of 80
members. Amongst them are three Fellows of the Royal
Society ; four fellows of the Linnean Society ; three Fellows
of the Geological Society (one, our treasurer, a very distin-
guished one), and several Fellows of the Royal Microscopical
Society, and members of the Quekett Microscopical Club.
We have also with us almost all the medical men of Croydon,
and of the other members I know not of one who has joined
us from any other motive than a real desire to pursue and
encourage the study of microscopy and natural history. Of
this hopeful band of workers you have unanimously elected me
the first President, and I shall never cease to consider it one
of the most gratifying honours that could have been bestowed
on me by a select body of my fellow-townsmen. I confess
that now I see the important proportions the Club is assum-
ing, I feel the grave responsibility that rests on me. We
have amongst us, it is true, a few experienced microscopists ;
but the majority of you are, I believe, about to take your first
step in this path of science, and are looking chiefly to me for
advice and guidance. Although I see the magnitude of the
work before me, I do not fear for the result if my health con-
tinue good, and if I have your sincere, united, and warm-
hearted co-operation. It will be my duty and pleasure to use
for our mutual benefit, any influence or experience I may
possess through my connection with other scientific societies ;
and I will most gladly assist each and all of you to the best of
my ability, and in any way in my power. There should be no
selfish secrecy in science, and I congratulate myself on the
opportunities that will be afforded me of passing on to others,
as well as I am able, the instruction and encouragement I
have received from many highly-valued and distinguished
friends (some of whom are here to-night), and of thus proving
to them my gratitude for their kindness in the manner which
I know will please them best. But let me impress it upon
you that the responsibility rests uot only on myself and the
committee, but upon every individual member. It is neces-
sary not only to be persevering in study, but also that we
should cultivate the geniality of disposition, and good fellow-
ship with each other, which conduce so much to. the pleasant-
ness ofa Club like ours. I hope to see existing amongst us a
kindly feeling and esprit de corps which will cause us to think
it no trouble to help a fellow-member in his work, or to per-
soually assist in promoting the welfare of the Club. There
are two dangers which, more than all others, are likely to
assail us. I think it right to caution you against them at the

9

very outset: and I hope you will not be offended if I speak
to you of them frankly. The first is the possibility that in a
country town like this, party feeling, and professional, social,
and other jealousies may be imported into the Club, tending
to the formation of cliques, and engendering a disastrous
want of unity. When you come here, shut the door upon all
such feelings, and leave them out in the street ; they will
goon be tired of waiting for you, and you will in time be able
to go home without them. And if, in the discussion of
scientific subjects, opinions should not always coincide, let us
remember that, in the words of my old friend Mr. Perigal :—

Experiment should be our guide ;—

Let, when we differ, none decide ;

But each exert his zeal and sense

In search of further evidence,

TYll overwhelming facts bring out

The truth so plain that none can doubt.

Where pride and prejudice abound

The truth is never tu be found.
__The second danger to which I alluded is that present ardour
may cool down into future apathy. I trust that this will not
occur to any great extent : I cannot, of course, expect that
all will be equally persevering ; but I promise you that the
committee will do everything they can to make our meetings
cheerful and attractive, and to infuse spirit into our work.
The ordinary meetings of the Club will be held once a month,
when a short paper will generally, but not necessarily, be
read, which will form the prominent subject of discussion and
illustration during the evening. Those of us who have mi-
croscopes and lamps will be expected to bring them, and also
any ubjects or preparations likely to elucidate the paper to
be read ; those who have no suitable objects will be provided
with them by the reader of the paper, or from my own, or some
other member’s cabinet. Besides these ordinary meetings, the
‘committee hope to be able to offer to those who desire to
become acquainted with intricate methods of illumination, &c.,
requiring nicety of manipulation, opportunities of forming a
class for that purpose under a gentleman well qualified to teach
them; and I, myself, shall be happy to give to those who
need it, similar instruction in the various methods of mount-
ing and preparing microscopic objects. The interchange of
ideas and experience amongst ourselves is one of the advan-
tages we anticipate ; but Iam inclined to encourage a very
liberal extension of this principle ; and, therefore, I intend,
with the sanction of the committee, to propose to the au-
thorities of congenial provincial societies a reciprocity of visit-
ing and other privileges between their members and our own.
!'o those who have not yet purchased instrumen ts let me say

10

that a costly microscope is not absolutely necessary. The
great Ehrenberg, Leeuwenhoek, and others made their obser-
vations and discoveries with object glasses far inferior to those
sold by our opticians with their cheap ‘‘ Students’ Micros-
copes ;” and, therefore, as a soidier’s prowess in warfare de-
pends not so much on the size of his weapon as on his stout-
ness of heart, coolness of head, and strength of arm, your pro-
gress in science will depend less on the perfection of your
instruments than on your patience in research and your
power of observation. It will greatly add to your own pleasure
and knowledge, as well as to the public benefit, if, without dis-
carding objects of general interest, you devote your attention
to some particular subject, and I hope that we may, in this
way, contribute to a systematic knowledge of the Natural
History of the district. I shall be able to say more to you on
this topic when I have become better acquainted with your
individual tastes and predilections :—

To him whe, in the love of Nature, holds
Communion with her visible furms, she speaks
A various language ;

—and each of you will quickly be led, almost unconsciously,
in a different direction ; but I can promise you from experience
that as, armed with your microscopes, you pass into the
hitherto Unseen Kingdom of the infinitely little, no matter
by what road you enter it, you will find yourselves in a land of
surpassing beauty ; and, as you become acquainted with its
nations and tribes, and see in their construction and in that
of their habitations all the contrivances of the human engineer
anticipated and excelled, you will be constrained to admit
that One Great Architect of the Universe planned and
designed and made them all ; and as the astronomer bows his
head in reverence before the sublime majesty of Him who
created and maintained worlds beyond worlds, and systems
beyond systems, dimly seen in the far distances of space, you,
as microscopists, will recognise Him as being ‘‘ Maximus in
minimis”; greatest in His smallest works.
Mr. Lee having introduced the visitors, —

Dr. Bowersank, F.R.S., assured the meeting that he
considered it to be a very high honour to be permitted to be
present on such an occasion as this. He had never attended
an inauguration of a new Natural History or a new Micro-
scopical Society, where there was such a goodly show of
members as he now saw before him. And when he looked
back as far as the year 1828 and recollected that at that
period there were only four achromatic microscopes in ex-
istence, and but one of those was accessible to scientific men,
and that one was in his possession; when he contrasted the

11

very limited means then at their disposal with those now at
their command, as exemplified by the splendid array of
beautiful instruments which he saw on the table before him ;

when he recollected the paucity of information which was
then among them, and the wonderful improvements which
had since been effected, enabling the science of miscroscopy
to be pursued with pleasure and delight, he was proud to be
in conjunction with his friends to the right and to the left of
him, to whose scientific researches we were indebted for the
growth of knowledge, the spread of intelligence, and the
supply of interesting subjects for microscopical research.
Their worthy President had, that evening, ventured to caution
the members of the Club against growing apathetic in their
pursuit of science. He trusted that this was not likely
to occur. He had been engaged for 40 years and more in
microscopical observations, and he must say that he loved
his microscope as dearly now as he ever loved it; he was
now as much delighted with the new things he saw as he was
in the days of his youth ; and in pursuit of his microscopical
investigations, the ordinary cares and anxieties of the world were
forgotten. He entered into his studies with a delight which
he could hardly explain to his hearers, but which he hoped
they would all experience in their turns. The learned doctor
then narrated an interesting anecdote of one of his micro-
scopical researches, in which he discovered, by the aid of
Tully’s beautiful microscope the valves in the dorsal vessels
of the Ephemera, which were distinctly visible, and he saw
them performing their functions of pumping the blood and
sending it through the arteries. This discovery was such a
delight to him that he called in his scientific friends, who
having seen it, induced him to publish the result of his exami-
nation. He did so, but the eminent naturalist, M. Geoffroi
de St. Hilaire, of Paris, ventured to question the authenticity
of the account; he said it was possible to see the blood, but
the valves were beyond even the power of the microscope to
discover. A medical student in Paris, who knew the speaker
well, vouched that he would not publish and send forth to the
world anything unless he had good and undoubted authority
for his statements. The great French naturalist was invited
to an inspection. He (the speaker) had fortunately secured
a beautiful specimen to show him. Mons. de St. Hilaire sat
down to look through the instrument. He had hardly gazed
at the object an instant when he uttered an exclamation of
astonishment; but he never moved his eye from the microscope,
until at length the imsect made a plunge and escaped; and
then he threw up his arms and exclaimed ‘‘ Magnifique !”” and
he (the speaker) was delighted that he had succeeded in re-

12

moving the doubts which had arisen in that great man’s
mind. Now this insect was a familiar object to them all.
They would find it in every dirty little pond in the commons
around their neighbourhood, and an examination of its won-
derful structure would amply repay them for the trouble
of procuring it. Such studies as those would be a source of
delight to them which all the cares of the world could not
deprive them of. If they followed out the rules which Mr.
Lee had placed before them, he ventured to say that in times
to come they would look back with pleasure and delight to the
efforts he had made to form them into a Microscopical Society.
He cordially agreed with the observaticens of his friend the
President, with regard to the organization of this Society.
He had heard it casually remarked that they proposed at first
to make their annual subscription 5s., but he would advise
them not to begin with a strain of economy. Let them have
such a beginning as would offer a fair opportunity of organ-
ising themselves with a resonable income, and not with a
sum which was likely to restrict their operations, or tend in
any way to cramp their efforts. He had to express the deep
pleasure he felt in being amongst them on this occasion, and
he hoped he should be spared to come and see them again
when they were in full working condition. He trusted that
they would pursue the goodly rule which had been successful
in other societies, namely, let every member take up some
subject for himself, and carry it out earnestly and rigidly.
Such was the wonderful variety in minute natural history,
that new objects were continually presenting themselves ; and
although a host of men had examined one particuar object,
a new observer might probably discover something which had
escaped their attention; and he strongly advised that the
new discovery should be recorded, maturely considered by
frequent observation, and when that was done, that it should
be published to the world. If this course were pursued, the
Croydon Society would rise to a high degree of reputation.
He concluded by wishing it a thorough success in its under-
taking.

The Rev. J. B. Reapg, F.R.S., President of the Royal
Microscopical Society, having been called on by the Chair-
man, said he sincerely congratulated the meeting on the
establishment of the Croydon Microscopical Club, and was
especially glad to find that the Society possessed such an
excellent President as his well-known friend, Mr. Lee, and
that he presided over such an intelligent body of men. It
would have been impossible to inaugurate the Society 30
years ago, under similar circumstances, because men’s minds
were not at that period trained to see the importance of the

13

work. What a difference had been made in microscopical
research during the last 30 years! Although many of them
might never have belonged to a Microscopical Society, it was
almost impossible for them not to be aware, through the
medium of the press, of what had been done and was still
being done in the subject of microscopical research. He
thoroughly endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Lee at a
recent meeting of the Croydon Farmers’ Club, where his
health was proposed as the future President of this Club.
Mr. Lee then said that the microscope was ‘“‘ the ploughshare
of science, and by its means the superficial crust of igno-
rance had, in many places, been broken up, burying, at the
same time, the surface-grown weeds of error.’ He could
bear practical testimony to the literal truth of those observa-
tions from his own experience, for he had farmed his own
glebe. Having found that the man in whose possession it
was, grew more weeds than seeds, he thought it would be
better if he took the cultivation of his land into his own
hands. His microscopical, as well as chemical examination
of the nature of the soil produced results which, in effect,
doubled the value of the living, and enabled him to sell for
a good sum 20 acres for the erection of an asylum, of which
his friend, Dr. Millar, was the first physician. He, therefore,
thought that the intelligent farmers in this neighbourhood
might derive assistance from consulting the members of the
Croydon Microscopical Society, in order that they might
_ carry on, with greater financial benefits, their farming opera-
tions. The speaker then mentioned what he described to be
a very curious fact as illustrating the value of microscopical
research. By collecting on an ordinary glass slide some of
the ammonia arising in the form of vapour from a manure
heap, he found that this valuable nutritive agent escaped in
such large quantities that the portion which remained in the
manure was really less than that which had evaporated. He
mentioned the circumstance to Liebig, and told him that the
quantity of wheat which was grown was in proportion to the
quantity of ammonia in the manure. He told Liebig he
would give him all the corn he grew, if Liebig would teach
him to grow all the corn he lost. To guard against the
escape of ammonia, he poured upon the dung-heap a large
quantity of diluted sulphuric acid. He thought this was a
hint which their agricultural friends would take the oppor-
tunity of profiting by. The rev. gentleman then read an
extract from a letter from Mr. G. Hankey, Secretary of the
Microscopical Society of Illinois, acknowledging the kindly
feeling which existed in England towards kindred societies
established in distant parts of the earth, and he expressed a

14

hope that by associating themselves with the different
societies in this neighbourhood and elsewhere the members
of the Croydon Club would form a bond of union and good
fellowship which it would not be easy to sever, and that
great good would result from the formation of this Club, at
the inaugural meeting of which it was his privilege to be
present.

Mr. James GuatsHer, F.R.S., was next called upon
by the President, and offered some words of advice
which he said were founded upon his experience as the
President of the Blackheath Microscopical Society, and
some others. He would say to every one of the members
present—Never withhold any of your experiments because
you think others have seen them. He would urge par-
ticularly upon the meeting, if they should find anything
they were not acquainted with, not to withhold it, but
bring it to their Club, and submit it to their President
and fellow-members, and thus give to him and them a
part of the enjoyment which would arise in pursuing a mi-
croscopical investigation. A great mistake had arisen in
some societies by members withholding the results of their
experiments because they imagined they were not new or
original. So boundless was the field for microscopical
objects, and so infinite were they in their variety, that
there was ample work for them to do, and every work done
served as an additional link to the chain of knowledge which
they all hoped to see perfected. He trusted that a great
success would attend this Society. All it wanted was ear-
nestness among its members, and under the guidance of their
respected President, he was certain that that earnestness
would come. Societies of this kind tended to increase the
love of man for his fellow-men, and that this might be the
case with the Croydon Microscopical Society was his earnest
hope. Mr. Glaisher concluded by thanking the President for
his kindness in inviting him to be present at the Inaugural
Meeting of this Club.

Mr. Frank Bucktanp was the next speaker. He said
that one of the first lessons he read at school was ‘‘ Eyes and
no eyes; or the art of seeing.” That lesson had always been
strongly impressed on his mind, and he would urge upon the
members of this Society to neglect no opportunity of observa-
tion, for it was certain they could not use their eyes too
much. Sir Thomas Mitchell, when visiting the gold fields of
Australia, appeared not to have employed the precious gift
of close observation to so great an extent as he might have
done; for it was recorded of him that he slept, night after

15

night, upon a bed of gold, and yet he never saw the gold.
Another instance had been published to the world, of a
shepherd who sat down to watch his sheep on an old stone,
which was nothing less than a nugget of gold, worth
£20,000, but he did not see it. Therefore it was evident
that there was some advantage in using their eyes. In con-
clusion he wished the Croydon Microscopical Club every
success, and he firmly believed that non-success was an im-
possibility under the guiding hand and fostering care of its
excellent president.

The Rev. Tuos. Wiztsurre addressed the meeting, and
recommended that the Club should divide itself into sections,
and form a botanical section, an entomological section, a
mineralogy section, &c. If the latter supplied themselves
with small hammers and went about splitting flints, they
would find, after dipping the small particles of flit in
water and submitting them to the microscope, something
which would amply repay them for their trouble. Or let
some of them take a blade of grass, and see what they would
find; or catch some small insects and subject them to the
microscope; in any or all of these pursuits he ventured to
say they would gain much useful knowledge ; and whatever
they took in hand, let them do as their Canada balsam would
to their fingers, “‘ stick to it.”

Mr. Hupson, Dr. J. Mizuar, Captain Tyrer, Mr. Mar-
sHatt Hatt, Mr. R. W. Fuuwer, and Professor RoLiesron,
successively addressed the meeting, the last-named gentleman
demolishing a theory, which was at one time propounded,
that microscopy was of no use toasurgeon. He was in-
formed that several surgeons were members of this Society,
and he pointed out, in an unanswerable manner, how the
microscope may be employed as a useful aid in the diagnosis
of certain diseases.

Mr. Lee then made the following concluding remarks :—
Never has a provincial Society received at its outset such
encouragement as ours has. It lays upon each of us increased
obligations to make it a success ; for the celebrated men to
whom we have listened to-night will, I know, watch our
progress with interest. Let us take care that we do not dis-
appoint them. I am sure you will wish me to convey to
them your most cordial thanks for having thus taken us by
the hand; on my own part I take this opportunity of ex-
pressing to them my warmest gratitude for this and their
constant kindness to myself.

Mr. Wartime, F.R.C.S., moved, and Mr. Haywarp
seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Lee for having accepted the

16

Presidency of the Club, and for having provided for it so
gratifying an inauguration. The resolution having been
carried by acclamation, the meeting terminated.

April 12th, 1870.—The following opticians exhibited microscopes
and apparatus :—Messrs. Ross, Beck, Ladd, Baker, Crouch,
Collins, Moginie, Stanley, and Bailey.

The Preswent directed the attention of the members to
the specialities of the different exhibitors, and a vote of thanks
was passed to them for their kindness in responding to the
invitation that had been sent to them to give the members of
the Club an opportunity of examining and comparing their
various instruments.

May 4th, 1870.—‘‘ On Fut anp its Oreanisms,” by Mr. J. W.
Frower, F.G.S.—The author defined flint as a mineral
or pure earth, one of the simple ingredients which go
to make up the fabric of the earth, as well as of many
of the plants and animals which dwell upon it; and flint
nodules as ‘‘ concretions of siliceous particles now compact
aud crystalline, but once in a viscid, pulpy and, as he
believed, fluid state.” He could not accept as entirely
correct the suggestion of Dr. Bowerbank that all flint
was originally sponge, although sponges have a wonderful
affinity for flint, and flint for sponges. After a masterly
description of the geology of the neighbourhood of Croydon,
and the various conditions and forms in which flint is found
there ; namely, first, in its normal condition as originally
deposited in the body of the chalk; 2nd, as the round flint
pebbles of the Addington Hills and Croham Hurst; 8rd, as
the green-coated sub-angular flints, very little rolled; 4th, in
the form of large blocks or nodules of coarse flint, a good deal
weathered and worn but not much rolled; and 5th, as the
flint gravel on which the town of Croydon is chiefly built,
Mr. Flower explained the agencies by which the flints in these
distinctly different conditions had been brought into the
positions in which they now lie, and the order of succession
in which they had been deposited. Referring to the organisms
found imbedded and preserved in flint, he remarked that as
flint is a concretion formed in the chalk itself, it can only con-
tain organisms common to the chalk, although many which
have perished in the chalk have been preserved in the flint.
Each of the before-mentioned deposits must have had a date
and history of its own, and would have, like the region or zone
of chalk in which it was imbedded, its own peculiar fauna; and
the impression derived by him from his own investigations was

17

that there was a decided difference between them. The
organic remains included in these nodules and pebbles become
therefore, a valuable and interesting subject for microscopical
research, since, when carefully examined, they cannot fail to
afford additional evidence of the great paleontological changes
that occurred during the deposit of the chalk, a deposit ex-
tending over such vast periods that it transcends all power of
human calculation to form a conjecture, much less an ap-
proximate estimate of its duration.

The Lecturer exhibited a variety of specimens, some of
the most interesting of which were examples of flint en-
veloping flint, flint fractured and mended again, and echino-
derms partly or wholly filled with flint, and the excess
running over.

An interesting discussion followed, in which Mr. Wuirt-
TAKER (of ‘the geological survey of England), Captain Tver,
and the Present took part.

The Presipent exhibited some fossil oysters, recently
dug up in Waddon New-road, from a depth of about 16 feet,
apparently from a bed of sand similar to that, containing
fossil oysters, which exists at Reading and other places.

The following donations were announced :—‘‘ Smith’s
Diatomacee,” 2 vols., and Mr. Richard Beck’s work on
‘‘ The Achromatic Microscope,” by Messrs. R. and J. Beck ;
‘The Transactions of the Quekett Microscopical Club,” by its
Secretary ; Mr. Richter’s ‘‘ Photograph of Pond-life,” by Mr.
Curties ; and by the Rev. J. B. Reade, F.R.5., President of the
Royal Microscopical Society, his Address to that Society,
Feb. 9th, 1870, in which he related the origin of the Micro-
scopical Society of London. The following gentlemen were
elected Members of the Club :—Dr. C. W. Philpot; Messrs.
C. B. Pollard; C. Newton; T. R. Edridge, J.P.; G. F.
Linney; W. H. Snelling; T. Bindley; J. Holmes; H. W.
Whiffen; G. Whiffen; W.B. Tarrant; S. Baker; W. H.
Olley; B. H. Ridge; W. Drummond ; and the Revds. D.
Long and G. R. Roberts.

_ May 14th, 1870.—Many of the members (amongst whom were the

President and Treasurer) met at Carshalton s‘ation and fra-
ternized with an excursion party of the Quekett Microscopical
Club, who came from London to explore the Wandle and its
tributaries, in search of fresh water organisms. The portion
of the stream which flows through Mr. Cressingham’s garden
was first visited, and although he was not at home admission
was courteously given. The party next examined the lake in

18

the grounds of the Rev. Dr. Barrett, who gave them a most
cordial welcome and hospitable reception, insisting on
their entering his house and partaking of refreshment.
Dippings were next taken from the water in Beddington Park,
and then the wayfarers adjourned to the ‘‘ Plough,” at Bed-
dington, in the hope of obtaining tea, &. The host, Mr.
Watkinson, was, however, unprepared to entertain so large a
party, so they were obliged to walk on to the ‘‘ Greyhound,”
Croydon, where Mr. and Mrs. Budden provided a plentiful
meal of bacon and eggs, cold beef, tea, &., and the
Londoners afterwards returned to town by the 8.17 train.
The general opinion was that the water of the Wandle is very
unproductive of microscopic treasures, probably owing to the
rapidity of its current.

May 28th, 1870.—The members of the Club were invited by J. W.

June

Fiower, Esq., F.G.S., to visit his grounds at Park Hill. He
had provided two cart loads of the rounded flints of the neigh-
bourhood, as material to be cracked and searched for the
microscopic organisms known to be abundantly contained in
them. Many interesting specimens of fossil foraminifera,
corals, sponge structure, &c., were found. The amateur
stone-breakers were not allowed by their hospitable enter-
tainer to languish for want of refreshment, for the popping
of champagne corks was frequently heard above the sound
of the geological hammers. Professor Rupert Jones, F.G.S.;
Mr. W. Whittaker, F.G.S.; and Dr. Barrett, of Carshalton,
were amongst the visitors.

11th, 1870.—An Excursion to Mitcham Common. A fair
variety of ‘‘ pond life ’’ was obtained.

July 30th, 1870.—By the kind invitation of Henry W. Perk, Esq.,

M.P., a number of the members of the Club visited his beau-
tiful grounds at Wimbledon. Mr. Peek accompanied them
round the domain and through the admirably-arranged green-
houses and hot-houses, filled with rare and choice plants.
After taking dippings, &c., from the lakes and ponds in the
grounds, in some of which Plumatella ‘repens was found in
abundance, and examining an excellent entomological col-
lection belonging to Mr. Skinner, an employé on the
estate, the visitors sat down to a handsome banquet, laid
out for them in the orangery. Mr. Peek further encouraged
the Club by consenting to be proposed as a member of it.
The excursionists returned to Croydon by the 8.5 train,
much gratified by their visit and the generous manner in
which they had been entertained.

19
September 21st, 1870.—A Mertine ror CoNVERSATION AND THE
Disptay or Ossects.—There was a good attendance of

members, with their microscopes, and many interesting
Natural History specimens were exhibited.

The PresipEnt distributed to the members present some
mud, containing Foraminifera, dredged from Vigo Bay, and
some leaves of Onosma, shewing stellate scales; and referred
to the loss the Club had sustained by the death of so pro-
mising a member as Mr. Alfred Haward.

October 5th, 1870.—The PrusipEnt received at his residence, in
the afternoon, and again in the evening, several members of
the Club who desired instruction in preparing microscopic
objects. Various materials were mounted in their presence
in balsam, fluid, and dry cells, and the different processes
were clearly explained, and their simplicity demonstrated.

October 19th, 1870.—‘* On Sintcrous ANcHoRING SponcEs,”’
by Mr. Henry Lez, F.L.S., President.—Mr. Lux exhibited
some fine specimens of Hyalonema, Euplectella, and Phe-
ronema, from his own cabinet, and from those of Dr.
Bowerbank and Mr. W. 8S. Kent, of the British Museum,
with microscopic demonstrations of their structural anatomy ;
and gave a succinct summary of the widely-differing
opinions which had been held concerning each of them,
and of the many points relating to them, which, in-
dependently of their extreme beauty, rendered them of
the greatest interest. Commencing with Hyalonema—the
‘‘ slass-rope sponge ’’—Mr. Lee said: that within the last six
years, so little was known of it, that many persons believed
it to be an artificial production of the Japanese, akin to
their spurious specimens of fabricated mermaids. The
microscope haying proved it to be a natural organism, it
quickly became a ‘‘bone of contention” amongst celebrated
naturalists. A perfect specimen presented the appearance
of a mass of dried sponge. from which sprang from 20 to
50, or even more, flinty spicules of the length of 12 inches,
more or less. These long spicules were twined spirally on
each other like the strands of a loosely-twisted rope, and
around them, for about half their length, was generally
wrapped a membranous-looking envelope, studded with polyp-
like excrescences. Professor Max Schultz described the
sponge as the base or root from which sprang upward the
long glassy spicules essentially belonging to it; and the
membranous crust, with its excrescences, as a zoanthoid
polyp which was in the habit of attaching itself parasitically

20

to it. Dr. Bowerbank agreed with Max Schultz in supposing
the long “‘ glass-rope”’ to be an intimate portion of the basal
sponge, but believed that the so-called ‘ polyp-heads,”
instead of being attached parasitically, were, in reality, the
oscules of the sponge itself. The opinion of Dr. J. E. Gray
had been that the ‘“ glass-rope” was a coral formed by the
enveloping polyps, and that the sponge had nothing to do
with its construction, but merely grew parasitically upon the
supposed coral. From time to time the question had
cropped up, and had given rise to animated discussion, not
to say hot controversy, which of these three theories was the
correct one, until Professor Loven turned the whole thing
and former ideas of it also, ‘‘topsy-turvy,’’ and asserted
that the position, during life, of that which had always been
looked upon as the basal sponge was at the top of the
‘* olass-rope,” which, instead of growing upwards, really
struck downwards into the mud at the sea bottom, like the
roots of a plant. Dr. W. B. Carpenter had said that the dis-
coveries made in the expedition referred to had satisfied
Professor Wyville Thompson and himself that the sponge
and the long spicules were, as Max Schultz averred, portions
of the same organism, and that the “coral-forming polyps ””
of Dr. Gray—the ‘ oscules’’ of Dr. Bowerbank—were zoan-
thoid polyps, which generally attached themselves to the
‘«class-rope” of Hyalonena, but which were by no means
confined to it alone, as Professor Thompson said he had
himself found them on other substances, and had also found
Hyalonema entirely free from the polypoid investment. Mr.
Lee then described the beantiful Euplectella (Aleyoncellum
of Quoy and Gaimard), sometimes called ‘‘ Venus’s Flower
Basket,” the first specimen of which brought to this country
was sold to the British Museum for £30; for examples of
which he and Dr. W. B. Carpenter gave, three years ago,
£5 each, and which were now so plentiful that they could be
obtained for five shillings or less. Mr. Lee also exhibited
and described the new sponge, Pheronema Grayit, the
discovery of which, he said, was closely connected with
the Croydon Microscopical Club. One of the gentlemen
who were Mr. Lee’s guests at the opening of the Club
in April last, was Mr. Marshall Hall, owner of the schooner
yacht ‘‘ Norna,’’ who earnestly invited Mr. Lee to accom-
pany him on a dredging expedition to the coast of Portugal.
Unable to accept the invitation himself, Mr. Lee induced
him to enlist for this delightful work Mr. Kent, of the British
Museum, a rising and promising young naturalist; and
amongst the new and rare organisms which were the result
- of the expedition, were ten specimens of a sponge possessing

21

a remarkable similarity to the Holtenia found by Dr.
W. B. Carpenter in the North Sea, and which Mr. Kent
named, in compliment to his chief—Dr. J. E. Gray—Phero-
nema Grayit. Mr. Lee said that having carefully examined
the structure and spicules of this beautiful and supposed new
sponge, and compared them under the microscope with
similar preparations of Holtenia Carpenteri, he had arrived
at the conclusion that the new species could not be main-
tained. It was certainly a strongly marked variety; and,
therefore, he would refrain from positively stating in public
his firm opinion that the two wereidentical until it had been
confirmed by Dr. Bowerbank and Mr. Kent himself, to
whom he had just communicated it. The character of the
sea-bottom on which the sponges were found, and the organ-
isms associated with them, opened before us a vast subject
for investigation. The peculiar interest of these dredgings
was that animals were found which carried us back to remote
geological periods; and that conditions of temperature were
observed which led one to see the possibility of the contem-
poraneous existence of species which had hitherto beer
supposed to have succeeded each other after the lapse of
long periods of time, and in consequence of great changes in
the physical geography of the localities in which they were
found. The white mud which was brought up frum the
greatest depths reached, contained globigerina, foraminifera,
siliceous sponges, and other organisms which were known to
haye abounded in the chalk period ; consisted, in fact, of all
the constituents of chalk, both in its materials and in its
continuance of the great types of the cretaceous fauna.
From this was argued that, over certain areas which, from
their great depth, had never been elevated above the sea
level, and on which the temperature had remained unaltered,
the deposit of chalk had never ceased, and that we might
now be living in the true eretaceous epoch—a startling
announcement, deserving most serious consideration and
vigorous discussion by geologists.

Amongst the objects of interest distributed to the mem-
bers for mounting were—leaves of Hippophae Rhamnaides,
by the President; Foraminifera from sponge sand, by the
Secretary ; and Microscopic Fungi, by Mr. Bennett.

Messrs. Henry W. Peek, M.P., H. P. Stephenson, and
A. B. Drummond were elected members of the Club.

November 16th, 1870.—‘* On Mosszs,” by Mr. Grorce Prrry.—

After directing attention to the Mosses as a highly-interesting

“cc On

22

subject for the study of the microscopist—from the beauty
of their structure, the brilliancy of colour in some of them,
and their concealed mode of growth and deyelopment—Mr.
Perry proceeded to explain their physiology. Having no
flowers, he said, nor apparent sexual organs, they have been
placed amongst the Cryptogamia from their hidden manner of
reproduction ; but the microscope has enabled botanists to
trace certain organs which apparently act in a somewhat
similar manner to the stamens, or anthers and pistils of
Pheenogamous, or flowering plants. The reader then described
the mode of growth of the spore-cell, its cap and operculum,
and the peristome, or fringe of teeth, with which the latter is
surrounded, and which is a beautiful object for the microscope.
This series of teeth is very sensitively hygrometric ; and, after
the falling off of the operculum, opens in dry weather, ap-
parently to allow the rays of the sun to ripen the spores con-
tained in the capsule, whilst a passing cloud, or a moist
atmosphere causes it immediately to close and shield its
precious contents. It is probable, also, that this hygrometric
quality assists in the dispersion of the spores. Mr. Perry
described the nature of these spores, which form the great
difference between mosses and flowering plants; that one spore
of a moss plant may be the parent of many plants, whilst in
the flowering plant one seed can only produce one plant.
Alluding to their wide dispersion over the earth, there being
hardly any part of the known world where mosses are not
found, Mr. Perry shewed how they have their value in pre-
paring for higher orders of vegetation, and how, as in the case
of Sphagnum or Bog Moss, and others which exist only in
water, they act as fillers-up of pools of water, and by the
decay of their lower portions, form beds of peat, which in the
future may become valuable for fuel. The number of species
at present known is about eight hundred, of which nearly
four hundred have been found in the British Isles.

A New Looatity For Trocheta Subviridis, a Rare Lanpb
Lercu,”’ by Mr. Henry Lez, F.L:S., President.—Mr.
Lee said—‘In February, 1869, I published in ‘ Land
and Water’ my identification as Trocheta subviridis of certain
land-leeches sent to the office of that paper by an observant
resident in the neighbourhood of Horsham, Sussex, and in
the May number of the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural
History,’ Mr. Gedge, of Cambridge, mentioned haying found
a memorandum in his note-book of his having received some
from the same place, about the same date. As 7’. subviridis
had been considered a doubtful British species, the communi-

23

cation was considered interesting, and some correspondence
followed. I have now the pleasure of announcing that I have
found Trocheta subviridis abundant in another locality, namely,
on the Beddington sewage-irrigation farm of the town of
Croydon ; and I am informed that this leech is also to be
found on the other irrigation land belonging to this town at
Norwood. The experiences of naturalists have differed re-
specting the capability of Trocheta of living for any length of
time completely immersed in water. It may, therefore, be
interesting if I record that I found it in about six inches of
water, at the bottom of the great ditch which conveys the
Croydon sewage on to the estate before it flows over the land,
and that during the three weeks that have since elapsed, it
has lived and thriven in a bowl of water with two minnows.’’*

Guano, containing diatoms, was distributed to the mem-
bers by Mr. George Cooper, M.R.C.S.

Messrs. W. E. Rogers; B. R. Taylor; E. Ewart;
C. E. Leeds; and E. C. Oswald were elected members of
the Club.

November 23rd, 1870.—Tue Sorree at tae Pussic Hatt.—
This brilliantly successful entertainment was not only
attended by the principal families of Croydon and the neigh-
bourhovud, but also by several persons of distinction, among
whom may be mentioned the Japanese Ambassador and his
secretary, who appeared to take a deep interest in the large
variety of objects brought under their notice. Three tables
extended along the entire length of the room, leaving of
course, sufficient space for the visitors to promenade, and ex-
amine the numerous object of interests which were presented
for their inspection. Each table was covered with green
baize, on which the instruments were displayed. That in the
centre was reserved for members of the Royal and Linnzan
Society, the Royal Microscopical Society, the Quekett Micro-
scopical Club, and the Old Change Microscopical Society.
The tables to the right and left of the centre were reserved
for makers of optical instruments, of whom a large number
greatly contributed to the success of the soirée by their ex-
hibition of about 75 microscopes. The tables around the
sides and end of the hall were occupied by the members of
the Croydon Microscopical Club.

* At the date of issue of this report (three months after the above account was
given) the leech is stil] alive and in good condition, having been kept in
2 all the time in Mr. Woodward’s room at the British Museum.—

. LEE.

24

The following are the names of some of the gentlemen
who kindly contributed to the enjoyment of the company :—

Mr. H. J. Slack, the Rev. T. Wiltshire, Capt. Tyler,
Drs. Mundie, Matthews, Giffard, and Murie; Messrs. Loy,
P. J. Butler, W. L. Freestone, Quick, W. T. Rabbits, Charters
White, W. S. Kent, C. Stewart, Stephenson, Suffolk, Francis,
Piper, Thomas, and Brown. ;

The manufacturers who exhibited were, Mr. T. Ross, 53,
Wigmore-street, Cayendish-square ; Messrs. Murray & Heath,
69, Jermyn-street, 5.W.; Mr. C. Baker, High Holborn ;
Mr. Moginie, 35, Queen’s-square, London ; Messrs. R. & J.
Beck, 31, Cornhill; Mr. Charles Collins, Great Portland-
street; Mr. James Swift, 43, University-street, Tottenham
Court-road; Mr. J. W. Bailey, 162, Fenchurch-street ; Mr.
W. F. Stanley, London Bridge, and Mr. Edmund Wheeler,
of 48, Tollington-road, Holloway.

The members of the Croydon Microscopical Club who
exhibited, were Mr. H. Lee, Mr. J. W. Flower, Drs. Car-
penter, Strong, Adams, Owen, and Philpot; Messrs. John
Berney, A. B. Drummond, H. Lee, jun., H. Long, E. F.
Jones, A. Bennett, G. Perry, F. W. Gill, T. Bindley, A.
Crowley, G. Manners, George Purser, K. McKean, Fred.
West, jun., G. N. Price, J. 8. Johnson, KE. B. Sturge,
H. Ashby, A. Stevenson, Thomas Cushing, Henry Evans,
C. W. Hovenden, Cooper, Ridley, Skinner, N. L. Austen,
and T. Tritton.

Mr. Ripiey and Mr. Cooper (coachman and gardener to
Mr. Ridsdale, of ‘‘ The Elms,” Coombe-lane, Croydon), ex-
hibited six cases of English butterflies, and insects of the
beetle tribe, most artistically arranged; and Mr. Sxinner
(carpenter on the estate of W. H. Peek, Esq., M.P.), several
cases, the designs forming the Prince of Wales’ feathers, with
the motto ‘‘Ich dien,’ and two erowns traced in small
beetles. These cases were deservedly admired by the com-
pany.

A large number of curious and valuable articles were exhi-
bited, amongst which may be noticed contributions by the
PRESIDENT, by Mr. J. W. Fiower, Dr. Carpenter, Mr.
N. L. Austen, and Mr. W. J. Witson.

In addition to six microscopes, Mr. Ler exhibited speci-
mens of Kuplectella (Siliceous sponge) and the Portuguese
Bird’s Nest Sponge (Pheronema Grayit); a case of Chinese
insects ; a chess-board, each square representing a different
snow crystal as seen through the micrcseope, made by the
deughter of Waterhouse Hawkins, Esq.; fossil and recent

25

Nautilus ; a pearl oyster from whence a pearl, in size about
the circumference of a shilling had been cut, which was
sold for £1,000; a medallion of Professor Ehrenberg, pre-
sented by him to Mr. Lee; two magnificent pictures, repre-
senting the ‘‘ Fresh Water Fishes of Great Britain,” and the
‘¢Game Birds of Great Britain,” exquisitely painted by Mr.
H. L. Rotre, who also exhibited two baskets of Scotch trout
and a sea trout, the casts of which were prepared by Mr.
Frank Buckland, the natural appearance of the fish being due
to Mr. Rolfe’s clever pencil. Mr. Luz also exhibited Abyssi-
nian trophies, curious malformations of lobsters’ claws, a
eube of glass, an inch and a-half thick, pierced in a zig-zag
direction by the electric spark; some curious South Sea
fishing tackle ; egg of Python, laid at the Zoological Society’s
Gardens; a fine cast of a baby porpoise; the head of a
hake; a beautiful model, in copper, of a 28 gun frigate ;
a handsome and valuable vase, by Wedgewood, with
sculptured floral decorations—a magnificent work of art ;
and a carved nautilus shell, with the Royal Arms and the
Great Britain steam ship engraved thereon, and inscriptions
commemorative of that vessel’s first voyage across the At-
lantic.

Mr. J. W. Fuower exhibited a number of flint imple-
ments, some of which were of polished stone, from Norway,
France, and England; and many fossil teeth of Mastodon,
rhinoceros, &e., and tusks of elephant.

Dr. CarpPenter exhibited fossils from the chalk hills,
near Croydon; fossils in flint from this neighbourhood; a
fossil lobster from Waddon cottage estate; oysters, from
Brimstone Barn; shelis from the chalk and fossil bones
of animals from the phosphate beds, Potton, Bedfordshire.

Mr. N. L. Austen shewed three remarkably fine
heads, with gigantic spreading antlers, of deer, shot by
himself in Norway in September and October last ; a horn of
rhinoceros, mounted in silver ; a knobkerri, a weapon used
by the Zulu Kaffirs ; and other curious articles. Mr. W. J.
Witson’s contribution consisted of a copy, in bronze, of the
equestrian statue, erected to the memory of Marcus Aurelius.

A tasteful display of statuary was kindly lent by
Messrs. Candy and Gibbs; a variety of plants by Dr.
Strong and Mr. F. West; and some choice ferns by Mr.
J. H. Ley. Mr. Townly supplied a grand piano, by Erard,
and during the evening a selection of music was played by

' ™ The Commitiee fear that the list in their possesion is incomplete; and there-
fore hope that exhibitors whose names may not appear, will kindly excuse
unintentional omission.

26

Mrs. Mendham and Mr. Hemming (organist of St. Matthew’s
church) who kindly gave their services on the occasion. The
refreshments offered by the Club to their guests were satis-
factorily supplied by Mr. Biddell, of High-street.

December 21st, 1870.—*On somE VEGETABLE STRUCTURES RE-
CENTLY DISCOVERED IN THE LOWER CoaL Breps at Hauirax,
By Mr. W. Carrurners, F.L.8., or rHE British Museum.
—Mr. Carrurners, referring to a visit to Halifax, in
company with Mr. Lee and two other scientific friends, and
to a large series of coal fossils found there, described the dif-
ference between the calcareous concretions in the shale beds,
locally known as ‘‘ bawmpots,” and the similar concretions in
the coal itself, known as ‘‘coal-balls.” These balls were
portions of the original. vegetables which had been seized by
the infiltrated carbonate of lime before decomposition. They
exhibited, therefore, the very materials of which the amorphous
coal in which they occur was formed, so preserved as to
enable one to determine their structure and affinities. He
shortly described the great divisions of the vegetable king-
doms ; and dwelt at length on the vascular cryptograms, to
which section the plants of our coal-measures chiefly belong.
The first group of these plants referred to were the ferns,
represented in the flora of Britain by herbaceous forms, but
which in warmer regions assumed the habit and size of trees.
Ferns were remarkably abundant in the roof-shales of the
coal seams, but hitherto very imperfect data for their systematic
affinities had been obtained. The discoveries he was describing
were therefore highly valuable and important. Mr. Carruthers
next described the sporangia and spores found in the ‘ coal-
balls,’ and shewed, by a comparison with recent ferns, that
their affinities were with the filmy ferns. Only two species of
true arborescent ferns had been detected in carboniferous
strata; the species seemed to have been herbaceous, and
either terrestrial or epiphytic. The recent horsetails were
represented by an interesting group of arborescent plants—
the Calamites ; but whilst the modern Equisetee were humble
plants with hollow-jointed stems, and whorls of teeth for
leaves, these had woody stems of considerable height and true
leaves, but the fruits remarkably agreed in size and appearance
with the ancient and modern ferns, even to the possession by
the spores of hygrometric elaters. The difference, in fact,
could not be considered as of more than generic importance.
The “ club-mosses”’ of Britain were a group of low, generally
creeping plants, belonging to two genera, the one characterised
by having only one minute kind of spores called ‘‘ micro-
spores,” and the other having these and very much larger

27

ones, called ‘macro-spores.” The carboniferous lycopods
were huge trees, sometimes 80 feet high, and haying stems six
to eight feet in circumference. They belonged to several
genera, which were separated from each other by the character
and arrangement of the leaf-scars, but the recent discoveries
had shown that their fruits exhibited the difference which was
seen in the living plants. The cones were larger in the fossil,
but the size of the two kinds of spores agreed exactly in the
recent and modern forms.

The Presment announced, with painful regret, the
death of the Rev. J. B. Reade, F.R.S., President of the
Royal Microscopical Society. He related how the members
of the Club had seen at their opening meeting the noble and
venerable face of his dear old friend, beaming with benevolent
satisfaction at the commencement of such a movement in
Croydon, and how the deceased chief of English Micro-
scopists had constantly interested himself in the success of
the Club, and even so recently as the date of the Soirée, on
the 23rd ult., had warmly expressed his pleasure at its
success.

It was unanimously resolved that the President be re-
quested to communicate to Mrs. Reade the sincere regret
with which the members of the Club had heard of the loss of
so kind and disinterested a friend.

Mr. Lee also mentioned the decease, since the last
meeting, of two other well-known Microscopists, Mr. Thomas
Ross, the eminent optician, and Mr. Farrants, one of, the
early members of the Microscopical Society of London.

Notice was given from the chair that at the next meeting,

on the 18th of January, the election of officers would take

’ place, and that an amendment in the rules would be proposed

to the effect that two additional members be placed on the

committee. The ballot then took place for Messrs. John

Drummond, A. Ridsdale and C. Rutley, who were duly
elected members of the Club.

: January 18th, 1871.—TuHu AnnuaL GENERAL Meetine.—The
Presipent having communicated to the members present,
a portion of an interesting letter from Mrs. Reade, in
acknowledgment of the vote of sympathy and condolence
with her on the death of her amiable husband, the late
venerable President of the Royal Microscopical Society ; the
Secretary read the report of the Committee and that of the
Treasurer.

28

Mr. Purvis moved, Mr. F. Warren seconded, and it
was resolved—

That the report of the Committee be received, approved, and

entered on the minutes; and that it be printed and distributed to
the members,
—Both the mover and seconder expressed their great satis-
faction with the admirable manner in which the Club was
conducted, and the small expenditure by which such im-
portant results had been achieved. Mr. Warren added that
the liberality of the President and Committee in giving their
valuable assistance and support to kindred institutions in the
town, deserved the warmest approbation of every one, and
that to his personal knowledge the public exhibition by the
members, of their instruments and objects, had excited in
many ‘‘ outsiders’’ a taste for the microscope, amongst whom
was his own son, for whom he had bought a microscope, and
whom he hoped soon to see a member of the Club.

Mr. Lex having called on the meeting to confirm an
alteration in the rules of which notice had previously been
given, namely, that the number of the Committee should be
increased from five to seven, the alteration was unanimously
sanctioned.

Mr. Lee then rose and addressed the meeting as fol-
lows :—Gentlemen,—In the few remarks which you will
expect me to address to you at this the first of our Annual
Meetings, I shall limit myself to a review of the past, and my
views respecting the future of our Croydon Microscopical
Club. In my inaugural address I recounted its early history,
and laid before you an outline plan of the course I thought it
advisable that we should follow. Let us see to what extent
we have carried out our intentions, and how far we have pro-
gressed towards the attainment of the object we then set
before us. I regard our Club as a select body of friends and
neighbours brought together, firstly, by the sympathy en-
gendered by community of inclination for an intellectual
pursuit, and a desire to associate with men of similar tastes ;
secondly, by the yearning for a more intimate knowledge of
the works and workings of Nature, which inevitably arises in
the minds of a certain proportion of educated and thoughtful
men, but which is often intuitive, and may be surprisingly
developed in those who have had no such privileges in their
youth ; and thirdly, by the hope of our becoming an associa-
tion of painstaking naturalists and microscopists, who should
occasionally be able to contribute some new fact or observa-
tion to the Treasury of Science. I believe these were the
motives which brought us together, and I am glad to be able
to express to you my unqualified satisfaction with the degree

29

in which our just expectations have been fulfilled. Our
intercourse with each other has been most cordial and
agreeable ; old friendships have been drawn closer, and new
ones made fast by
The secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silken tie

of congeniality of taste that binds us together. At our
monthly meetings all unnecessary formalities, all affectation
of deep learning, all assumption of superiority of knowledge
by one member over another, have been avoided ; aud there
has been an undeviating readiness on the part of each to im-
part the result of his experience for the benefit of all. Iam
especially gratified by the perseverance that has been shown
by a large number of the members in bring their microscopes
to our meetings. The display of interesting objects, and the
conversation it gives rise to respecting their preparation and
mounting, is an important feature in our proceedings; and
the facility thus afforded for the illustration of the papers
read, by the exhibition of the organisms, &c., described, is an
advantage which cannot be too highly estimated. I am
proud to tell you, gentlemen, that in this particular our Club
excels every similar Society with which I am acquainted. I
need not say that I desire to see this custom steadily per-
sisted in, and I hope that other members who possess
microscopes will not allow a trifling personal inconvenience
to interfere with their bringing them to our meetings,
remembering that each one of a fraternity like ours should
feel pleasure in performing the duty of contributing to the
general stock of information and enjoyment. The papers
read have been so interesting as invariably, I believe, to make
you wish they were longer; and I cannot but congratulate
you on having had amongst our lecturers two such eminent
men as our treasurer, Mr. Flower, and Mr. Carruthers, of
the British Museum. I have the promise of papers in the
future from other gentlemen equally well known in other de-
partments of science, and I am sure that you will know how
to appreciate such valuble assistance. But I should like to
have more frequently brought before us unassuming but prac-
tical communications from our members themselves—like that
by Mr. Perry, ‘‘On Mosses,’”’—and to encourage Conversa-
tional discussions of difficulties encountered in mounting
objects, and other such matters, in order that beginners may
be benefitted by the experience of those amongst us who have
long since overcome many of the obstacles which impede the
success of the novice. In their Report, the Committee have
alluded to the excursions which were organised during the
past summer. I have every reason to believe that we shall

30

be able to make arrangements for a series of excursions to
take the place of our ordinary meetings through the period of
our recess this year, which shall be equally pleasant, and
even more profitable from a scientific point of view. Our
Soirée, on the 23rd of November last, was, as the Committee
have reported to you, a great success, as showing what our
Club could do for itself, and the sympathy it enjoyed of older
Societies, and scientific friends in London. It met with
universal commendation, and raised the Club greatly in
public estimation. I have no doubt that if it be decided that
the Exhibition shall be an annual one, the sale of tickets
will, in future, nearly, if not quite, repay the expenses.
The drain upon our resources by the cost of our first
entertainment of this kind was so great as to hinder our
carrying out a wish which I have entertained, that a few
useful books on the microscope and the preparation of objects
should be purchased out of the Club funds for the use of the
members. The consideration of this subject is reserved for
discussion by the more numerous Committee whom you will
presently elect. I mentioned in my opening address that I
intended, with the sanction of the Committee, to propose to
the authorities of congenial provincial societies a reciprocity
of visiting and other privileges between their members and
our own. I have unofficially taken preliminary steps towards
obtaining those advantages, but I have felt that I could make
no formal proposals on the strength of what we expected to
achieve, but that they must be accompanied by a statement
of what we have already done. The report which you have
ordered to be printed furnishes me with the necessary cre-
dentials. The cultivation of friendly feelings and intercourse
with other societies established for purposes similar to ours,
especially in our town and neighbourhood, is a policy with
which I distinctly identify myself and to which I shall.
firmly adhere. Science, Literature, and Art, are natural
allies, and although a doubt has been expressed on the
point, I am sure that we cannot do wrong in giving all the
help we consistently can to the School of Art, and to the
Literary Institution under whose roof we both meet. And
now I come to a point of great importance in its influence
upon the usefulness of our studies to ourselves and others ; I
refer to the systematizing of our work. Iam satisfied with
what has been done during our first year, but it is time that
each of us began, in conjunction with others of similar tastes
to follow up with a distinct purpose some particular subject.
The purpose should be the more complete knowledge of our
local Natural History, and the subjects which I would espe-
cially indicate to you, as not difficult, are entomology, botany,

31

microscopic paleontology, and pond life. I communicated to
you, on a former occasion, my friend Mr, Wilson Saunders’s
suggestion that we should unite with the Holmesdale Club at
Reigate, in the botanical sections; and I shall shortly ask
those who are interested and able to help in the four subjects
I have named, to confer with me respecting the organisation
of co-operative work upon them. I have seen so much skill
and ingenuity displayed by many of our members in pre-
paring and mounting objects, and so much latert talent in
this direction, that I have determined to offer a prize to be
presented at our next Annual Meeting, for the best series of
six dozen mounted objects. The variety, novelty, and
scientific value of the specimens, difficulty of preparation,
and neatness of manipulation will be taken into considera-
tion. The competiturs must be amateurs and members of
of the Club ; the judges will be two members of the Council
of the Roya! Microscopical Society; and the prize will be a
cabinet, designed by myself to contain all the necessary
apparatus for the mounting of microscopic objects, and of
the value of £5. I conclude with the assurance of the hap-
piness I have experienced in associating with you all during
the past year; and with the hope that, encouraged and
assisted by our fellow members, and stimulated by their
approbation and example, we may be able, during the year
which is to come, to maintain and increase the attractions
and usefulness of our Club.

Mr. Atrrep CrowLey then addressed the meeting,
remarking that the progress of the Club from the first had
been to him a source of pleasurable wonder. He wished to
give full credit to the Committee and other officers ; they
were an excellent team, admirably driven. In most Societies
the management devolved upon the Secretary and one or two
members, and the President was generally an ornamental
personage, elected on account of his local influence, or
because he had a handle to his name; but he had no hesi-
tation in saying that Mr. Lee was the mainspring of the
Club. It was he who, by his personal friendship with emi-
nent scientific men, enabled it to take so high a position,
when it was inaugurated ; it was to his exertions that the
success of the Soirée was attributable; and it was well
known to every gentleman present, that the minutest details
of the business of the Club received his careful attention ;
and that almost every measure adopted for the advancement
of its interests, was initiated by him. He was the ‘right
man in the right place,” and he had great pleasure in pro-
posing a resolution :—

That the thanks of the -members be given to the President for his

32

exertions on behalf of the Club from its commencement, and for the
Address which he has just delivered ; and that he be requested to allow
the latter to be printed with the report.

Mr. E. F. Jonzs seconded the motion, and confirming the
opinion of Mr. Crowley, said that he could himself testify to
the urbanity and kindness of the President in affording all
possible information and guidance to members who applied to
him for advice.

The motion was put by Mr. Frower, and carried by ac-
clamation.

Mr. Lee acknowledged the compliment, and warmly
eulogised the conduct of the Committee. He reminded the
members of the proofs of interest taken in the success of the
Club by their distinguished treasurer, Mr. Flower, and also
paid a high compliment to the secretary, Mr. Long. That
gentleman, he said, from the day when, by his advertisement
in the papers, he had sounded the ‘‘assembly”’ which brought
them together, had taken a most active interest in the welfare
of the Club. He devoted a great deal of time and thought
to its affairs, and his entirely gratuitous duty was performed
methodically and well. Of the clear and concise manner in
which he drew up the minutes of their meetings, they could
themselves judge. He desired to thank the officers and
committee for the support he invariably received from them.

Cordial votes of thanks to the Treasurer and to Mr. Long
were then proposed by Mr. G. N. Pricz, seconded by Mr.
Joun Berney, and carried with demonstrations of hearty
applause.

The President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee
were re-elected, and the names of Mr. G. Perry, Mr. G. F.
Linney, and Mr. F. West, jun., were added to the committee ;
one of the three having been nominated to fill the vacancy
caused by the lamented decease of Mr. Haward.

Messrs. J. M. Eastty, J.P., E. Marshall, H. Noakes,
P. S. Punnett, and J. Radley, were elected members of the
Club.

The following Members have exhibited Microscopes, &c.,
at the monthly meetings :—

Ashby, H. ; Austen, N. L.; Bennett, A. ; Berney, John ; Bind-
ley, T.; Carpenter, Dr. ; Cooper, G.; Crowley, A.; Crowley, P. ;
Cushing, T.; Drummond, A. B.; Evans, H.; Flower, J. W.; Gi
F. W. ; Haward, A. ; Hovenden, C. W. ; Johnson, J. S. ; Jones, E. F. ;
Lee, H.; Lee, H., jun.; Long, H.; Manners, G.; Mc’Kean, K.;
Owen, Dr.; Perry, G.; Philpot, Dr.; Price, G. N.; Purser, G. ;
Radley, G. ; Spencer, G. J. ; Stevenson, A. ; Strong, Dr. ; Sturge, E. ;
Tritton, T. ; West, F. ; West, F., jun. ; Wood, J. D.

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‘OL8T ‘S16 UAAWAOTA ‘“LUOdTU SUTAOSVAIL

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.
cag We: OEM ct —

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its members ; for the
discussion of subjects connected with, or dependant upon Microscopical
research ; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopic Objects and
Preparations ; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex officio), and seven other members—three
to form a quorum. Two of the Committee shall retire every year, but
shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by two or
more members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge
of him, and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, ac-
cording to the Form appended. The certificate shall be read from the
chair, and the candidate therein recommended ballotted for at the
following meeting—three black balls to exclude.

2,—The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on
the 1st of January, and no person shall be entitled to the privileges of
the Club until his subscription has been paid.

3. Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the
Club, provided they do not reside within the district ; such honorary and
corresponding members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of
the Club, and shall have no vote in its affairs.

4,—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural
History amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals of
that class may be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first com-
muuicate some original information or observation on Microscopy or
Natural History, or exhibit such specimens as shall by their merit
satisfy the committee. Such Associates shall’ enjoy the privileges of
Honorary Members.

5.—No member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the
Club until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to
the Secretary of bis intention to resign.

6.—lf it shall be thought desirable to expel any member from the
Club, the same shall be done by a resolution of the committee, which
shall be read at the next ordinary meeting; and at the following meeting
a ballot shall take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-
thirds of the members present shall vote for such member’s expulsion, he
shall no longer be considered a member.

7._Any member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting,
who shall enter his name, with that of the member by whom he is intro-
duced, in a book to be kept for that purpose. ;

ORDINARY MEETINGS.

1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third
Wednesday in every month (excepting the months of June, July,
and August), at eight o’clock in the evening; the chair to be taken at
half-past eight precisely ; or at such other time as the committee may
appoint.

35

2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—

T.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for
approval as being correct.
Il.—The names of candidates for membership shall be read, and the ballot for
the election of members shall take place.
IlI.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after which the
chair shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a con-
yersazione, to terminate at ten o’clock.

3.—In the absence of the President, the members present at any
ordinary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening.

4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of
the committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject
of the papers to be read shall be given by the secret ary to the members.
No paper shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by
the especial permission of the chairman.

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two members ap-
pointed at the ordinary meeting in December. No member of the com-
mittee shall be eligible as an auditor.

2.—At the same meeting notice of the annual meeting in January
shall be given from the chair, and the nomination of members for election
as officers for the ensuing year shall be announced.

3.—An annual meeting of the Club’shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-
past eight o’clock, when the election of officers for the year ensuing shall
take place, and the report of the committee on the affairs of the Club,
and the balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4,—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at
one of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed
alteration or addition must be given at or before the preceding ordinary
meeting.

aad

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.

—— 1)

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Mr.
of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to

recommend him for Election.
(on my personal knowledge. )

This Certificate was read 187
The Ballot will take place 187

=—o—

Noty.—The foregoing Rules were adopted at a general meeting of the original
members of the Club, held.on the 16th of March, 1870, when the
gotawites gentlemen were elected as officers and members of the com-
mittee :—

President—Mr. HENRY LEB, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &.
Treasurer—MR. JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &c.
* Hon. Sec.—Mr. HENRY LONG.

Committee—

Mr. JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S.; Mr. WILLIAM REEVES COOPER; Mr.
ALFRED HAWARD ; Dr, HENRY LANCHESTER; Dr, HENRY J. STRONG.

a

* Communications to be addressed to the Hon. Sec., 90, High Street, Croydon.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Adams, T. R., M.D., Ottoman Villas, St. James’s-road.
Ashby Henry, St. James’s-road.

Austen, Nathaniel Lawrence, F.L.S., F.Z.S., ‘The Acacias,” Pitlake
Baker, Samuel, Montague Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Baldiston, Frederick, Hanover Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Berney, Edward, M.R.C.S., 73, High-street.

Berney, John, F.R.M.S., 61, North-end.

Bennett, Arthur, 101, High-street.

Bevis, Charles, 1, St. John’s Villas, Waddon-road.
Bindley, T., St. Peter’s-road.

Blake, W. J., Duppas Hill-terrace.

Bonus, Charles, Oakwood House, Sydenham-road.
Carpenter, Alfred, M.D., 113, High-street.

Cleaver, H. A., M.R.C.S., 40, North-end.

Combs, George, Warehousemens’ and Clerk’s School, Russell-hill.
Cooper, George, M.R.C.S., 4, George-street.

Cooper, W. R., Addiscombe-road.

Corden, George, 53, High-street.

Crowley, Alfred, Bramley Oaks, Bramley-hill,

Crowley, Philip, Waddon House. .

Cushing, Thomas, 1, Manilla-terrace, Albert-road.

Dix, T. H., 36, High-street.

Drummond, Arthur B., Derby-terrace.

Drummond, John, 76, North-end.

Drummond, William, 2, Sydenham-road.

Eastty, J. M., J.P., Wellesley House, Wellesley-road.
Edridge, T. R., J.P., The Elms, High-street.

Evans, Henry, Bramley-hill.

Ewart, Earnest, Edwin Villas, Mayday-road.

Farmer, R. J., M.Q.M.C, Railway Incline, London-bridge.
Fisher, F. D., Bank Villa, Selsdon-road.

Flower, John, Fairfield-road.

Flower, John Wickham, F.G.S., &c., Park Hill House.
Fuller, R. Jarvis, Bishop’s-road, Duppas-hill.

Gibson, John, Canning Lodge, Addiscombe-road.

Gill, F. W., M.Q.M.C., 6, Bedford Villas, Dingwall-road.

37

Grundy, Charles, Outram Villa, Outram-road, Addiscombe.
Hackshaw, R., Swansea Villa, Elgin-road.

Haddock, Roland, 64, High-street.

Hales, Edward, 27, The Waldrons.

Holmes, John, 3, Sydenham-road.

Hopgood, James, Clapham-common.

Horniman, W. H., 41, London-road.

Horsley, Henry, M.R.C.S., 24, North-end.

Hovenden, C. W., Clifton Lodge, Selhurst-road, South Norwood.
Hovenden, R., Clifton Lodge, Selhurst-road, South Norwood.
Hudson, Robert, F.R.S., J.P., &c., Clapham-common,
Jaquet, Rev. J. H., B.A., Selsdon-road.

Johnson, Cuthbert W., F.R.S., Waldronhyrst, The Waldrons.
Johnson, J. S., M.R.C.S., 105, High-street.

Jones, E. F., St. Germain Villas, Forest-hill.

Lanchester, Henry, M.D., Encombe Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Latham, Baldwin, Whitgift Lodge, Wellesley-road.
Lashmar, Charles, M.D., 63, North-end.

Lee, Henry, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &c., The Waldrons.
Lee, Henry, jun., The Waldrons.

Leeds, C. E., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.

Linney, G. F., Friends’ School, Park-lane.

Long, Rev. D., Bramley-hill.

Long, Henry, M.Q.M.C., &c., 90, High-street.

Lowndes, Edwin, 120, High-street.

Major, C. W., Cromwell House, Duppas-hill-terrace,
Manners, George, F.S.A., F.L.S., The New Terrace, Lansdowne-road.
Marshall, Edward, M.R.C.S., Mitcham.

Me’Kean, Kenneth, jun., Tower House, The Waldrons.
Muggeridge, T. Benjamin, Upper Addiscombe-road.
Muggeridge, W. H., Upper Addiscombe-road.

Nation, W. J., M.Q.M.C., 1, Clifton Villas, Thornton-road.
Newton, Charles, Crossland Villa, Broad-green.

Noakes, Henry, 3, Tenterden-terrace, Queen’s-road.

Odling, William M. B., F.R.S., &c., &c., Sydenham-road,
Olley, W. H., 4, Savage Gardens, Tower-hill.

Oswald, Edward Charles, The Palace.

Owens, Henry, M.D., 6, Sutherland Villas, Selhurst-road,
Page, Joseph, 5, Ebenezer-terrace, Parson’s-mead.

Paget, Peter, St. James’s-road.

Peek, W. H., M.P., Wimbledon House, S. W.

Perry, George, Park-lane.

Philpot, Charles, M.D., 6, Sydenham-road.

Pollard, C. B., 4, St. John’s-grove,

Price, G. N., St. Peter’s-road.

38

Punnett, P. S., ‘‘ Wintons,” Park Hill-road.

Purser, George, Wallington, Carshalton.

Purvis, William, Dingwall-terrace, Dingwall-road.
Radley, Joseph, 36, Park-lane.

Reid, George, 3, Athol Villas, St. James’s-road.

Ridge, Byron, 914, Church-street.

Ridsdale, A., The Elms, 8, Upper Coombe-street.
Roberts, Rev. G. R., The Limes, High-street.

Rogers, W. Ed., Shaftesbury Cottage, Lansdowne-road.
Roper, A. G., M.R.C.S., 57, North-end.

Rowland, W. H., High-street.

Rutley, Charles, The Oaks, Warrington-road.

Snelling, W. H., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.
Spencer, G. J., The Grange, Sutton-common, Sutton.
Spencer, John, M.Q.M.C., The Grange, Sutton-common, Sutton.
Stanley, W. F., ‘‘ Stanleybury,” Albert-road, South Norwood.
Stephenson, H. P., The Hermitage, Warrington-road.
Stevenson, Albert, Oak Hill-road.

Steele, Joseph, L.D.S., M.R.C.S., George-street,
Strong, H. J., M.D., North-end.

Sturge, Edward, The Waldrons.

Sutherland, William, M.D., George-street.

Tarrant, W. B., Park-hill.

Taylor, B. R., Ravenswood.

Tritton, Thomas, 2, Clifton Villas, Selsdon-road.
Twentyman, Alfred, Fairfield House, Addiscombe-road.
Warren, Francis, Ailsa Villa, Wellesley-road.
Waterman, George, South-end.

West, Frederick, The Waldrons.

West, Frederick, jun., The Waldrons.

Whiffin, G., Bramley-hill.

Whiffin, H. W., The Limes, Park Hill-road.

White, Rev. John, M.A., Penge.

Whitling, Henry Townsend, F.R.C.S., High-street.
Wood, J. D.

F, BALDISTON, PRINTER, NORTH END, CROYDON.

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SECOND REPORT

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDIN GS

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD

JANUARY 17, 1878.

CROYDON :
PRINTED BY JESSE W. WARD, ‘‘ ADVERTISER ” OFFICES, KATHARINE STREET

1872.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

FOR THE YEAR 1872.

President:

HENRY LEE, F.LS., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &e

Greasurer:

JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., Xe.

Honorary Becretary:

HENRY LONG.
Gonimntiittee +
J. BERNEY. GEO. PERRY.
W. R. COOPER. 7 H. J. STRONG. M.D.
G. F. LINNEY. "LANCHESTER, M.D.

GEO, MANNERS. PHILIP CROWLEY.

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

meee

The Szconp Annuat Meerine of the Croydon Microscopical
Club was held at the Public Hall, on Wednesday, 17th January ,
1872, Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The minutes of
the last meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. A. R.
Jacobs and Mr. Robert Hingston were balloted for, and duly
elected members, and the following gentlemen were nominated for
election at the next meeting:—Mr. C. Penley, Mr. H. W
Petherick, Mr. Edwin Fogg, and Mr. R. J. Dickens.

The PresipENT announced that the Club was honoured b
the presence of Mr. John Keast Lord, the distinguished traveiler
and naturalist.

The Hon. Secrerary then read the following report :—

In presenting their Second Annual Report, the Committee are glad to
be able again to congratulate the Members on its continued prosperity and
increasing success. The number of Members is now 120. During the past
year one Member has been removed by death, and ten have resigned on
quitting this neighbourhood. Sixteen new Members have been elected,
leaving an increase in the present number of five over that of last January.

The Monthly Meetings continue to be well attended. Able and
interesting Papers have been read, several of which have been contributed by
Members of the Club. The advantage of having the Papers read well
illustrated by microscopic objects becomes more and more apparent, and a
good display of miscroscopes and objects before and after the lecture is also

_ appreciated as an agreeable portion of the proceedings of each evening. As
an additional incentive to Members possessing microscopes to bring them to
the Meetings for the general benefit, and in order to prevent their being
unnecessarily inconvenienced by doing so, the Committee have authorized
the purchase of additional lamps, and have provided for their being always
trimmed and ready for use.

A few excursions were arranged during the recess, and were greatly
enjoyed by those who availed themselves of them, but it is felt that this
branch of the Club’s operations is capable of considerable development, and
that the appointment of an Excursion Committee is desirable for this
purpose.

The Committee refer with pleasure to the great success that attended
the Soirée held at the Public Hall on the 8th November last. The number
of tickets sold considerably exceeded that of the previous year, thus proving
the growing popularity of the Club in Croydon.

At the Annual Meeting last year the President kindly announced his
intention to give a ‘‘mounting cabinet,” of the value of £5, as a prize to
any Member of the Club—an amateur—who, at a given date before the next

6

Annnal Meeting, should exhibit the best six dozen microscopic slides of his:
own mounting.

The Committee hope that the generons intention of the President _has.
accemplished the object he had in view, viz., ‘‘By promoting a healthy
competition amongst the Members to give an incentive to many to advance
themselves in this interesting and important branch of microscopy.”

The state of the Club’s finances is highly satisfactory. There is a
balance in the hands of the Treasurer of £38 17s. 10d. The Committee-
therefore feel justified in expending, firstly, £10 in the purchase of books of”
microscopy and natural history, and, secondly, £5 on a cabinet, to contain a
collection of microscopical objects. They trust that the additions to the-
Lilrary will lead to an increased demand by Members for the loan of books,
and that they and others will, hy presents of slides, assist the Committee in
forming a collection of mounted objects now that a suitable cabinet has been.
provided for their reception.

ep cf HE ‘SOW

| NOSNHOL 'S T (pubis)

“goautoa aun fay) DY fifrjaa figauoy “ozadayy Burwjar suayonon ay} Pw ‘syunoo0 pf 9n0gD ay) pawymnud Bunany ‘paubrs.lopun oy} ‘AL

waunsna4, WAMOTA “MA “Lf (paubys' )

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QE 2. bao nf ey “e ss i -gasojsog | O LT TL. ‘* uoRnmeul oyuolng pur Avery] uopAoay *
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8

It was proposed by Mr. E. F. Jonzs, seconded by Mr. J. S.
Jounson, and resolved that the Report be adopted, printed, and
circulated amongst the Members.

It was moved by Dr. Lancuester, seconded by Mr. P.
Crow ey, and unanimously carried, that Henry Lee, Esq., J. W.
Flower, Esq., John Berney, Esq., and Mr. Henry Long be re-
elected to the offices of President, Treasurer, Librarian, and Hon.
Secretary respectively.

It was moved by Mr. J. S. Jounson, seconded by Mr. E. B.
Srurce, and resolved that the rule as to the management of the
Club be altered by the substitution of nine Committee-men for
seven.

It was moved by Mr. J. Berney, seconded by Dr. Strone,
and carried, that the second paragraph in the Rules under the
head of ‘“ Business Meetings and Election of Officers” shall in
future stand thus :—‘“ At the same meeting, notice of the Annual
Meeting in January shall be given from the chair,” and that the
third paragraph, instead of ‘when the election of officers for the
ensuing year shall take place,” shall in future stand thus— when
the nomination and election of officers shall take place.”

It was moved by Mr. E. F. Jones, seconded by Mr. E. B.
Srures, and carried, that Messrs. J. Berney, W. R. Cooper, G. F.
Linney, Geo. Perry, Dr. Strong, Dr. Lanchester, Philip Crowley,
and Geo. Manners form the Committee for the current year.

Votes of thanks were then accorded to the President,
Treasurer, Librarian, and Hon. Secretary, and to Mr. J. Berney
for kindly undertaking the duties of Secretary during Mr. Long’s
illness.

The competitors for the President’s prize were Mr. J. Berney,
Mr. C. W. Hovendon, Mr. J. S. Johnson, and Mr. K. McKean.

The judges were Captain Tyler, F.L.S., and Dr. Millar,
F.L.S., whose reports, awarding the prize to Mr. Berney, were
then read.

The President presented the cabinet to Mr. Berney, and to
each of the unsuccessful competitors he also presented a case of
instruments used in the dissection of microscopical objects.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS,
1871.

February 15th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the
chair. Mr. Harry Townend was balloted for and duly elected.

Dr. Strone read a paper “On Bonz Structure,” taking as
the heads of his subject, Ist, the appearance seen in ordinary
transverse and longitudinal sections of bone ; 2nd, the varieties of
bone, and in what they differ ; 3rd, the development of bone, how
it is formed, how nourished, and finally its chemical composition.

In the discussion which followed,

The Presipent remarked that microscopical comparison of
the size, form, and proportionate number of bone cells, and the
canaliculi radiating from them, had been. productive of very
important results in contributing to our knowledge of some of the
remarkable animals which existed on the earth in former ages.
As an example of this he would mention that about the year 1845
Professor Owen read a paper before the Geological Society, on
some Ornitholites (fossil remains of birds) from the chalk, the
bone especially described being a portion of the humerus of a
(supposed) longi-pennate bird. Subsequent discoveries of similar
bones led Dr. Bowerbank to believe that these so-called bird-bones
were those of the great flying reptile, the Pterodactyl. By one of
those strange coincidences of thought which not unfrequently
happen in scientific investigation, Professor Quekett was also
impressed with their similarity, and he and Dr. Bowerbank—
neither of them aware of the experiments which the other was
pursuing—determined upon a close microscopical examination of
the structural peculiarities of the bones, in the hope of eliciting
some characters, which would, in conjunction with their external
forms, point out with some degree of certainty the class of animals
to which these remains in reality belonged. They arrived inde-
pendently at the same conclusion—that the bones of birds,
reptiles, fishes, and mammals, each possess marked peculiarities
which furnish a means of deciding disputed relations of obscure
and difficult tribes of existing animals, as well as of ascertaining
the true relations of such paleontological remains as it might be
otherwise difficult or impossible, from their dilapidated condition,
to refer to their real position amongst animals.

In illustration of Dr. Strong’s paper, Mr. Lee also exhibited
the head of a boy’s thigh bone, which had come away from the

10

patient after three years’ suffering from scrofulous disease of
the hip-joint, and a large portion of the shaft of the tibia of
another boy, whose leg was injured by a kick whilst playing at
football. In both cases a most successful cure had been effected
under the surgical care of his friend, Dr. Wm. Price, of Margate.

A paper was read by Mr. Tos. Cusine, entitled, “ Notss
ON THE PouaRizaTion OF LIGHT WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE
MaTHODS OF EMPLOYING IT IN CONNECTION WITH THE MICROSCOPE.”
The author stated that he had prepared this paper, at the request
of the President, in order to explain to the members of the Club
a new arrangement of polarising apparatus, being one which had
attracted considerable attention at the conversazione of the Croydon
School of Art last month. Before proceeding, however, to describe
the mechanism of this ingenious contrivance, Mr. Cushing thought
it would be desirable to point out some of the various modes of
polarising light in order to render the description of this apparatus
more clear and intelligible. He then explained that the term
polarisation was, at the suggestion of Sir Isaac Newton, given by
the celebrated Huyghens to certain peculiarities possessed by rays
of light which, having passed through crystals of Iceland Spar, or
other double refracting media, acquired properties which were
supposed to bear some analogy to those possessed by the opposite
poles of a magnet. But whether this term is the best designation
of the phenomena which is known as polarised light or not, it is
clear that rays modified by the above and various other modes of
treatment do present, as it were, sides on which they can be again
reflected, and others on which they cannot. He then passed on to
describe in general terms the method of polarisation by single
refraction pointing out numerous substances, and the particular
angles at which they polarise light, and stated his belief that even
some metallic substances which are said to be incapable of
polarising light have to some extent that power. The ordinary
polarising apparatus supplied as an adjunct to the microscope was
shown to consist of two Nicol’s prisms, not that two are necessary
to polarise light—as this is done by a single prism of this con-
struction—but because the second prism is necessary to ascertain
that the light has been polarised in passing through the first.
Hence the second is termed an analyzer. In the microscope the
polarising prism is invariably fixed under the object while the
analyzer is always placed above, but it has the choice of two
positions, one just above the objective, and the other above the
eye piece. Each position has its peculiar advantages and disadvan-
tages, and must therefore be determined in each case according to
the requirements of the observer. If on looking through the
microscope, when the polarising apparatus is attached, the field
should appear dark it will be found that by rotating one of the
prisms through 90 degrees or a quarter of a revolution it will

11

become light, and if the rotation be continued the light and dark
fields will alternate at every 90 degrees. When this is the case
it is clear that the light has been polarised in its passage through
the first prism. The well known phenomena of colour produced
by the action of crystallised bodies on polarised light are described
by Brewster as being ‘‘ the most splendid within the whole range
of optics.”. The production of those beautiful colours in some
objects, and with which we are all more or less familiar, is brought
about by the interposition of a single plate of selenite between the
polariser and the object which is the form of apparatus most
common in use. Other arrangements were described, such as that
of “ Darker’s,” in which three selenite plates are mounted in such
a way that either one, two, or three can be employed at pleasure,
each being capable of independent rotation, but without any
mechanical contrivance for so doing, and by combining these
selenites in various ways numerous colours together with their
complimentary tints can be produced. ‘‘ Hislop,” whose labours
among microscopic crystals suggested to him the necessity of
having some mechanical means by which the adjustment of the
selenites as well as their rotation could be effected, contrived what
he has called his ‘Analysing Selenite Stage,” in which the
selenites can he mechanically rotated either singly or in combina-
tion, but at the same speed. This plan is most undcubtedly an
improvement upon Darker’s. But shortly after this came Field,
with his ‘‘ Ratio-Micro-Polariscope,” so called from the fact of the
selenites moving in a fixed ratio to one another; his aim being to
reduce this mode of observation to something like a systematic
method, and which his apparatus is well calculated to do; but as
it is very elaborate and costly, and therefore beyond the reach of
ordinary observers it is not likely ever to come into frequent use.
The last arrangement to which I will call your attention is that
which was the more immediate object of this paper. It was
devised by Mr. Carl Becker, who is well known for his great skill
in designing and constructing instrumental appliances for physical
research, after having seen the much more complicated one of
Field’s. It combines the chief advantages of the latter with
extreme simplicity and compactness. The selenites in this
arrangement are each mounted in a circular toothed ring of the
same diameter and number of teeth, and which are graduated
and numbered on the horizontal faces in order to enable
the observer to set the axes of the selenites in any desired
position ; these are all enclosed in a cylindrical metal box in which
they revolve with perfect freedom. One end of this box ter-
minates in a fitting for the under stage of the microscope, whilst
the other carries a Nicol’s prism which has an independent rotary
motion. There are two openings on opposite sides of this box,
one for adjusting the selenites, and the other to receive a differentia }

12

pinion which gears into all the selenite rings at the same time, and
is actuated by means of a small milled head. li this milled head
is turned round, it will be seen that all the selenites are being
rotated at the same moment, but with unequal velocities, and by
the aid of this ingenious contrivance it will be found that the
most beautiful combinations of colour are produced, and will go
on varying until the axes of the selenites return again to their
normal position, which will of course depend upon the relation
between the numbers of the pinion and the teeth of the selenite
rings. Mr. Cushing illustrated his paper with carefully made
drawings of all the polariscopes he described, and at the close
presented to the Club a treatise, by Chas. Woodward, Esq., F.R.S.,
entitled “‘A Familiar Introduction to the Study of Polarised
Light.” After a few remarks from the President, the unanimous
thanks of the Club were accorded to Dr. Strong and Mr. Cushing
for their interesting papers.

March 15th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected
Members :—Mr. W. H. Beeby, Mr. J. S. Crowley, and Mr. W.
T. Loy.—The PresipEnT presented the Club with “The Prepara-
tion and Mounting of Microscopical Objects,” by Davies, and
“ The Collector’s Hand-book of Alge.” He also announced that
since the last meeting three new Microscopical Societies had been
formed, viz. :—the Sydenham and Forest Hill, the Margate, and
the South London Microscopical and Natural History Society.

Mr. J. S. Jonnson, M.R.C.S., read a Paper “On a Micro-
SCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF THE OysTER,” which he illustrated by
numerous anatomical preparations.

A lengthy discussion followed, during which the Presipent
stated his belief that the Oyster did not produce more than one
spat in a year, and although they might, from unfavourable cir-
cumstances, be stopped from breeding during a whole season,
they certainly would not spawn at all that year. With regard to
the scarcity of oysters, it was caused by atmospheric and climatic
influences, which it was impossible to account for. Oysters bred
just as freely as ever they did, but the young ones did not adhere,
and that was why we felt the loss. At Herne Bay, in June, the year
before last, the sea was so thickly impregnated with young oysters
in their swimming condition that a great number might be taken
up by merely dipping the blade of a knife into the water. During
that month the nights were very cold, and, believing that a low
temperature, among other things, prevented the development of the
fry, he and Mr. Frank Buckland deposited some of them in a vase
of sea-water. On reducing the temperature by inserting a piece of
ice, he found that the young oysters sank to the bottom of the
vessel, but on withdrawing the ice, and restoring the water to its

13

previous temperature, they revived and came again to the surface.
From experiments he had made at Herne Bay, he believed that
there was only one species of Ostrea. He had obtained some of
the large coarse-shelled Welsh oysters, and, on putting them into
the experimental oyster beds, he found that in course of time they
formed new growth of shell, identical with that of the true native.
He had also placed American oysters in the same beds, .but the
growth of the shells had not been sufficiently marked to be con-
clusive.

A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Johnson for his
interesting lecture.

_ April 19th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected :—
Mr. Henry Moore, jun., and Mr. John Rickett.—Dr. Brarirawairte,
Vice-President of the Quekett Microscopical Club, delivered a
lecture “ On Mossks, WHERE THEY ARE TO BE FouND, AND HOW
THEY ARE TO BE PreseRveD.” He pointed out that there were
9,000 different species of mosses in the world, of which 540 were
to be found in our own country. In all places where there was a
constant mcisture, either locally or atmospherically, mosses would
be found on trees, garden walls, thatched roofs, on rocks, or beside
streams. Some were of an opposite character, preferring a scorched
soil, hence they were frequently to be found on gipsy encamp-
ments. One family of mosses flourished in decaying animal
matter, another on old leather, such as discarded shoes, and a third
even on old hats. In selecting mosses for the herbarium. it would
be preferable to secure fruit-bearing specimens, keeping such species
separate on a piece of numbered paper, and recording in a note-hoek
the details respecting it for further reference. When travelling,
and it was inconvenient to prepare the specimens at once, they
should be spread cut on the floor to dry ; for, if packed close in a
bag while in a damp state, they would mildew and spoil. When
it was wished to prepare their specimens after having thus pre-
served them, it would be necessary to soak them in water, which
would free the roots from soil, and the plants would expand and
become as fresh as when first gathered. It was best to form them
into moderately flat tnfts. Scme of the leaves should be removed
for microscopical examination, and mounted in glycerine jelly.
Dr. Braithwaite exhibited numerous specimens from his own her-
barium. For each family he had provided a sheet of cardboard,
for each genus « sheet of coloured paper, and for each species a
sheet of drawing-board. A minute description of the anatomy of
mosses, and the important part they play in preparing the soil in
many places for higher orders of vegetation, brought this interesting
lecture to a close, when a hearty vote of thanks was unanimously
accorded te Dr. Braithwaite.

14

The President and the following Members exhibited miero-
scopic objects in connection with the lecture :— Messrs. J. Berney,
F. W. Gill, G. N. Price, F. West, jun., G. Manners, EK. F. Jones,
J. 8. Johnson, K. McKean, G. F. Linney, C. W. Hovenden, A.
FPennett, H. Long, J. Radley.

Mr. W. F. Stanley exhibited a new collecting stick for pond
life.

May 17th, 1871—Wenry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected :-—
Mr. W. Ingram, Mr. J. Rhodes, and Mr. J. Wocdward.

The Prestpent announced that Mr. J. Berney had kindly
consented tu take the office of Librarian to the Club, and that
Members would have the opportunity of changirg their books at
Mr. Berney’s house, North End, any time between ten in the
morning and six in the evening.

Mr. Joun Bernny read a Paper ‘On tHe Mountine or
Microscoric Ossects,” after which Mr. W. H. Rowzanp read the
following Paper “On tHE Great Bustarp :”—“ In any society
where natural history is the subject for discussion, and in any
part of England, though the magnificent bird upon which I shall
presume to speak this evening may not have been an inhabitant of
the particular district in which we may be assembled, I can hardly
imagine any bird which could be more fitting for notice than the
“Great Bustard.” It is, at the present day, one of the birds pro-
tected by the Game Laws of England, though with little reason,
for few of us who increase the revenue by the taking out of game
certificates have even heard of the bird in its natural state, still
less have shot at or even seen one. That the bird was formerly
located in several parts of England, and on my native Wiltshire
Downs, is certain ; and there is, on Salisbury Plain, an inn called
‘The Bustard,’ to remind us that such a bird was once the pride
of the country. The circumstance of having, in 1856, become
myself the owner of a genuine specimen of this noble bird, has
enabled me to obtain statistics relating to it, which the knowledge
gained by an intense love of a sport which I enjoyed for many,
many years before I settled down to hard work in this town,
would never have assisted me to acquire. ‘The gpecies is so very
nearly extinct in this country that we must borrow largely from
what has been already written, because there is no opportunity for
comment from personal observation, and I mention this at starting
that I may not lay myself open to the charge of pirating the
treatises of men who have noted anything wnich they could glean
once in ten or twenty years about this bird, and recorded it for
their brother naturalists. Even the late Mr. Yarrell, in a paper
which he wrote for, and read before the Linnean Society in 1853,
prefaced it with the remark that the particulars relating to the

15

habits of the Great Bustard, supplied to him by kind friends,.
would, he thought, be sufficiently interesting to be communicated
—the great scarcity, or rather the then rare occurrence of the bird
in this country affording but few opportunities for observation.
This being the case in 1853, when that accomplished naturalist
read his paper, what is to be said nearly twenty years later? But
even in these days occasional specimens have occurred, as was the
case with my bird in 1856. Since then, however, there has, I
believe, been no specimen captured until the winter of this year

when two fine birds—a male and female—were taken near to the
old haunts on Salisbury Plain. ‘The disappearance in our own
time,’ says a writer in Fraser’s Maguzine, in 1854, ° of the Great
Bustard from the British catalogue of animal life is a striking illus-
tration of the encroachment of enclosures. The game birds of England
shy the face of their common enemy, the sportsman, and in their
natural state test what the Field newspaper once described as ‘ the
intellect of man against the instinct of the animal ;’ and those of
us who know the habits of the game birds and game animals of
this country have seen how largely the instinct of the animal pre-
vails over the intellect of the most cute sportsman. But to return
to the subject before us, I should observe that the Great Bustard
was a bird of sufficient mark to be noted so far back as the year
1512, and in the ‘ Northumberland Household Book’ of that year,

and from which I have an extract, bustards are mentioned. In the
‘ Household Book’ and privy purse accounts of the Lestranges of
Hunstanton, in 1578, is entered ‘a reward to Baker for bringing
two young bustards,’ and item— a bustard and a hernsewe ‘ killed
with ye crosbowe;’ and in a feast given in the Inner Temple Hall,
in the year 1555, bustards figured at 10s. each,—a large sum, it is.
said, in those days, when pheasants were 4s.; Turkey chicks, 4s. ;
partridges, 1s. 4d.; plovers, 6d. ; pigeons, ls. 6d. ; larks, 8d. ;
woodcocks, 7s. 8d.; and snipes, 2s. a dozen. The bustard con-
tinues to be occasionally noted on, in 1611 and 1622, and is
described as—

The big boan’d bustard then, whose body bears that size,
That he against the wind must runne, ere he can rise.

—and so on, very rarely till 1800, when we are told that, as we
enter on the presert century, the increasing scarcity of the species.
becomes apparent, and the instances of the capture of the bird are
carefully noted. In that year a hen bustard was shot on Salisbury
Plain, which measured from tip to tip of the wings full six feet,
and upwards of three feet from the point of the beak to the-
extremity of the tail ; and a friend of mine informs me that there
is still living in Wiltshire (at Tilshead) an old man of 75 years of
age, who well recollects his father keeping a bustard in confine-
ment. The bird was formerly hunted with greyhounds. and so.

16

"captured, before it was enabled to take flight, but, when it did fly,
it is reported not to have alighted again within a distance of seven
or eight miles. Young ones, too, were frequently taken by sheep
dogs upon the downs before they were capable of flight, and the
eggs were eagerly songht after, half a guinez being no unusual
price for a single egg, The flesh, too, was held in high esteem,
and in 1771 it was perhaps the more so, because it was not so very
easy to come at. The male bird, but rot the female, has a peculiar
formation called a ‘julor pouch,’ in which it can take and retain,
as much as seven pints of water. This is assumed to be for its
own consumption in places distant from water, and by some it has
been supposed to be for the purpose of supplying the female bird
with water when she is sitting. It is, however, doubtful whether
the bustard requires water at all, and the theory of its supplying
the female bird when she is sitting is probably erroneous, for it is
believed that when the cock bird has performed the portion
allotted him by nature he leaves the hen to bring up her little
family (of three or two, for the bustard lays not more than three
eggs, and more usually only two) without any assistance from him,
and, like our turkeys of the present day, he is not admitted into
the society of the female after she has once begun to lay her eggs,
Mr. Yarrell, in 1843, notes that a female bustard had been shot, a
few days before, upon an open plain between Helston and the
Lizard Point. He says it is the first instance of the capture of the
Great Bustard in Cornwall, and the last instance known to us of the
existence of this noble species in Great Britain. Thirteen years later,
viz., in January, 1856, I became the owner, by purchase, of a genuine
specimen of this bird, which was caught (as is recorded in the 2nd
vol. of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’) by a little boy, who saw it at
the edge of a turnip field, in the daytime, within a mile of the
town of Hungerford, in Berkshire. The bird and the boy had a
short fight, but the bird, having a broken leg, was worsted in the
fray, and, being dragged along by its wing to a barn, was there
killed. No other instance is known of a male bird (though I have
ar indirect idea about a female) having been taken since my bird,
till this last winter (again fifteen years since the former specimen
was noted), when two were shot in Wiltshire, one male and the
other female. Mr. Yarrell doubted, rather, the existence of the
jular pouch, and he was very vexed with Mr. Leadbeater, who had
my bird to preserve, that he did not give him an opportunity to
examine the neck. I am told, however, as a fact, that.this pouch
was very visible in the male bird shot this winter, and that it held
six pints of water. The weight of the male birds seems to have
varied from 28lbs. to 13$1bs., which was the weight of my bird ;
that of the last one was 16lbs. The colour of the bird is a clay
brown, the feathers being barred with black ; the head and the
-upper part of the neck a greyish white, and ina full-grown male bird

17

a tuft or plume of about seven inches in length on the head ; the
tail feathers are tipped with white, and the bird is altoyether a
very handsome fellow indeed. The. young, at a month old, are
said to be covered with a buff-coloured ‘down,’ barred upon the
back, wings, and sides with black. There are, or there were,
specimens of the bird in the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent’s.
Park. In a plate of Domesticata, however, the length of their
age is so reduced that it seldom exceeds two or three years, and
they never have shown any inclination to breed in confinement.
The English specimens are fast becoming, if indeed they have not
become, extinct, and with them the recollection of sport known
ouly to past generations. The birds taken last winter (and
probably my specimen of 1856) were, I believe, migratory birds,
and therefore the value attached to them, as one of the ancient
game-birds of the country, ceases to some extent. I have
endeavoured to obtain a specimen of the Great Bustard to exhibit
to the Club this evening, and for that purpose have visited both
the Mr. Ward, in Vere Street, and Mr. Ward, in Wigmore Street,
but neither of them, even amongst their splendid collections, have:
any specimen or skin of the Great Bustard. Our meetings,.
hitherto, have been occupied by learned Papers (too learned for-
some of us), subjects connected with microscopy, and I venture to
hope that one evening, or part of an evening, as this has been,
devoted occasionally to natural history, and to discussions upon
that very interesting and instructive subject, will add materially to
the popularity of our already popular Club.

The Presipent exhibited a bustard’s egg, besides which there
was a case containing two stuffed specimens of the bird on the
table. These birds, however, Mr. Rowxzanp informed the Club,
were foreign.

A Member said he was under the impression that there was.
a Great Bustard shot in Suffolk some six years ago.

Mr. Rowxayp thought that was a hen bird the gentleman was
alluding to. Only lately ,two hens had been seen, no doubt,
migratory. It was a singular thing that so few cock birds were
ever seen now, and doubtless it was owing to their being very
scarce, or keeping away from this country.

The PresipentT said the capture of the Great Bustards in this.
country had been announced in Land and Water lately, but their
sex was not stated. He continued that Mr. Linney had men-
tioned to him the discovery of a rare British plant in the
neighbourhood of Croydon.

Mr. G. F. Linney, at the request of the President, addressed
<he meeting with regard to the discovery. The plant in question,
the Cluytonia Perfoliata, was found by one of his school-koys nut
far from Carshalton.

Mr. E. B. Sturce stated that the Claytonia Perfoliatu was

18

-of American origin. A specimen had been found, about three
aveeks back, near Addiscombe.

The PresrpEnT said he was sure they were all wishful for
him to give the thanks of the Club to those gentlemen who had
been kind enough to read Papers that evening. In the course of
his remarks, he said that neither Mr. Rowland or any one else
need fear that the Club would discourage discussion on natural
history subjects. He then adjourned the ordinary meeting until
September, and, in the meantime, he hoped they would have
excursions together.

September 20th, 1871.—Alfred Carpenter, Esq., M.D., in the
chair. Mr. Alex. D. Taylor was balloted for and duly elected.

Mr. G. F. Linney read a Paper “On Land anp FResH
QWater SHetzrs.” The author described the apparatus with which
the conchologist should be equipped for collecting, showed how to
plepare specimens for the cabinet, explaiued the various methods
of wranging a collection, and pointed out the favourite haunts of
many kinds of snails in the immediate neighbourhood of Croydon.

October 25th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the
chair. ‘he following gentlemen were balloted for and duly
elected :—Messrs. Frederick Clarke, J. Corbet Anderson, Howard
Nalder, J. J. Gill, H. M. Klaassen, J. C. Sigsworth, and the Kev.
R. Rodolph Suffield.

The PresipentT announced that in the absence of Mr. H.
Long, who was ill, Mr. John Berney had kindly offered to under-
take the duties of Hon. Secretery.

Mr. Grorce Dowxer, F.G.S., read a Paper “On FREsH
Water Potyzoa.”

THe Seconp ANNUAL Sorree of the Club was held in the
Public Hall, Wednesday, November 8th, 1871.

Deputations were sent by the following Societies :—The
Royal Microscopical, Quekett, Linnean, Geological, Old Change,
South London, Forest Hill, Margate, and Holmesdale.

The following Members of the Croydon Microscopical Club
exhibited :—Dr. Owens, Dr. Strong, Messrs. J. Berney, J. H. Ley,
F. West, jun., K. McKean, W. H. Snelling, J. C. Sigsworth, C.
W. Hovenden, W. R. Cooper, G. Perry, G. F. Linney, H. Noakes,
J. S. Johnson, G. Manners, and the President.

Mr. Frank Buckuanp exhibited the celebrated Japanese
‘‘ Nondescript Monster,” and a bottle containing a rat. preserved
in spirits, whose history was somewhat singular. It had pushed
its head through a ham-bone, and, being unable to extricate itself
had lived for many months with this novel collar round its neck.
Attached to the bottle were the following lines written by Mr.
Henry Lee :—-

19

THE RAT WITH A BONE COLLAR.

Of the host of queer things my friend Buckland’s collected,
If the queerest of all were by some one selected,

It would certainly be the remarkable rat

Who’s been ‘‘ poking his nose into this and to that.”

Like the noted ‘‘ Sir Thomas” of glorious Tom Ingoldsby,
Whose fair lady Jane grieved so little to single be,

And who—(worthy old broad-rimmed-spectacled Squire),
When riding his hobby, got drowned in the mire,

And (sad to relate) became food for the fishes,

For the eels were seen wriggling out of his breeches—

Like Sir Thomas, I say, this four-legged thief,

By his poking and prying at last came to grief.

‘One night he was routing about in a dust-bin,

Into which a tired servant-of-all-work had just been
‘Throwing the scraps from the evening meal,

When he came upon something he thought he would steal ;
*Twas a slice from the joint the Parisians call ‘‘ jambon,”
And just in the midst was a section of ham-bone.

He devoured the meat, and then set to work

To gnaw at this section of thigh-bone of pork.

He thought the soft centre so juicy and nice,

That he greedily ate his way through in a trice ;

Popped his head through the ring whilst enjoying the marrow,
But found, to his horror, the hole was so narrow

That there wasn’t the ghost of a chance of removing it,

For the set of his ears prevented his moving it,

And that spite of his struggling and kicking ‘‘ like bricks,”
He never could hope to get out of his fix.

He began to reflect on his painful position,

And to moralize o’er his unhappy condition.

Said he—‘‘ I’ve been foolish, indeed, I must own,

In supposing I merely had collared a bone ;

For, now it’s too late, I unhappily see

That a Tartar 1 caught—'twas the bone collared me.

A rasher thing, surely, I never attempted,

‘Than when by that rasher of ham I was tempted.”

MORAL,

Every tale has a moral—even a rat’s,

So, young bachelors, listen, and take off your hats ;
Don’t ‘‘bone” anyone’s collars ; I further advise you,
If any young lady bewitchingly eyes you,

Don’t fall deeply in love—it’s a serious thing

To find yourself o’er head and ears in a ring.

The Rat (loquitur).

Mr. BuckLanD, your honour,—it’s all very fine

For you folks to make game of misfortunes like mine,
And to publish my story, and tell ev’ry one of it,

But excuse me for saying, I can’t see the fun of it.
‘There’s yourself, now ; you tell them you’re anxious to see
Just for how long a time a poor critter like me .

Can exist with this tight thing around his carotid,

With a chronic sensation of being garotted.

All the chaps in your office are jeering, alas ! at me ;

The editor comes, and he looks through his glass at me.

20

There’s young Mr. A. comes taking a sketch

That’s so painfully like me (the hardened young wretch)
That I shuddered the instant I turned and caught sight of it,
Whilst the others who looked at it laughed and made light of it ;
Then that fellow *‘H. L.” comes and perpetrates rhyme
With a cruelty almost amounting to crime ;

He really deserves to be sent to a jail

For extracting a moral from out of my tale /

When he might have been proving himself better bred

If from this horrid ring he’d extracted my head.

So, grant me a boon, and by promptness enhance it ;

Instead of attempting my cure with the lancet,

And fomenting my wounds, take the back of a knife,

Crack the bone and release me—I’ll thank you for life.

November 15th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President in the

chair.
Mr. GreorGe Perry read a Paper “ On Harrs anp ScaLes ON

THE LEAVES OF PLANTS.”

December 20th, 1871.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the
chair. Rev. W. Ready was balloted for and duly elected.

Mr. Thos. Cushing and Mr. J. S. Johnson were appointed to
audit the Club accounts.

The PresmDeNT gave notice of a proposal to increase the
number of the Committee from seven to nine.

Mr. W. Savitz Kent, F.Z.8., gave a lecture “On Frese
Water Inrusortia.”

10 NOV 1886

yon WW
’

a

ee

THIRD REPORT

_ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD

JANUARY 15, 1878.

CROYDON :

PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘‘ CHRONICLE” OFFICE, NORTH END.

1873.

—— Ae

.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

FOR THE YAR 1873.
SSS

President :

HENRY LEE, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &e.

Greasurer :

JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &c.

Honorary Secretary :

HENRY LONG, M.Q.M.¢.

(90, High Street, Croydon.)

Conunitter :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. G. F. LINNEY.
ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D. GEORGE MANNERS, F.S.A.
WILLIAM REEVE COOPER. GEORGE PERRY.
PHILIP CROWLEY. HENRY J. STRONG, M.D

FREDERICK WEST, Jun.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Tarrp Annvat Meetine of the Croydon Microscopical
Club was held in the Reading-room, at the Public Hall, on
Wednesday evening, January 15th, 1873, H. Lee, Esq., Presi-
dent, in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having
been read and confirmed, Mr. G. Rigby, of Wellesley-road, and
Mr. W. F. Blockey, of Tower House, London-road, Croydon, who
had been proposed as members, were balloted for, and declared
to be unanimously elected. Mr. Robert Brodie, of George-street,
Croydon, and Mr. Marston Allsop, were nominated for election at
the next meeting.

THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Mr. H. Lone, the hon. secretary, read the following report
of the Committee :—

- In presenting their Third Annual Report, the Committee of the
Croydon Microscopical Club feel great pleasure in again congratulating the
Members on the encouraging success and increasing prosperity of the Club.
Since last January, 24 new members have been elected, and the number

_now in the Club is 135, showing an increase of 18 over the number of
last year, although there have been five withdrawals, and the Committee
regret the removal of one member by death.

The good attendance of members at the Monthly Evening Meetings
has been fully maintained. A great variety of interesting objects have
been exhibited, and, in most instances, these have been prepared and
mounted by the exhibitors, showing the great proficiency they have
attained in this branch of delicate manipulation ; and it will be observed,
by the following list of Papers read, that the majority of them have been
by members of the Club :—

February 21st.—Dr. CARPENTER on “‘ Adulteration of Food, detected
by the Microscope.” ;

March 20th.—Dr. Tipy on ‘‘ Polarised Light.”

April 17th.—N. L. Austen, Esq., on ‘‘The Nesting of the Eagle
Owl in Croydon.”

May 15th.—Henry Ler, Esq., on ‘‘The Microscopy of a Fish-
monger’s Shop.”
September 18th.—A. D. Tayior, Esq., on ‘‘ Micro-lepidoptera.”’

October 19th.—E. F. Jones, Esq., on ‘‘The Formation of Orbs” ; and
D. E. Gopparp, Esq., on ‘‘ Rolling Stones.”

November 20th.—G. Perry, Esq., on ‘‘The Dispersion of Seeds.’

December 18th.—ARtTHUR ANGELLL, Esq., on ‘‘ Chalk Foraminifera;”
and D. E. Gopparp, Esq., on ‘‘ Cleaning Polycistina.”’

6,

In order to carry out more systematically the excursions arranged to
take place during the summer recess, it was thought advisable to have an
Excursion Committee ; and although by this arrangement some improve-
ment in the attendance of members at excursions was noticeable, still it
would be more encouraging to the Committee to see a larger number
sie themselves of the opportunity thus afforded for combined out-door
work.

The following is a list of the Excursions undertaken, and the dates
on which they took place :—

June 19th.—Quekett Club Annual Excursion and Dinner at the ‘‘Swan,”
at Leatherhead.

June 29th.—Excursion to Addington Park.

July 13th.—Excursion to Caterham Junction, to meet the Quekett
Microscopical Club.

August 24th.—Excursion to Gatton Park.

The Committee have pleasure in referring to two plants, the Juncus
Capitatus and Juncus Pygmceus, both new to the British Flora, dis-
covered in Cornwall, during the past year, by Mr. Beeby, a member of
the Club. Also to the discovery last summer, on Mitcham Common, by
the same gentleman, and Mr. A. Bennett, another member of the Club,
of Ananthe Lachenalii, a plant quite new to this district.

The Committee have the gratification of being again able to notice
the great success of the Soirée, held at the Public Hall on the 27th
November last, a success surpassing even that which had attended those
of the two previous years, there being a larger display of microscopes and
objects of great interest by members of the Club, without any falling off
of valuable and kind assistance from members of the Royal Microscopical
Society, the Quekett, the Old Change, the South London, and Forest Hill
Microscopical Clubs. The large attendance and the increasing demand each
year brings for admission cards, testify to the high appreciation of the evening
by the public.

During the past year members have attended, as representatives of the
Croydon Club, Soirées held in connection with the Quekett and South London
Microscopical Clubs, and the assistance thus rendered has been acknowledged
by those societies.

The Library. —The sum of Ten Pounds having been voted for
the purchase of books, the Committee solicited from the members
suggestions of the names of works likely to be serviceable to the
Club, but as only two or three were sent in, no purchase has been
made. The Committee have, however, received an estimate for the
supply of several standard works. Five pounds was also yoted for the
purchase of a cabinet for holding mounted microscopic objects. This has been
bought, and the cabinet is in the care of the Librarian, Mr. J. T. Berney, who
will be pleased to receive, on behalf of the Club, presentations of slides.

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8

Mr. Martin—I beg to move the adoption of the report of the
committee, and that it be printed and distributed to the members.
It is merely a nominal duty, for it is a report of which all the
members of the society must be proud. I notice, particularly,
one fact with reference to the success of the Soirée, and that is,
the sale of tickets realised £29, while in 1872, when the Soirée was
quite a novelty, the amount was only £12. I think that shows
there is a great increase of interest in the proceedings of the
society out of doors. The motion, having been seconded by Mr.
J. 5. Jounson, was carried unanimously.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.

Dr. Carpenter rose and said —I have very great pleasure
in rising to propose the re-election of Mr. Lee, as President of
this Society. (Cheers.) If there is one thing that I am quite
certain of it is that if Mr. Lee had not been resident in Croy-
don, the Microscopical Society would never have been the estab-
lished fact it is. It is to him that we owe its great success.
It is evident that it is very important that the prime mover of
a society like this must, himself, be an authority, and must be
well acquainted with those who are the great leaders of the par-
ticular science which a society like this is supposed to promote ;
and in electing Mr. Lee as our President, we gained the services
of a gentleman who has been enabled, by his own personal
energy, to influence others engaged in scientific pursuits. We
have been able to secure his services, and with these services
we have been enabled to command success. Without those
services we should not have attained the high place which
we now occupy, but probably would have dwindled down
as other societies have done. Most certainly the society would
not have reached the proud eminence which it has attained, for
it now takes the foremost rank amongst those societies which
are so well known near London. We may fairly say that we
owe this to our President. I think, therefore, if he will consent
to be our President during this, the fourth year of the existence
of the Society, he will confer upon us a great honour and enable
us to go on in the course we have now taken, and we shall be
grateful to him for taking that office. (Cheers.)

Mr. Penney seconded the motion, which was carried unani-
mously.

9

The Presrpent—I need not say that I am_ exceedingly
obliged to you for the cordial reception you have always given
me, for the kind compliment paid me by Dr. Carpenter, and
for the, if possible, greater one of your constant attendance and

~ unvarying kindness. It has always been my endeavour to avoid,

as much as possible, cold formalities at this Club. I have
sought to cause it to be regarded as a meeting ‘of friends
who come here for mutual satisfaction, enjoyment, and learning,
and you have done your part well in seconding my wishes and
making it as successful as it has become. ‘There was one part
of Dr. Carpenter’s remarks to which I should like to advert,
although I do not intend to make any formal address. I do not
think it is a healthy thing in a Club or Society of this kind to
rest entirely, or so much as you have been good enough to do,
upon one individual. It has always been a pleasure to me to
see the various gentlemen on the committee take their own
departments and work them, as they do, most thoroughly. But
in addition to this, I would ask you who are likely to take a
responsible position, to become able to fill my place, by en-
deavouring to increase your influence with Fellows of Scientific
Societies and members of other clubs, who will be useful to our
own by contributing papers, &c. I throw it out as my opinion
that if members of the committee and others would join the
Royal Microscopical Society, or the Quekett Microscopical Club,
at the meetings of which they would enter into conversation with,
and be brought in contact with, men who would come and help
us here, they would increase and strengthen the outside
influence of the Club. I think it is unadvisable that I or any
man should monopolise for many years the position I hold. I
hope that this time twelvemonths you will find a gentleman as
my successor, who will be heartily welcomed by me ; therefore
I ask all who aspire to the office of President, then or in
the future, to qualify themselves for it.

ELECTION OF TREASURER.

Mr. J. §. Jounson proposed the re-election of Mr. J. W.
Flower as Treasurer for the ensuing year, remarking that he had no
doubt that gentleman would well take care of the interests of the
Club.

10

Mr. G. N. Pricr seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

ELECTION OF SECRETARY.

The Presipent—I have now great pleasure in telling you that
the present Secretary, although he finds the work hard and onerous,
is willing to continue it for a term. You have to elect a Secretary,
and under the circumstances I need not tell you what to do. :

Mr. W. R. Coorer proposed that Mr. Henry Long continue in
office as Secretary. He was sorry to mention, that amongst Mr.
Long’s arduous duties, was that of having to ask members for their
subscriptions two or three times. He hoped the members would
endeavour to assist the secretary in that respect.

Dr. Carpenter seconded the motion, which was carried unani-
mously.

Mr. Lone, in acknowledgment, thanked the members for the
indulgence they had manifested towards him in the discharge of his
duties. He should endeavour to fill the office, not only to the
satisfaction of the members, but also to the interests of the Club;
and he would take this opportunity of acknowledging the kind and
ready assistance which he had always received from the committee.

THE COMMITTEE.

The Presipent—I am sorry to inform you that on the com-
mittee there has been one resignation—that of Dr. Lanchester—
who finds it impossible to attend the meetings; but he will con-
tinue to be a member of the Club, and to give us his best assist-
ance. The members of the committee have worked so thoroughly
well together, the Club has so prospered under their care,
and they are so well acquainted with their various duties,
as shown by the late Soirée, that I have taken upon myself to
advise that the former committee should be re-elected, and that
we should substitute Dr. Carpenter’s name for that of Dr.
Lanchester.

Mr. A. D. Tayzor then proposed the re-election of the com-
mittee, and that Dr. Carpenter be elected to the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Dr. Lanchester.

11

Mr. J. Frower seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Dr. Carpenter—I thank you heartily for your kindness in
electing me a member of the committee. I have always felt a
desire to belong to it. But as I was formerly much engaged
elsewhere on Tuesday evenings, I could not attend on Wednes-
day evenings, not being able to spare time on both evenings ;
but partly on account of certain exposures which were made in
this room in connection with the Microscopical Society, I was
relieved of those duties on Tuesday evenings, and I shall now
be very happy to devote what time I can, on Wednesday even-
ings, to the affairs of the Club.

A cordial vote of thanks was then passed to the Press of
Croydon and neighbourhood, for its reports of the meetings of the
Club. The Presment thanked the representatives of the Press
present, personally, and requested them to convey to the editors
of their respective journals the appreciation of the Club of the
manner in which its proceedings had been chronicled and com-
mented upon.

A vote of thanks to the President terminated the proceed-
ings of the meeting.

It was announced that the next paper would be contributed
by Mr. J. S. Johnson, and that the subject would be ‘The
Organ of Respiration in some of the Invertebrate Animals.”

Mr. Drx asked whether the committee had taken any steps
respecting the balance in hand, which now amounted to a con-
siderable sum ?

The Preswent said the subject was under the careful con-
sideration of the committee, who would submit a proposition to
the Club as soon as the arrangements were completed with
regard to the new building adjacent. He might state, however,
that it was contemplated to increase the Library, if it was found
that the books already purchased were used by the members;
and it was hoped that arrangements would ultimately be made
for securing a Reading-room for the members, where they might
have access, not only to scientific works, but also to suitable
_ scientific magazines and other ‘useful publications.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.

1872.

The following are the subjects which have been intro-
duced, and the Meetings, Excursions, &c., that have taken
place.

February 21st, 1872.—On ‘‘ ApULTERATION oF Foop, DETECTED BY
THE Mricroscorr,” by ALFRED Carpenter, M.D.—Amongst
‘the visitors present were—Robert. Hudson, Esq., F.R.S. ;
Col. Horsley, R.E., Treasurer of the East Kent Natural
History Society; Latimer Clarke, Esq.; Buxton Shillitoe,
Esq., F.L.8.; and J. C. E. Harting, Esq., F.L.S.

Dr. CarrenteR showed, in his paper, how the Croydon
Microscopical Club might do much practical good in checking
the evils which arise from adulterations of food. It is
scarcely more than 80 years ago that the microscope was
first brought to bear on this subject. Dr. Hassall has
laboured in it so successfully that some forms of adul-
teration, common at one time, have now entirely disappeared.
Yet many things, in regular use, are far from pure; and if
in this town of Croydon it becomes known that there is a
society of gentlemen who are determined to expose frauds of
this kind, the practice of them will soon die out. Three
of the things which are still much adulterated, are milk,
sugar, and coffee. There are two simple ways of testing
the purity of milk, viz., by the amount of cream given, and
by its specific gravity. The quantity of cream should be
proved by placing some of the new milk in a tube ten
inches long, properly graduated. The cream, being lighter,
rises to the top. This should be about 10 per cent. of the
whole. At the same time the specific gravity should be
tested by the lactometer, which ought to exhibit from 1-029
to 1-031. After a couple of hours any deposit, at the
bottom of the tube, will show whether any foreign substance
has been introduced, and the microscope will determine its cha-
racter. Sugar may be taken as, perhaps, next in importance
to milk in our diet. Of these, we have chiefly two kinds—
cane sugar and grape sugar. The important point is to
remember that grape sugar has only two-fifths the sweeten-
ing power of cane sugar, and an inferior feeding power.

18

To determine the difference between these, we use the
polarimeter. Ifa ray of polarized light is passed through
cane sugar, the plane of polarization turns to the right,
while with a solution of grape sugar it is the reverse. In
choosing a sugar, choose one with large crystals, and
without much granular matter. If sugar contains much
moisture, it should be rejected. Under the microscope,
with low power, the crystals of cane sugar are seen to be
six-sided oblique prisms, while the grape sugar exists in
acicular tufts. In the latter, too, sugar mites are sometimes
found ; making the sugar unfit for use. To discover them,
dissolve a teaspoonful of sugar in a wine glass full of warm
water, and examine the deposit at the bottom of the tube.
‘‘Raw’’ sugars are much superior to refiner’s ‘‘ pieces,” as
the former contain much less grape sugar; though the
‘« pieces’ may be lighter in colour, they are of less dietetic
value. Coffee is adulterated with roasted grain, raspings of
loaves, stale sea biscuits, and the like. Chicory is also
much used, and is itself adulterated; indeed, ground
chicory can be bought at a cheaper rate than the dried
root itself. Good coffee, when ground, if squeezed, should
not form a cake; and if a spoonful is dropped into
a tumbler of water, it ought to float on the top; if it sinks,
it is bad. Many of the adulterations of coffee may be seen
under the microscope. From the examination of the
various samples obtained in Croydon, it does not appear
that adulteration is very extensive.

Some discussion took place on the question of Mr.
Kent’s paper, on ‘‘ Pond Infusoria,” read at a previous
meeting of the Club, in which Dr. Carpenter, Mr. J. 8.
Jounson, and others took part. ‘

The PresipEnt remarked that it was pleasant to see the
Hon. Sec., Mr. Long, once more at his post, after his
serious illness.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the
Club :—Messrs. C. Penley, Horace W. Petherick, Edward
Fagg, and Richard J. Dickens.

March 20th, 1872.—On ‘Tue Poxarization or Lieut,” by Dr.
Meymort Tipy.—The lecturer described, in rapid summary,
the various discoveries respecting polarized light, taking as
his basis the undulatory theory. Referring to the strong
analogy between light and sound, he stated that there
appeared to be but one force pervading all nature; but
this force takes various forms. After describing the con-
stitution of a ray of light, the lecturer proceeded to deal

14

with the subject of polarized light, enforcing his remarks
by a large number of beautiful illustrations thrown on a
screen by the oxy-hydrogen light.

In the discussion which followed, the Prestpent, Mr.
Stewart, and Dr. Carpenter took part; and the opinion
was expressed that the polariscope would, in a_ short
time, play a most important part in guiding medical
men to a true diagnosis of various diseases, and in sug-
gesting methods for their cure or alleviation.

Several members of the Club exhibited objects, with
their microscopes, to illustrate the lecture.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the
Club, viz.:—Messrs. John Moore, Daniel Watney, Peter
Thrale, and Ralph Thrale.

April 17th, 1872.—On ‘‘Tue Nestinc or THE Eacite Ow. IN
Croypon,” by N. L. Austen, Esq.—A pair of Eagle Owls
kept in confinement, mated in January, 1871, and the first
egg was laid on the 11th of February. The first nestling
was hatched on the 22nd of March, and another about a
week later. The young birds were carefully fed by their
parents with rats, the male bringing the food, and the
female tearing it up; the family usually ate seven or eight
in the course of the day. The young owls obtained their
plumage by the time they were two months old, and were
able to fly up to their perches. The female of this young
pair died in November, but the male is still in good
health. The old birds again nested in the spring of 1872,
but the eggs were addled. Mr. Austen has also a pair of
the Little Owl (Athene noctua), which have likewise nested in
confinement. Mr. Austen also gave some interesting par-
ticulars of the native haunts of the Eagle Owl, and of
visits which he has paid at different times to them in
Norway.

At the close of the paper, Mr. Bartiert, of the
Zoological Gardens, gave an interesting account of the
owls in the gardens, and of one which he had placed in
the aviary with the peacocks for the purpose of catching
mice. Mr. Bartlett, at the President’s request, related an
anecdote of the successful performance in the past few days
of a surgical operation on a rhinoceros. The animal was
suffering from ulceration of the nasal bone, produced by
the growing in of the horn, and it became, therefore,
necessary to cut off the horn. This, by great care, was
successfully accomplished.

15

Votes of thanks to Mr. Austen and Mr. Bartlett were
passed.

Mr. J. C. Sigsworth presented to the Club a slide of

Plumularia cristata.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the
Club :—Messrs. Ebenezer Diver, O. T. Hodges, and W. A.
Adams.

The Presment alluded, in feeling terms, to the death
of R. Hovenden, Esq., a much respected member of the
Club.

May 15th, 1872.—Paper by H. Lez, Esq., the President, on
‘‘Tae Microscopy or a FisomMoncer’s Suop.’’—The Prest-
DENT, in introducing his subject, said—-‘‘ If we take our stand in
front of a well-stocked fish shop, determined to examine with
intelligent appreciation a spectacle which we have passed day
by day and hundreds of times, with the carelessness and want
of observation which familiarity is too apt to engender, our
notice will probably be first attracted by the great difference of
external form, the variety of coloration, and the dissimilarity
of the dermal covering of the fishes exposed for sale on the cool
and moistened slab. Frequent absence from home, such as I
am subject to, may have its advantages to the collector, but it has
its drawbacks too. It may bring into his possession a greater
variety of objects, but it is a serious obstacle to prolonged and
continuous observation of the habits and development of living
organisms, and to the successful preparation and mounting of
specimens requiring to be soaked in potash, turpentine, or
other fluids, the action of which it is necessary to arrest at
the proper moment: I mention this because it is my wish to
direct attention to the quantity of valuable material for the
study of marine zoology easily obtainable by residents in an
inland town who may seldom have an opportunity of going to
the seaside ; and whilst trying to describe a few of the objects
of zoological interest to be found in a fishmonger’s shop, I
shall refer chiefly, but not entirely, to those branches of the
subject which can be best investigated by the aid of the
microscope.” Mr. Lee having referred, as examples of the
variety of form, to the aristocratic salmon, the lordly turbot,
and the snake-like eel, said he mentioned these three fishes
not only because they offered a marked divergence from each
other in outward shape, but because they would serve him
presently as illustrations of the existence, in organs apparently
identical in each of them, of an important difference hitherto
only recognised by its consequences, and the nature and
cause of which, if ever we discovered it, could only, as he

16

believed, be revealed to us by the microscope. He enume-
rated some of our other food fishes, more or less resembling
in form those already named, and a reference to which, he
said, would elucidate his next point. The brill, plaice, dab,
and flounder, belonged to the same family as the turbot; the
rays are represented by the skate and thornback ; the gadide
by the cod, haddock, and whiting; the scornberide by the
mackerel ; the clupeidw by the herring, pilchard, sprat, shad,
and whitebait ; and other genera by the mullets, bass, dory,
gurnard, &. ‘*The second noticeable feature which I men-
tioned ” (continued Mr. Lee)—‘‘ their variety of colour—is
perceptible at a glance, but the difference in their skin-covering
demands more careful attention, and more lengthened com-
ment. The turbot, for instance, has no proper scales, but is
furnished with isolated plates, or tubercles, beneath its skin,
which connect it with the placoid order of fishes—the rays
and sharks. These have horny plates instead of scales, which
are often armed with median spines, as in the thornback, or
are bristled with small sharp eminences, like a rough file, as
in the ‘‘shagreen”’ of the sharks and dog-fishes. And yet
the congeners of the turbot—the brill, sole, &c.—are com-
pletely covered, both on their upper and under surfaces, with
over-lapping ctenoid (comb-like) scales, like those of the
perch. The salmon, the herring, the cod, the eel, and the
families which they represent, have all cycloid scales, smooth
and simple on the margin, and presenting the appearance of
concentric rings. The two first-named are shielded by these
circular, or ovoid, over-lapping scales. In the salmon they are
firmly fixed ; in the herring they are so loosely inserted that
they are easily detached by the slightest touch. In the eel
and cod, however, they are not on the outer surface, but
beneath the epidermis, and from the skin of the former,
especially, a novice might find some difficulty in extracting
them. The eel was long supposed to be a scaleless fish, and
and as such is still avoided by the Jews as a forbidden article
of food; but you have only to wash the skin of one to see,
through the transparent membrane, the scales arranged in
curious pattern beneath. This is still more effectively dis-
played if a portion of the skin of an eel or cod be dried,
mounted in Canada balsam, and submitted to the polariscope.
A microscopical examination of the structure of fish scales
and their pigmert-cells may some day lead us to understand
a phenomenon for which at present we are able only very
imperfectly to account, and it is an interesting and imstructive
study, which I comménd to your attention. It is a well-
known fact, and one which you can verify for yourselves in
any aquarium, that fishes, especially flat-fishes, have the

17

power of assimilating their colour to that of the bottom on
which they lie. And this change is effected very rapidly.
Not very long ago, I placed in a tank, in the Zoological
Gardens, some small plaice, which I had caught on the flat
shore near Reculvers. They were then indistinguishable in
tint from the sand from which they had been removed, but
the bottom of their new home was strewn with cockle-shells
which had become partially covered by the growth of a dark
green conferva, and appeared in “the imperfect light as if
irregularly chequered with black and white. Within a quarter
of an hour of their being put in this tank, all the young plaice
had lost their sandy hue, and had assumed the mottled ap-
pearance of the bottom on which they were resting. The
colours of some fishes vary also at different seasons. An old
kelt salmon, after the spawning season is over, is hard to recog-
nise as the brave, brilliant fish he was when, fresh from the sea
and dressed in his wedding suit, he took his course up the
river, despising the adverse force of the swiftly-running
stream, and overleaping with vigorous ardour the obstacle
of weir or waterfall which opposed his progress on his way to
meet his bride. He returns a hook-nosed, draggle-tailed,
lean, and almost loathsome brute; with his colour changed
to a lurid, unwholesome red, as if some marauder had
robbed him of his bright silver armour, and sent him home
in an old damaged suit of rusty iron. I instance this as
indicating the changes that take place in the structure and
coloration of fish-scales as a useful subject for microscopical
investigation. Let us now examine the respiratory organs of
some of these fishes. The blood of all animals has, as I need
not tell you, to be purified and renovated by contact with
oxygen. In the mammalia, in birds, and in the mature
reptile, this office is performed by the lungs, and the oxygen
is obtained from the air; but as fishes breathe water, and not
air, they are furnished with a respiratory apparatus—the
gills—by which their blood in the course of its circulation is
purified by being brought under the influence of the oxygen
contained in the water. Most lovely objects for the micro-
scope are the gills of fishes, either in their natural state, or
injected as permanent specimens; and wonderfully beautiful
the minute network of vessels in their laminz, so constructed
and arranged as to present the greatest possible amount of
surface to the action of the water. But there is one point
concerning them to which I referred just now, and which has
always struck me as very remarkable. In examining the gills
of the salmon and the eel, I have found no structural difference
between them so marked and important as to form a satis-
factorily characteristic distinction separating them from each

18

other and from other fishes. And yet in the salmon we have
a fish which passes half of its time in fresh water, and half in
salt water, and can breathe and enjoy life equally well in
either ; whilst to the great majority of sea fishes contact with
fresh water is instant death ; and the salmon itself would be
suffocated if buried in the slime and mud, which is the
chosen abode of the eel. I here offer you another topic
deserving the most careful and painstaking microscopical in-
vestigation.” Mr. Lee then described, at some length, many_
of the parasites which were found adhering to the gills and
other portions of various fishes. Amongst others he men-
tioned the cruel-looking Lerneonema Spratta, which burrows
deep into the eye, and sometimes into the body, of the sprat ;
Chondracanthus Zei, which is found only on the gills and gill-
plates of the dory; Nicothoe Astaci, which is peculiar to the
branchie of the lobster; and Bopyrus Squillarum, _ which
attacks the prawn, getting beneath its carapace, and giving it
the appearance of a person with a badly swollen face. ‘‘ Of
these,” he said, ‘‘I have specimens on the table ; but I will
take, as typical of their class, for brief description, the three
entomostracous parasites of the salmon. Adhering to the
scales of a salmon, generally on the belly and near the vent,
may often be seen a brown-looking crustacean from half to
three-quarters of an inch in length, and somewhat resembling
in shape the great limulus, or ‘king-crab.’ This is commonly
known as the ‘ sea-louse’ (Lepeoptheirus Stromii), as it is only
on salmon coming up from the sea that itis found. On another
salmon may possible be seen argulus foliaceus, the little green
flat creature with two leaflets to its tail which attacks every
freshwater fish, and which you may see turning somer-
saults, and performing the funniest antics in the tanks at
the Zoological Gardens—especially that in which the perch
are kept. This is known as the ‘river-louse,’ and is not
found in salt water. Adhering to, or rather fixed in, the gills
—often in considerable numbers—is a third parasite, called
by fishermen the ‘ maggot ;’ and from the presence or absence
of these parasites some have endeavoured to discriminate be-
tween a ‘fresh-run’ and a ‘foul fish.’ The presence or
absence, however, of either of the parasites of the salmon is
not a true test of the condition of the fish. My own investi-
gations lead me to believe that neither of these parasites cause
disease or injury to their hosts, although sickly and diseased
fish are more exposed than healthy ones to their attacks,
because they are less able to avoid them. Fish, like human
beings, when sick, are disposed to remain still and inactive,
and at such times these agile little swimmers are enabled more
readily to approach and attack them. The supposition was

19

once pretty generally received as correct that the migrations
of the salmon were attributable to these parasites—that it
leaves the sea to get rid of one of them in the fresh water, and
becoming there infested with the other, seeks to free itself
from its river enemy by returning once more to the salt water.
I scarcely need say that the noble fish acts upon a far higher
and more important motive than fleeing in this battledore-and-
shuttlecock fashion from two little insignificant foes. The
salmon ascends to the head waters of the rivers not to avoid
the presence of the ‘sea-louse,’ but in obedience to the
instinct implanted in it, to find a fitting place for the deposit
of its eggs, and for the reproduction of its species. The
males of these parasitic crustacea are so minute, and so totally
unlike the females, that few of them have been satisfactorily
recognised, and of their embryology and development hardly
anything is known. I, therefore, direct your attention to this,
as another department of microscopical zoology in which much
work remains to be done. An examination of the stomachs of
fishes will well repay the naturalist for the trouble of making
it, not only on account of the parasitic entozoa which are
generally found there, but because some fishes, especially the
cod tribe, are good collectors of waifs and strays which some-
times prove valuable. They are exceedingly fond of the
crustacea, and as they do not masticate their food, amongst
the remains of it may often be discovered specimens of those
which frequent deep water, and are consequently rare and
difficult to obtain by any other means. It is impossible to
name anything which a cod will not gorge. I have, myself,
amongst other odds and ends, taken from the stomach of one
a large lump of coal, the sleeve of a fisherman's red guernsey,
and the heel of an old boot ; and, from another, a rib-bone of
a loin of mutton, and two under-cooked potatoes, which I had
thrown overboard not many minutes before he was hooked.
Captain Charles Hill, master of the North Sea fishing smack
‘Hurricane,’ mentioned to my friend Mr. Buckland and
myself his having found in a cod’s stomach a bunch of keys
which he had dropped overboard off Cape Wrath, miles away
from where the cod was caught. But, perhaps, the strangest
thing ever found in a fish’s stomach is the metal spirit flask
which I hold in my hand, and for the loan of which I am
indebted to my friend Mr. Henry Ffennell, son of the late
respected Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, to. whom it was
given. It bears the following inscription :—‘ Royal Irish
Fisheries Company. ‘This flask, containing two glasses of an
ardent spirit, was found in the stomach of a ling taken off
Berry Head, February, 1849.—Presented by James EK. Stop-
ford, Esq., L.L.D., Director, and Wm. Andrews, Esq.,

20

Manager, to Wm. J. Ffennell, Esq., in testimony of esteem,
and of their sense of the services rendered by him as
Commissioner of Fisheries.’ We are yet only at the beginning
of the list of objects of interest which may be found on a fish-
stall in an inland town; but time passes, and I must stop;
for it would be impossible for me to catalogue the hundredth
part of them. I can only hint at an examination of the
structure of the bones and teeth of fishes, their earbones or
otoliths, and the crystalline lenses of their eyes; of the shells
of the crustacea, the ciliated gills of the oyster and the
mussel, the eyed mantle of the scallop, the exquisitely toothed
lingual membranes of the whelk and periwinkle, &c., and the
tunicata, polyzoa, annelids, sponges, &c., &c., which are to be
found on the shells of some of them. But I must remind
you that in about a month from now you may have an oppor-
tunity, if you choose, of observing the development of young
oysters from the condition in which the spawning mollusc is
said to be ‘ white-sick’ to that in which, with perfectly-
formed double-convex valves, they are ready for extrusion from
the mantle of the parent when it is said to be ‘ black-sick.’
And now, gentlemen, although I have drawn only an outline
sketch, I think I have said enough to cause you to agree with
me that if, whilst searching for pretty objects for his cabinet,
the young microscopist will study the structural and com-
parative anatomy of the sea-creatures laid out before him, he
_may learn many a lesson in marine zoology, and contemplate
many a ‘ wonder of the deep’ without ‘ going down to the
sea;’ and that if he appreciate properly the exquisite
harmony of their organs and parts, and their perfect adapta-
tion to the circumstances in which they are placed, and the
uses to which they were intended to be applied, there is
possibly another lesson still that he may learn whilst thinking
over ‘ The Microscopy of a Fishmonger’s Shop.’”

Two or three questions, pertinent to the subject, having
been put by Mr. F. Warren, Mr. H. Lone, and Dr. Strone,
and replied to by the Presipent, the thanks of the Club were
heartily accorded to that gentleman for his highly interesting
and instructive paper.

It was also announced that this was the last meeting prior
to the recess, and it was mentioned that three or four excur-
sions had been contemplated during the summer months, of
which notice would be given through the usual media.

The following gentlemen exhibited objects, more or less
intimately connected with the paper that had been read :—The
President, Mr. A. D. Taylor, Mr. J. Berney, Mr. Cushing,
Mr. J. 8. Johnson, Mr. Henry Long, Mr. Edward Sturge, and

7. <<?
*

21

Mr. K. McKean. Mr. J. 8. Johnson presented to the library
lithographed drawings of Trilobites, for which the thanks of
the Club were accorded.

June 19th, 1872.—The members of the Club joined those of the

Quekett Microscopical Club in a very pleasant excursion to
Leatherhead.

June 29th, 1872.—An excursion to Addington Park, by kind

permission of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.

July 18th, 1872.—Excursion to Caterham Valley and Godstone,

On

to meet the Quekett Microscopic Club.

Saturday, August 24th, 1872, about 25 members visited
Gatton Park, the seat of Lord Monson, by kind invitation
of H. M’Almont, Esq., the proprietor.. A number of gen-
tlemen, who went by an earlier train, were invited by this
gentleman to partake of lunch; after which they had the
pleasure of examining the beautiful chapel attached to
the mansion, and the large collection of valuable works
of art. When the second contingent arrived, the party
adjourned to the lake, and spent the afternoon in searching
among the weed and mud for objects of microscopic interest,
returning from Redhill about six o’clock.

September 18th, 1872.—On the ‘ Micro-LErrorTera,” by Mr.

A. D. Taytor.—This valuable paper was one which con-
tained much information on these microscopic insects. Mr.
Taylor went through many species, detailing their various
characteristics, as also the localities where they may be
found. Some discussion took place afterwards upon the
relative value of laurel leaves, chloroform, and cyanide of
potassium, for the purpose of killing insects intended for
preservation, all three substances being used by various
members of the Club.

At the close of the paper, Dr. CarPEnTER, by permission
of the Presrpent, stated that it was intended to form a
Museum in connexion with the Literary and Scientific Institu-
tion in the town. On the completion of the School of Art,
the room now occupied by its classes will be adapted for a
local Museum. The valuable collection of the Surrey
Archeological Society has already been placed in a room in
the building, and thus forms a nucleus for further additions.
This is a work in which the members of the Microscopie Club
may do much to help, and it is hoped “that the members will
be willing to do what they can in the matter.

22

The PresipENT promised his assistance, and there is no
doubt that others will come forward as well.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the Club:
Messrs. W. Mosse Robinson, H. Turner, George Smithers,
jun., F. Gibbes, and H. Martin.

October 19th, 1872.—Paper read by Mr. E. F. Jonzs on the ‘* Vot-
vox Guopator.’—In this paper Mr. Jones propounded a new
theory regarding the origin of the earth, and the other bodies
of the solar system.

Another paper, by Mr. D. E. Gopparp, of Dorking,
was read by Mr. M’Kzan, on the ‘‘SiipE KNown as Roxt-
ING Stones, AND THE Mopz or Preparine It.’’—The paper
described the various experiments by which the writer pur-
sued the investigation, till at last he achieved an entire success.

November 20th, 1872.—Paper on ‘‘Tue Disperston oF SEEDS,”
by Mr. Grorcr Prerry.—The writer commenced by de-
scribing the mode in which the seeds of the mushroom are
spread, beginning with one spore, which produces a single
mushroom. This ripens and produces a number of seeds,
which drop in a ring round the single plant. These again
produce their spores, and thus the ring increases until we
see the dark green rings known as fairy-rings. Amongst
others, Mr. Perry described the burdock, with hooked seeds,
which attach themselves to any passing body; and some
with winged appendages, with feathered appendages, seeds
with pods, and those of ferns, with many others were
described. The lecturer concluded with some remarks on the
great value of the study of Botany.

The Presivent followed up the paper by stating that in
examining skins of the Coypu, of South America, he had
often found the prickly burrs, or seed pods of a plant, thus
showing that the animals have been the unconscious means
of spreading the seeds. In the discussion which ensued,
Dr. Srrone referred to the extraordinary vitality in some
seeds, as shown by those seeds of wheat which are found
in the mummy cases of Egypt.

Mr. Beeby exhibited specimens of Juncus capitatus and
Juncus pygmeus, two plants new to British Flora, which
he found in Cornwall last June. He also showed a specimen
of Ainanthe lachlenalii, a plant common in salt marshes, but
hitherto unknown as an island plant.

23

The Presipent expressed the gratification he felt that the
Club had received the original communication made by Mr.
Beeby, and hoped that the members would be able from time
to time to add to our knowledge of new and local species.

November 27th, 1872.— Sorrzz at tHe Pusric Hany. — This
gathering may be again described as a most complete success.
Amongst those present were many of the most respected
residents in the district. In addition to these were some
from a distance, who had come specially to honour the Club
by their presence; amongst whom was Dr. Chambers, the
Mayor of Margate.

Deputations were sent by the following Clubs and
Societies:—The Royal Microscopical Society, the Old Change
Microscopical Society, the Quekett, South London, the Forest
Hill, West Kent, and Margate Microscopical Clubs.

Many of the principal London makers kindly exhibited
instruments.

The following members of the Croydon Club exhibited
objects :-—

H. Lee, Esq. (President), Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Strong, Dr. Whitling,
Messrs. J. W. Flower, G. Corden, J. S. Johnson, Henry Long,
C. W. Hovenden, G. F. Linney, W. J. Nation, Alfred Crowley,
Philip Crowley, J. J. Gill, G. N. Price, F. Warren, A. D. Taylor,
G. Manners, W. R. Cooper, T. Cushing, C. F. Clark, A. G. Roper,
H. W. Beeby, Henry Crouch, McRae, G. Purser, and H. Lee, jun.

The room was tastefully decorated by Messrs. Ridge and
Son, of North-end; and the platform was covered with a

choice collection of exotic plants by Mr. J. H. Ley, of Lans-
downe-road.

_ The Music was excellent; Mrs. Mendham presiding at the
piano.

In addition to the objects shown by the members with
their microscopes, there were Stereographic views of Switzer-
land and Italy, with numbers of other curiosities, exhibited by
the'President ; Shells of the Genus Conus, by Dr. Carpenter ;
Antiquarian relics, by Mr. J. W. Flower ; a valuable collection
of portraits, by Mr. G. Manners, F.8.A.; but it is impossible
to enumerate all. The committee have to thank those gentle-
men who came from a distance to give such valuable aid, as
well as those of their own members who assisted.

The refreshments were supplied by Messrs. Biddell and
Son, High-street.

~

24

December, 18th, 1872.—On ‘Tue ForAMINIFERA IN THE

Cuatx,” by Mr. Arruur Aner, of Guildford, read by
Dr. Strone.—The writer entered fully into the subject,
describing the peculiarities of these singular forms of fossil
shells. They are so minute that the microscope has
hitherto failed to detect either digestive or respiratory
organs. The theory of their formation is that when the
chalk was deposited there, minute shells were mixed with
the oozy mud at the bottom of the sea; and in the course
of ages the whole has formed one solid mass of chalk. At
the conclusion of the paper discussion took place on the
subject, in which the Presipent, Dr. Carpenter, and
Mr. M’Kean took part.

A paper on ‘* THe Preparation oF PorycrstrNna,’”’ by
Mr. D. E. Gopparp, read by Mr. T. Cusaine.—This paper
contained useful suggestions to those members engaged in
mounting; and was extremely well received. The Hon.
Secretary supplemented the paper by some suggestions as to
mounting derived from the pages of his own experience.

Several members exhibited objects kindred to the
lecture; amongst these were Messrs. W. R. Cooper, H.
Long, K. M’Kean, G. Manners, H. Ashby, J. 8. Johnson,
and A. D. Taylor.

The following gentlemen were admitted members of the
Club, viz.:—Messrs. H. W. Winshurst, E. W. Townly,
and D’Archambaud.

et a

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Adams, W. A., Dingwall-road.

Adams, T. R., M.D., Ottoman Villas, St. James’s-road.
Allsop, Marston, London-road.

Anderson, J. C., Albert-road, Addiscombe.

Ashby, Henry, St. James’s-road.

Austen, Nathaniel Lawrence, F.L.S., F.Z.8., ‘‘The Acacias,” Pitlake.
Baker, Samuel, Montague Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Baldiston, Frederick, Hanover Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Beeby, H., 41, North-end. .

Berney, Edward, M.R.C.S., 73, High-street.
Berney, John, F.R.M.S., 61, North-end.

Berry, Edward, Park Hill-road.

Bennett, Arthur, 107, High-street.

Bindley, T., St. Peter’s-road.

Blake, W. J., Duppas Hill-terrace.

Blockey, W. F., 38, London-road.

Bonus, Charles, Oakwood House, Sydenham-road.
Brodie, Robert, M.A., George-street.

Carpenter, Alfred, M.D., J.P., 113, High-street.
Clarke, F. C., Farnham House, Morland-road.
Clarke, A. H. 143, High-street.

Cleaver, H. A., M.R.C.S., 40, North-end.

Cooper, George, M.R.C.S., 4, George-street.
Cooper, W. R., Escholt Royd, Oakfield-road.
Cordon, George, 53, High-street.

Corry, John, ‘‘ Rosenheim,” Park Hill-road.
Crowley, Alfred, Bramley Oaks, Bramley-hill.
Crowley, Jonathan Sparrow, 3, Park Hill-rise.
Crowley, Philip, Waddon House.

Cushing, Thomas, 1, Manilla Terrace, Albert- meen
Dickens, Richard Joseph, Addiscombe-road.

Dix, T. H., 36, High-street.

Diver, Ebenezer, M.D.

Drummond, Arthur B., Derby Terrace.
Drummond, John, 76, North-end.

Drummond, William, 2, Sydenham-road.
D’Archambaud, A., Albert-road, Upper Norwood.
Eastty, J. M., J.P., Wellesley House, Wellesley-road.
Edridge, T. R., J.P., ‘The Elms,” High-street.
Evans, Henry, Bramley-hill.

Ewart, Ernest, Edwin Villa, Mayday-road.

Fagg, Edward, Warwick Villa, Addiscombe.
Flower, John, M.A., F.Z.S., Fairfield-road.
Gibbes, F. J., Alverton House, South Penge Park.

26

Gibson, John, Canning Lodge, Addiscombe-road.

Grundy, Charles, Outram Villa, Outram-road, Addiscombe.
Haddock, Roland, 64, High-street.

Hales, Edward, 27, The Waldrons.

Hodges, O. T., 19, St. John’s-road.

Hopgood, James, Clapham Common.

Horsley, Henry, M.R.C.S., 24, North-end.

Hovenden, C. W., 2, Hyde Park Villas, Wandsworth Common.
Hovenden, T., Arbor End, Selhurst-road.

Hudson, Robert, F.R.S., J.P., Clapham Common.

Ingrams, William, Whitgift School.

Jacobs, Alfred R., Carshalton.

Johnson, Cuthbert W., F.R.S., Waldronhyrst, The Waldrons.
Johnson, J. S., M.R.C.S., 105, High-street.

Jones, E..F., St. Germain Villa, Forest Hill.

Klasson, H. M., Upper Grove, Selhurst-road, South Norwood.
Lanchester, Henry, M. D., Encombe Villa, Lansdowne-road.
Latham, Baldwin, Whitgift Lodge, Wellesley-road.
Lashmar, Charles, M.D., Wellesley-road.

Lee, Henry, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., The Waldrons.

Lee, Henry, jun., The Waldrons.

Leeds, C. E., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.

Linney, G. F., Friends’ School, Park-lane.

Long, Rev. D., Bramley-hill.

Long, Henry, M.Q.M.C., &., 90, High-street.

Loy, William Thomas, 9, Garrick Chambers, Garrick-street, London.
Major, C. W., Cromwell House, Duppas-hill Terrace.

Manners, George, F.S.A.,F.L.S., The New Terrace, Lansdowne-road.
Marshall, Edward, M.R.C.S., Mitcham.

Martin, Howard, The Ferns, Addiscombe.

McKean, Kenneth, jun., Bramley-hill.

Moore, John, Oakwood, Park-hill.

Morland, Charles Coleby, Rastrick Lodge, Morland-road.

Mosely, T. B., Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn. -

Muggeridge, T. Benjamin, Upper Addiscombe-road.

Muggeridge, W. H., Lower Addiscombe-road.

Nation, W. J., M.Q.M.C., 1, Clifton Villas, Thornton-road.
Newton, Charles, Crossland Villa, Broad-green.

Noakes, Henry, Whitgift Street.

Olding, William M. B., F.RB.S., Sydenham-road.

Oswald, Edward Charles, The Palace.

Owens, Henry, M.D., F.R.M.S., 6, Sutherland Villas, Selhurst-road.
Page, Joseph, 5, Ebenezer Terrace, Parson’s-mead.

Paget, Peter, Combe-lane.

Pain, O., 30, High-street.

Peek, W. H., M.P., Wimbledon House.

Penley, C., Fairfield-road.

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27

Perry, G., Park-lane.

Petherick, H. W., Maple Lodge, Havelock-road, Addiscombe.
Podmore, H. R. B., Bramletyr, Bramley-hill.

Price, G. N., St. Peter’s-road.

Punnett, P. S., ‘‘Wintons,” Park Hill-road.

Purser, George, 3, Wellesley Villas, Sutton.

Reid, George, 3, Athol Villas, St. James’s-road.

Ridge, Byron, 60, North-end.

Rigby, G., Wellesley-road.

Roberts, Rev. G. R., The Limes, High-street.

Robinson, W. Mosse, Birdhurst.

Rogers, W. Edward, Shaftesbury Cottage, Lansdowne-road.
Roper, A. G., M.R.C.S., 57, North-end.

Rowland, W. H., High-street.

Rutley, Charles, The Oaks, Warrington-road.

Simons, George, Beddington-lane.

Snelling, W. H., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.

Smithers, George, Duppas-hill.

Smithers, George, jun., Duppas-hill. .

Spéncer, G. J.,; The Grange, Sutton Common, Sutton.
Spencer, John, M.Q.M.C., The Grange, Sutton Common, Sutton.
Stanley, W. F., ‘‘Stanleybury,”’ Albert-road, South Norwood.
Stephenson, H. P., The Hermitage, Warrington-road.
Stevenson, Albert, Oak Hill-road.

Steele, Joseph, L.D.S., M.R.C.S., George-street.

Strong, H. J., M.D., North-end.

Sturge, Edward B., The Waldrons.

Suffield, Rev. R. R., Alfred Villa, Parson’s-mead.
Sutherland, W., M.D., George-street.

Taylor, A. D., Ripley-place, Dingwall-road.

Thrale, Peter, George-street.

Thrale, Ralph, George-street.

Toms, Alfred, Lytchett Villa, Tavistock-road.

Townsend, Harry, Harefield, Cheam.

Townly, E. W., 116, High-street.

Tritton, Thomas, 2, Clifton Villas, Selsdon-road.

Turner, H., Wellington Terrace, St. James’s-road.
Twentyman, Alfred, Fairfield House, Addiscomhe-road.
Warren, Francis, Ailsa Villa, Wellesley-road.

Watney, D., Bedford Park.

West, Frederick, The Waldrons.

West, Frederick, jun., The Waldrons.

Whiflin, G., Bramley-hill.

Winshurst, H. W., Thicket-road, South Norwood.
Whitling, Henry Townsend, F.R.C.S., F.R.M.S., High-street.
Wood, J. D., Woodbine Cottages, Upland-road.
Woodward, John, 1, Lee’s Villas, Canning-road.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

ee. Ty

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its members ; for the
discussion of ‘subjects connected with, or dependant upon Microscopical
research ; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopic Objects and
Preparations; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business’ of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and nine other members—three to
form a quorum. Two of the Committee shall retire every year, but shall
be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by two or more
members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge of him, and
who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, according to the Form
appended. The certificate shall be read from the chair, and the candidate
therein recommended balloted for at the following meeting—three black balls
to exclude.

2.—The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on the 1st
of January, and no person shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until
his subscription has been paid.

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the Club,
provided they do not reside within the district ; such honorary and corre-
sponding members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of the Club, and
shall have no vote in its affairs.

4,—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural History
amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals of that class may
be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first communicate some
original information or observation on Microscopy or Natural History, or
exhibit such specimens as shall by their merit satisfy the committee. Such
Associates shall enjoy the privileges of Honorary Members.

5.—No member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Club
until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to the Secre-
tary of his intention to resign.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any member from the Club,
the same shall be done by a resolution of the committee, which shall be read
at the next ordinary meeting ; and at the following meeting a ballot shall
take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-thirds of the members
present shall vote for such member’s expulsion, he shall no longer be con-
sidered a member.

7.—Any member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, who
shall enter his name, with that of the member by whom he is introduced,
in a book to be kept for that purpose.

ORDINARY MEETINGS.

1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third Wednes-
day in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and August), at

29

eight o’clock in the evening; the chair to be taken at half-past eight pre-
cisely ; or at such other time as the committee may appoint.
2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—
I.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for approval
as being correct.
II.—The names of candidates for membership shall be read, and the ballot for the
election of members shall take place. .
IiI.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after which the chair
shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a conversazione, to
terminate at ten o’clock.
3.—In the absence of the President, the members present at any ordi-
nary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening.
4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of the
committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject of the
papers to be read shall be given by the secretary to the members. No paper
shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by the especial per-
mission of the chairman.

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

* _1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two members appointed
at the ordinary meeting in December. No member of the committee shall
be eligible as an auditor. 7

2.—At the same meeting notice of the annual meeting in January shall
be given from the chair, and the nomination of members for election as
officers for the ensuing year shall be announced.

3.—An annual meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-past
eight o’clock, when the election of officers for the year ensuing shall take
place, and the report of the committee on the affairs of the Club, and the
balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4.—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at one
of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed alteration or
additions must be given at or before the preceding ordinary meeting.

Form of Certificate-for Election of Members.
—o—.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.
Mr.

of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to recommend
him for Election.

This Certificate was read
The Ballot will take place 187
0
NoTE.—The foregoing Rules were adopted at a general meeting of the original members
of the Club, held on the 16th of March, 1870, when the following gentlemen
were elected as officers and members of the committee,
President—Mr. HENRY LEB, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.B.M.S., &.
Treasurer—Mx. JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &c.
*Hon Sec.—Mk. HENRY LONG.

(on my geet lata, ).
18

Committee :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. G. F. LINNEY.
ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D. - GEORGE MANNERS, F.S.A.
WILLIAM REEVE COOPER. GEORGE PERRY.
PHILIP CROWLEY. HENRY J. STRONG.

FREDERICK WEST, Jun.
*Communications to be addressed to the Hon. Sec., 90, High-street, Croydon,

THE LIBRARY.

RULES FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.
1.—Books to be lent out to Members at any time when the Library
of the Literary Institution, at the Public Hall, is open, on application
to Mr. Pussy, the Librarian.
2.—All books and periodicals to be marked with the stamp of the
Club and numbered before being circulated, and kept in such a place
as shall from time to time be determined by the committee.

3.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written
application for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall
be held by the Librarian until the book is returned. No member shall
have more than one work at a time, nor shaJl he keep any work for a
longer period than 14 days. But when a book is returned by a member
it may be borrowed by him again, provided it has not been bespoken by
any other member. Books which have been bespoken shall circulate in
rotation according to priority of application,

4.—Standard works, as shall be named by the committee, to be kept
for reference and not to be lent out.

5.—Members retaining books longer than the specified time shall
be subject to a fine of one penny per day. If any book be retained by
a member for two months, and be not returned after written application
has been made for it, the committee may order it to “be replaced and
charge the member in default with the amount thus incurred, in addition
to the fine. If any book, when returned by a member, is found to have
been damaged during the period such member has had it, a fine equivalent
to the injury shall be paid by the member.

LIST OF BOOKS BELONGING TO THE CROYDON
MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

1 Vol. Beck’s Illustrated Catalogue of Scientific Instruments.
1 ,, The Rev. J. B. Reade’s Address before the Royal Microscopical
Society.

»» The Achromatic Microscope, by Beck.

», Polarized Light, by Charles Woodward.

», Davies on Mounting.

,, Collection and preparation of Algce, by Johann Nave

», Smith’s Diatomacez.

s, Quekett on the Microscope.

,, Carpenter on the Microscope.

,, Microscopical Manipulation, by Suffolk.

,, How to work with the Microscope, by Dr. Lionel S, Beale.

Marvels of Pond Life, by H. J. Slack.

,, Carpenter’s Foraminifera.

;, Turton’s British Shells.

», Bentham’s yas

», Berkeley’s togamic Botany.

», Lectures on qlatclane, by Quekett.

yy Human Microscopic Anatomy, by Kalliker.

os. 20, 21, and 22, Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club.
Lithographed Drawings of Trilobites,

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FOURTH REPORT

\| : AND

|| | :
N ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

ADOPTED AT A MERTING HELD

JANUARY 15, 1874.

CROYDON :

PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘‘ CHRONICLE ” OFFICE, HIGH~ STREET.

1875.

i

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEER

FOR THE YEAR 1874.

qiresident :

HENRY LEE, F.LS., F.G.8., F.R.M.S., &e.

Grensurer :

JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &c.

Honorurp Seereturp :

TENRY LONG, M.Q.M.C.,

90, High Street, Croydon.

Committee :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. G. F. LINNEY.
;
: ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D. GEORGE MANNERS, F.S.A.
4 WILLIAM REEVE COOPER. GEORGE PERRY.

PHILIP CROWLEY. HENRY J. STRONG, M.D.
FREDERICK WEST, Jun. "

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Fourra Annuat Meertine of this Club was held in the
Reading-room of the Literary Institute on Wednesday evening,
January 15th, H. Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The minutes
of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the under-
mentioned gentlemen who had been nominated for membership were
balloted for and declared duly elected :—Mr. Walter Walters, Park
Hill-road, Croydon ; Mr. John Shepherd, ‘* The Hollings,” Sutton ;
Mr. C. Chambers, ‘‘ Eversfield,’’ Sutton; Mr. William Harrison, 2,
St. John’s-villas, Bensome Manor-road, Thornton Heath; and Dr.
Barrett, Carshalton. The following gentlemen were nominated for
membership at the next meeting:—Mr. John Oldfield, No. 16,
Tamworth-road, Croydon ; Mr. C. J. Jolland, St. Peter’s-road ; Mr.
Frederick Fletcher, Eastnore House, Howard-road, South Nor-
wood; Mr. John Gregory, Dark Hill-lane; Mr. Charles Millard,
Brandries Hill House, Beddington; Mr. C. Jecks, 26, Langham-
place, Northampton ; Mr. Charles Waters, George-street, Croydon ;
_ and Mr. Edward Lovett, Holly Mount, Upper Addiscombe.

Mr. H. Lone, the Hon. Secretary, then read the following

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Committee of the Croydon Microscopical Club have much pleasure
in submitting to the Members the Fourth Annual Report of the Club’s pro-
ceedings. During the year 29 new Members have been elected, and there have
been 11 withdrawals, principally through Members leaving the neighbourhood.
The Committee have to refer with regret to the death of an eminent Member,
J. W. Flower, Esq., their respected treasurer. The number now in the Club

is 149.

The Monthly Evening Meetings continne to be attended with great success,
both as regards the numbers usually present, and the interesting nature of the
Papers that have been read ; and it is also gratifying to the Committee to have
observed that a greater number of Members have brought their microscopesto -
these meetings to assist in illustrating the Paper of the evening, as well as to

exhibit objects collected and mounted by themselves.

The Committee are

6

desirous that even more of those Members who have the opportunity will bring
their instruments on these occasions, feeling sure that individual endeavour to
show objects not hitherto exhibited acts as a healthy stimulus to the Members.
The following Papers have been read :—

January 6th.—‘‘ On the Organs of Respiration in some of the Invertebrate
Animals,” by Mr. J. S. Jonson, M.R.C.S. ; and ‘‘Some Notes of Observa-
tion of Animal Life in the Brighton Aquarium,” by the PRESIDENT.

March 19th.—‘‘ On the Entozoa,’’ by Mr. Henry AsHBy.

April 16th.—‘‘ On the Structure and Distribution of Blood Vessels,” by
Dr. GREENFIELD.

May 21st.—*‘ On Coleoptra,” by Mr. A. D. TAytor.
September 17th.—‘‘ On Blood,” by Mr. Ceci, SAUNDERS.

October 15th.—‘‘On several undecided or doubtful points in Natural
History,” by Mr. Srmpson.

November 19th.—‘‘ On Dry Rot and its Cryptogamic Alliances,” by Dr.
ALFRED CARPENTER.

December 17th.—‘* On Colour of Flowers,’’ by Mr. CHARLES JECKs.

The Fourth Annual Soirée was held on the 26th November. The larger
and smaller halls of the Literary Institution, besides extra rooms, having been
secured for it, greater accommodation was afforded for visitors and exhibitors,
and it is pleasing to the Committee to report that amongst the latter was a
greater number of our Members; and as other Clubs were also more fully
represented, the table-room of the larger hall was devoted almost exclusively
to microscopes, and there was a better display of instruments than at any pre-
vious Sovrée.

The smaller hall was well filled with objects of interest, and an extra room
was set apart for dissolving views, kindly provided and shown by Mr. George
Manners, a Member of the Committee. It was arranged that exhibitors, not
Members of the Club, should have an extra ticket for a friend, so that the
attendance was much increased, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather on the day of the Soirée, tickets to the amount of £22 7s. 6d. were
sold.

The thanks of the Club have been conveyed to the Members of the follow-
ing Societies, who kindly assisted on the occasion :—The Royal Microscopical
Society, the Quekett Microscopical Club, the Forest Hill and Sydenham
Microscopical Club, the South London Microscopical Club, the Old Change
Microscopical Society, and the Hackney Scientific Association.

Excursions to the following places were arranged during the summer
recess :—

June 14th.—To Reigate, in connection with the Quekett Club.

June 17th.—To Leatherhead, and Quekett Club Annual Dinner.

July 12th.—To Hampton Court.

August 12th.—To Wandsworth Common.

September 6th.—To Bromley, for Keston.

There is room for improvement in the number of Members who join in
these excursions, and the Committee would be glad to receive any suggestion
calculated to induce others to attend them. It has been suggested to the
Committee that early morning excursions in the neighbourhood during the
summer months might be sufficiently supported to encourage their organisa-

tion. It would certainly afford an opportunity for combined outdoor work to
those who cannot attend the Saturday afternoon excursions.

7

____ By the accounts it will be observed that the sum of £5 8s. 11d. has been
expended in books, and the Committee are prepared to make a further outlay
in works that may be suggested by Members as likely to be useful additions to
the library. The books are in the care of Mr. Pusey, librarian ofthe Literary
Institution, and may be obtained by Members complying with the rules for
the circulation of books given at the end of the report of last year’s pro-
ceedings.
. During the year Members have attended, as representatives of the Croy-
on Club, Sotrées given in connection with the Old Change Microscopical
Society, the Quekett Club, the Hackney Scientific Association, and the South
- Norwood Microscopical Club. A number of our Members have also exhibited,
_ by invitation, at Sotrées held at the Crystal Palace and at the General Post
_ Office, London. The assistance given by our Club at these interesting
_ gatherings has been duly acknowledged by the different Clubs.

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The Presipent, before asking anyone to move the adoption
of the report, intimated that the Committee would be very glad to
hear any suggestions or remarks from the Members. He might
tell them that there was an increase of £10 in the balance, and
he could not help congratulating the Club upon the increase
in its numbers, as five Members had joined that evening, and
eight more were proposed for membership. A great many joined

_ because they wished for information on subjects with which
other Members of the Club were acquainted, and for his own
part he was always a learner, and as ready to impart any
information in his power. It had struck the Committee that they
might do good service to the junior Members, and perhaps to some
of the older ones, if they invited Mr. Suffolk, or some other gentle-
man of similar experience to give them instruction in the use of the
microscope, and also in mounting objects. He thought they might
supplement this instruction by having extra meetings of the
Club, at which the Members might ask for information on various
points. They would have to pay a gentleman for his professional
. services, but he thought their subscriptions would permit them to
pay him out of their funds, and the Club would be greatly benefitted
___ by such an arrangement. With regard to the library, he must tell -
them candidly that it had not been used to such an extent as he
would have liked ; indeed some of the books had not been inquired
for at all. The Committee would like to buy more books, but they
did not feel justified in spending money for books which were not
used. He did not.think, because they had a balance, that they
-were bound to spend it, but that they ought rather to look forward
to the future. He hoped the time would come when they would
meet in connection with the museum, which would be open till
‘ten at night for the benefit of the working classes. If any Mem-
bers of the Club would assist in explaining various objects of.
natural history to the working men, he was sure it would be their
delight to do so ; indeed, he thought that some arrangement might
be made by which the Club might have the use of the museum-room
for their meetings, and in return give their services as amateur

curators. In such a case, it would be desirable to have funds in
hand. (Hear, hear.)

¥

10

Dr. CarPENTER said the proposition made by the President was
one which must meet with their approval. For some years he had
hoped they would have a local museum which would be of service
to the town and to the Microscopical Club. Latterly he had been
trying to raise a fund sufficient to enable them to have that museum,
and either to appropriate a room beyond the one in which they were
assembled, or build a room above it, so as to have a top light, and
have it fitted up properly as a museum. He hoped to see this
carried out in the course of the present year. Last year many
things occurred to prevent it, amongst which was the estab-
lishment of the new hospital; the year before was the School of
Art ; and the year before that the clearing off of the debt of the old
church, and a number of other things which had occupied a great
deal of his energy and taken money which might otherwise have
been appropriated to the object; but during the present Spring he
hoped to see the museum carried out, and then there would be a
permanent home for the Microscopical Club. He could only look
upon the museum as an appendage to their Society. There would
be a curator’s room, which might be made available as a room for
the Members of the Club where they could meet for the purpose of
microscopical examination and instruction. If this proposal to
obtain professional instruction were carried out, they would rapidly
advance to a more general knowledge of the mode of cultivating
microscopical examination of the kind of subjects which he
had alluded to as being so important, and on which he (Dr.
Carpenter) would like to have some instruction ; for there were
various things connected with microscopical examination which
he did not understand. It would be a great pleasure to have
assistance and information from such an eminent authority as Mr.
Suffolk, and when they had received it many of them would perhaps
be able to repeat what they had learned for the benefit of others.
He was therefore most anxious to see the museum carried out in
the course of the year.

Mr. Warren said, on behalf of the Members of the Club he
thought he might express their appreciation of the hints which had

~

11

been thrown out. As they had an increase of £10, he believed they
would fall in with the President’s desire to be careful about expending
that money, and not to spend it simply because they hadit. It
struck him very forcibly that they might reserve that money to help
on that which was so essential a matter in connection with their
Society, viz., the local museum. If they had a museum he hoped
it would be of a strictly local character in which they might store
objects of natural history, and objects connected with natural science.
He felt that if they had such a museum it would be a great incen-
tive to the study of natural science in connection with their own
locality. A museum would help the Microscopical Club and also

promote the study of other sciences. He was sure the members of

the Club wished to help Dr. Carpenter in this object. Let the
museum be the cry of the town, and then they would soon get it.

The Presipent explained that it was not the intention to devote

‘one farthing of the funds of the Club to the purposes of the museum.

His remarks were simply intended to show the benefit that might
accrue to the Club from having the museum, and in return for the
hospitality they would receive in having the use of the room, he
thought they might give their services as amateur curators, and in
many other ways.

The Rev. R. R. Surrrep expressed his strong sympathy with
the objects proposed by the President, in utilizing their future room.
He referred to the immense interest which working men in London
took in lectures of a scientific character, and the equally strong desire
of the members of the Working Men’s Club to be instructed in similar
subjects. He thought the Committee of the Microscopical Club might
see their way to giving lectures on Saturday evenings, and on other
occasions, to a number of people in the town on natural history and

_ kindred subjects. He knew that in the Working Men’s Club, the
_ greatest interest was taken in botany and other subjects, and he

believed that by promoting the study of these things more would be
done to elevate the taste of the people than could’ be done in any
other way. With reference to the library, he thought that when

12

persons took an interest in a book, they usually purchased it, and
he suggested that periodicals might be obtained for the use of the
Members of the Club. He thought these might circulate when books
would not.

The Present pointed out, as an objection to the last sugges-
tion, that as three days must be allowed for reading, the last man to
receive a periodical would have it several months after the date of
its publication, unless the Members of the Club had a room to
which they could have daily access.

The Rey. R. R. Surrirevp asked if a party could be conducted
to the Brighton Aquarium, or the museum, under the auspices of
the Club. :

The Present said if there was such a party as would justify
him in speaking to Mr. Knight, the General Manager of the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company, he would do so, and
he could undertake to say on behalf of the Directors of the Brighton
Aquarium that he could offer the party something like free admis-
sion. (Cheers.)

Mr. J. Fuower then referred to the satisfactory nature of the
report which had been read by the Hon. Secretary, and moved
that it be adopted, printed in the transactions of the Club, and
circulated among the Members.

Mr. Jounson seconded the motion, which was carried.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.

Mr. Lexx said he had at a previous meeting expressed his
willingness to continue to occupy the post of President, if he were
asked to do so; but he was also quite willing to give it up to any
worthy successor whom the Club might appoint, and the members
might feel sure he would not be offended if such a step were taken.
He had been very greatly relieved from the detail work and had
received all possible co-operation and assistance during the past
two years. He would, therefore, gladly continue in office if it
were the wish of the Members of the Club, as he was assured it
was 50. (Cheers.)

13

Dr. CarPeNnTER said he rose with very great pleasure first of all
to propose a vote of thanks to the President for his services during
the past year. He was quite sure that this would meet with their
cordial approval, because however well a secretary or committee
might work, without the head of the establishment was an equally
good workman, as it were, an undertaking was not likely to be so
successful as it should be. During the past year the President had
thrown his whole heart and soul into the work, and helped the Club
in every possible way. They had seen how it had grown and was
still growing. This was chiefly owing to Mr. Lee’s exertions, and
he was sure, therefore, that they would most cordially thank him
for his services during the past year. He had now the pleasure of
proposing that he be re-elected their President for the ensuing year.
(Cheers.) The way in which Microscopical Societies were springing
up all over the country was indicative of a growing desire on the
part of the people to become more acquainted with natural history
and natural science, and it was very important that those who had
the management of societies of this kind should be men of knowledge
and talent, and who, by their position, were connected with the very
subject which a society was formed to promote. It was, therefore,
a very happy thing for them to have a gentleman of Mr. Lee’s
position and acquirements willing and able to take command of their
Society ; because in proportion to the estimation in which the com-
mander was held would be the estimation in which the Society
was regarded. It was on that acconnt that their Club was held in
such high estimation by other Microscopical Societies. If the
Croydon Microscopical Club stood high in the estimation of other
societies, it was entirely due to their President. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Lee had said he should be glad to retire if a suitable successor
could be appointed, but he (Dr. Carpenter) could hardly understand
the Croydon Microscopical Club without Mr. Lee as its President.
It would be like a Liberal Ministry without Mr. Gladstone as
premier, or a Conservative Ministry without Mr. Disraeli in the
cabinet ; it would not do at all, and the thing could not possibly go
on. He hoped as long as Mr. Lee was among them they would .
have the honour of retaining him as their head, and would be

.

14

willing and able to assist him. He had much pleasure in propos-
ing Mr. Lee as their President for the year ensuing. (Cheers.)

The Rev. R. R. Surrretp seconded the motion. He said he
had heard the Club highly spoken of in London by gentlemen con-
nected with scientific bodies, and Mr. Lee was always regarded as
the centre and founder of it. He also referred to the genial and
kindly manner of the President and his happy mode of bringing the
Members together, for which, and for his many services to the Club,
he considered they owed him a deep debt of gratitude.

Dr. Carpenter put the motion to the meeting and it was carried
nem con.

The Presipent briefly returned his acknowledgments for the

compliment of re-election, and said he would endeavour to do his

best for the Club in the future as he had done in the past. Not-
withstanding their approval of him, however, he could assure them
that there were as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it ; but
whenever he had occasion to ‘‘ take a back seat,’ as the Yankees
termed it, he would take care it should not be very far back, and he
would be at the right hand of his successor, ready and willing to
give him all possible assistance. He would, in fact, always be
happy to serve, in any capacity in which they might like to place
him, the Members of the Croydon Microscopical Club. (Cheers.)

ELECTION OF TREASURER.

The PresipEnT having feelingly alluded to the removal, by
death, of their late Treasurer, Mr. J. W. Flower, stated that the
post which he left vacant had been accepted by Dr. Carpenter, and
it was now for the Members to propose that he continue in office.

Mr. Linney endorsed the tribute to the memory of their late
Treasurer, whom he highly respected. He then moved that Dr.
Carpenter be re-elected as Treasurer to the Club.

Mr. G. N. Price seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

— .

15
THE HON. SECRETARYSHIP.

The Present announced that the Hon. Secretaryship of the
Club would remain in abeyance till the Committee could find a
successor to Mr. Long, who felt compelled to retire, owing to the
now onerous nature of the duties, and the claims which his business
had upon him. If he thought Mr. Long could be induced to remain
in office, there was no solicitation of his which should not be pressed
upon him ; but after the explanations which Mr. Long ‘had given,
he felt that it would be wrong to request him to do so. Mr. Long,
however, had kindly consented to continue the duties until a suitable
successor could be found. He had now to propose that the cordial
thanks of the meeting be given to their Hon. Secretary for the
services he had rendered to the Club since its formation, and he
hoped that before long it would’ be possible to add some other ex-
pression of their good-will. (Applause.)

Dr. Carpenter, in seconding the motion, also bore testimony
to the care and attention with which Mr. Long had devoted himself
to the interests of the Club. e

The motion having been carried unanimously,

Mr. Lone expressed regret that he was unable to continue in
office, but explained that the claims of his business, and the increas-
ingly onerous nature of the duties of the Secretaryship, left him on
alternative. He felt hé should not be doing justice to the Club by
continuing in office, but it would be his earnest endeavour to forward
its interests so long as he occupied the position. He thanked the
Members of the Club for the kindness, gcod feeling, and forbear-
ance which he had experienced at their hands during the whole time
he had been Secretary.

THE COMMITTEE.

Mr. W. R. Cooper ard Mr. Johnson were unanimously elected
Members of the Committee for the year ensuing. ;

16

A vote of thanks was then passed to the Press, and the
reporters present were requested to convey to the Hditors of their
respective journals the appreciation by the Club of the reports which
were from time to time given of its proceedings, and of the support
which the Society received generally from the local journals.

This terminated the business proceedings of the meeting; but
before the company separated the Chairman announced, amidst
much applause, that the next Paper would be contributed by himself,
and would be ‘‘ On Certain Developments which have taken place in
the Brighton Aquarium.”

CESS

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.

1873.

,

The following are the subjects that have been introduced, and
the Meetings, Excursions, &c., that have taken place.

February 19th, 1873.—Paper on ‘‘ Tue Orcans or Respiration IN
SOME OF THE INVERTEBRATE Animas,” by Mr. J. S. Jounson,
and ‘‘Some Notes or Ogsservations oF AnimMAL Lire IN THE
Bricuton Aquarium,” by the PResmpEnt.

The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Secretary.

The Presipent called the attention of the Club to a proposal
which had been confirmed by the Annual Meeting, that a library
of select scientific works should be formed for the use of the
members, and invited suggestions for books to be placed in it.*

Mr. J. S. Jonnson then read his paper, ‘‘ On the Breathing
Organs of the Invertebrate Animals,” illustrating it by numerous
diagrams, showing their peculiar habits and mode of obtaining
oxygen for the support of life, either from water or the atmos-
phere. He first gave an account of the similarity existing between
plants and animals at the first moment of their existence, and
___ explained that they all consisted of a cell, containing a nucleus,

which has the property of reproducing others like itself. Under
the influence of light, heat, and moisture, pure water, so kept that
_ nothing but air shall have access to it, will, after a time, produce
them in abundance ; the vegetable organisms appearing first, and
the animal as soon as there is enough of vegetable matter for their
subsistence. Aquatic animals and vegetables for the most part are
provided with vibratory organs, which project from their bodies.
These are, in some, agents of locomotion ; in others, both for
movement and the production of a current of water, so as to
gain fresh supplies of oxygen. Next the fresh water polypos
- came into consideration ; their form and long arms, or tentacles,
were shown, and the manner of seizing their prey; they breathe
_ by means of these tentacles, which are covered with minute
processes, called cilia. The leech and earthworm breathe on the
_ aquatic principle; they have no respiratory organs. Water contain-
_ ing oxygen is absorbed through their skin. Of the Crustacea,

* See list of books, with rules for lending, at the end of the report,

18

comprising water fleas, fresh water shrimps, the water-louse,
shrimps, prawns, &c., some breathe by flabelliform appendages
attached to the feet, others by laminated plates in cavities at the
sides of the thorax. Insects, many of them, especially flies, are
in their larval state inhabitants of the water, and breathe through
their tails, which they apply to the surface ; when metamorphosed
into flies, they breathe through pores, situated on the sides on the
body. The gnat, at its first metamorphosis, breathes with its tail ;
in its second by two tubes attached to the head; in its last, when
a flying insect, by pores or stigmata on the sides of its body ; the
wings are also permeated with breathing tubes. Caterpillars have
pores on the side of the body, frequently protected by a sieve-like
membrane, which prevents the entrance of dust. Among spiders,
which breathe by pores leading to air sacs or lungs within their
bodies, is the water spider, and in proof that its habits are most
interesting, Mr. Johnson said—I kept some of the water spiders
in an aquarium for two months or more, and watched their pro-
ceedings. The Argynoreta comes to the surface head foremost,
assisted by a thread attached to a leaf or some other object by
one end, aud to the surface of the water by the other; it turns up
the point of its abdomen, and catches a bubble of air; this is
retained amongst some hairs on the under part of the body, and
produces a shining metallic appearance. With this bubble it dives,
and leaves it attached to the plant at the end of the thread under
water. The same operation is repeated frequently until the aerial
home is large enough. Around this it spins a web to strengthen
it, and, when finished, creeps in and there lies in wait for prey. I
have seen the males build their dwellings side by side, and noticed
the male visit the female, both living in one compartment. After
a time my aquarinm was dotted over with little balls or cocoons
like cotton, and not very long after a swarm of young ones made
their appearance. Many of these crawled out of the water and
perished ; the remainder soon disappeared, and disappointed me of
the pleasure of rearing them. I believe they were eaten by their
parents. How these spiders get into and out of their bubble
homes, without allowing the air to escape is, to me, a mystery.
Molluscous animals: Amongst these are the oyster, scallop,
and mussel; these breathe by ciliated laminated plates (com-
monly called the beards), producing a constant current of sea
water in and out of their shells, thus obtaining the necessary
oxygen for respiration. In the garden snail, an opening exists
on the right side near the head, leading to a pulmonary air sac
or lung. During hybernation the shell is closed by a natural
cement, which is perforated for the admission of air. The aquatic
water snails come to the surface to breathe; most of these propa-
gate by eggs; one, as an exception, brings forth its young alive ;
openings for the admission of air exist on the side of the head,

19

leading to air sacs in their interior. In conclusion, Mr. Johnson
alluded to the monad, or unicellular microscopic animal, as the
type of the first beginning of life in all animals from the lowest to
the highest. These microscopic atoms, he well observed, are
calculated to excite the wonder and admiration of those who
investigate the subject, and sufficiently attest their divine origin.

The Present asked to what pecularities of motion Mr. John-
son had alluded as the distinguishing marks of animal and vege-
table organisms.

Mr. Jonnson said as far as his observations went, he thought
that animals moved as if they had some purpose in view, avoiding
obstacles, and that, on the other hand, vegetable organisms moved
much slower, and with a trembling motion.

Dr. Carpenter said: We have heard with considerable satis-
~ faction the observations made by Mr. Johnson, and much admired
the excellent drawings with which he has illustrated his paper, but
I should like to ask a question or two regarding some of his
remarks in the earlier part of it. I should wish to know upon
what grounds he concludes that the actions which he has alluded to
as taking place in the 4meba, and in some other of the lower
forms of life in the class Protozoa, are respiratory actions. The
same action it is which nourishes and which propagates the
creature, if creature it is. I doubt the correctness of the defini-
tion as being respiration, any more than it is circulation, or
motion, or actual life. It may be true animal life. It is
asserted by some eminent physiologists that the difference
between the animal and vegetable is the production in the one
ease of carbonic acid by the act of living, and in the other,
the decomposition of carbonic acid, and the setting oxygen
free; but this does not hold good in every case, for some
-_ undoubted plants produce carbonic acid. It is well known also
- that the important action of movement.is set up quite independ-
; ently of respiration, for a simple alteration of density, such as
occurs on different sides of a moist membrane, gives rise to a very
f= active movement indeed, which is not respiration, and which is not
_ hife. It is easily shown by placing liquids of different densities on
_ different sides of a piece of bladder. I do not mean to insinuate
_ for one moment that Mr. Johnson is not perfectly right in his idea
_ that everything has proceeded from some germ which has de-
_ veloped into the object. I quite agree to the idea that a preceding
_ germ or ovum is necessary for the production of life, but I cannot
_ agree for one moment with the suggestion, promulgated by some
scientific men, that life may be produced by a certain combination
of forces independent of life itself; yet, the theory propounded by

20

Mr. Johnson does not strike me as quite correct. I will grant that
if the term is used simply for the purpose of indicating that the
withdrawal of atmospheric air would be fatal to the creature, and
that that only is understood by the term used, it may be taken as
correct ; but the removal of air would be equally destructive to the
diatoms and desmids as well as to the Protozoa, and is therefore
something more than respiration.

The Presipent alluded to the manner in which he had seen
diatoms move about, avoiding obstacles in their way, but thought
that no correct inferences could be drawn from this fact. There
was one point, however, which Mr. Johnson had brought forward
which was most interesting, namely, the development of many
forms of life from monads. He remarked upon the great changes
which took place in feetal life, and upon the fact that crabs, newts,
and efts breathed through external branchia, as well as the foetus in
some animals. He highly praised Mr. Johnson’s paper, and the
excellent diagrams by which it had been illustrated, and gave him
some practical hints by which the latter might be made permanent
drawings available for future use.

A cordial vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Johnson
for his excellent paper,

The Preswwent then gave the following ‘‘Notzs oF OBSERvA-
TIONS oF ANIMAL Lire IN THE Bricuton Aquarium ’’:—‘‘ When I
was first hard at work at the Brighton Aquarium on behalf of my
friend J. K. Lord, just before its opening, I was often in the build-
ing nearly all night surerintending the work of the good fellows who
so cheerfully and faithfully obeyed my orders, and carried out my
plans in a very difficult crisis. I had thus many opportunities of
observing the nocturnal habits of the sea-fish. In the daytime
tanks in which I had placed dozens of fishes, might have been,
and often were supposed to be, devoid of life. The flat fishes, for
instance, such as the soles and plaice, and the rays and skates
(though of another order) which bask motionless during a great
part of the day, and so assimilate themselves in colour to the
ground on which they lie that only careful scrutiny can detect their
presence, swim gaily at night; and I spent many a pleasant half-
hour in watching by the light of my bull’s-eye lantern the exquisi-
tively graceful curves of their bending bodies and undulating fins.
But my attention was attracted more to the dogfishes than to any
other specimens in the tanks. At that time we had but two species
there—the roughhound (Scylliwm catulus) and the picked dog
(Acanthias vulgaris). Now, here were two fishes which had long
been classed in one family—the Squalide—both called ‘‘ dogfish,”
both belonging to the shark tribe, and very much resembling each

-

—

21

other in form and structure, though not in colour, but differing from
each other in their habits in a manner which had not been previously
observed. I noticed that the ‘‘ picked dog” (A. vulgaris), swims
about actively night and day, whilst on the contrary, the rough-
hound /S. catulus), and the nursehound (S. canicula), are almost
entirely nocturnal in their habits. During the day the first-named
hug themselves close up to the surface of a rock, or, if possible, in
some crevice, head up and stern down; and the latter lie on the ~
bottom, and remain motionless. It was known that one, the
‘picked dog,” brings forth its young alive; and that the cther,
the roughhound (and also the nursehound), deposits horny-cased
eggs, which remain many weeks in the water, attached by tendrils
to some sea-weed, stone, or Gorgonia, before they are hatched.
But the method by which these eggs were made fast to their
anchorage had never been seen by the eye of man, and naturalists
differed in opinion whether they were intentionally fastened by the
fish, or whether the tendrils were straight at the period of their
extension and coiled around prominent substances by some “ in-
herent vitality’’ of their own. I had the great pleasure of
watching one of the oviparous dogfishes, the nursehound ( Scyllium
canicula) deposit its pair of eggs, and of witnessing the manner
in which the parent attaches them to plants, rocks, &c., at the
sea-bottom, and I cannot better describe it than by quoting from
my notes made at the time: At 1.15 one Sunday afternoon,
one of the attendants at the Brighton Aquarium noticed that a
nursehound had hanging from her, close to her body, an egg
which had just been extruded. He quickly drew my attention to
it, and I need not say how delighted I was to have the opportunity
of observing an operation which has been a subject of speculation
and conflicting opinion. The lady tested my patience severely,
but it was ultimately well rewarded. The tank in which she was
contains more than 50,000 gallons of water, and for five hours she
swam round and about, generally near the surface, with an activity
quite unusual to these fishes during the daylight, appearing neither
to care for, nor to be incommoded by, the appended egg. But
about half-past six p.m., when, as it afterwards appeared, the
second egg was ready for expulsion, she began to rub herself
heavily along the shingle at the bottom of the tank, and to

‘endeavour to free herself of her incumbrance by vigorous con-

tortions of the body and rapid muscular motion of the tail. In
readiness for such an event, as we had no Gorgonias or Laminaria,
I had previously ordered to be prepared some artificial Gorgonias,
made of the twigs of a birch broom, and fastened firmly, in the
shape of a little brush, to a heavy stone. One of these I now
lowered into the tank, close to the parturient fish. For some time
she took no notice of it, and continued, at intervals of about five
minutes, her former meyements along the ground; but in about

c

22

half an hour she began to reconnoitre my sham Gorgonia, swam
round it twice, and then, seemingly satisfied that it would suit her
purpose, deliberately tried to make a way through the midst of the
little bush near its root. At this part, however, the sticks of the
birch broom were stiffer and less yielding than the branches of the
‘* sea-fan,” or ‘* sea-weed,”’ for which she took them, and she failed
to drive a heading into them; but, with wonderful intelligence, she
rose higher and higher, and at last succeeded in separating with her
nose the upper and more pliant twigs, and forced a passage for
herself through the brushwood. Resting for a second, she, with
a quick undulation of the hinder portion of her body, entangled
the tendrils at the first-presented end of the egg amongst the
branches, and sailing slowly through and around the upper and
slighter part of the tree, dragged from her body the tendrils at the
other end of the egg, and with them another egg, similarly
furnished. The moment this second egg had passed from the
orifice, the mother fish gently sank towards the bottom, and
curling herself into the form of a ring—nose and tail meeting, and
partially overlapping—encircled the base of the bush, and with
its stem as an axis, revolved around it fourteen times, winding
from her body the tendrils of the last-produced end of the second
egg, as silk is wound from a cocoon, or as a seampstress or tailor,
in finishing the sewing-on of a button, coils several turns of a
thread around the needle-stitches by which it is first fixed. As
soon as this was completed she swam slowly away, and gave no
further attention to her embryo progeny. I have seen some of
these eggs left in a tank with several dogfishes for many weeks, but
the latter take no notice of them, and evidently care neither to
protect nor injure them. As some present may not have seen the
egg of the nursehound, I may mention that it has a horny case of
a yellowish colour, and is in shape something like a butcher's tray,
or, rather, like two such trays placed together with the convex
bottoms outwards. It is four and a half inches long, one and a
half inches broad, and about three quarters of an inch thick in the
centre. One end is rather rounded off, and I noticed that it is this
end which issues first from the body of the fish. The other end is
square across. From the four corners, where the handles of the
tray would be, are produced horny tendrils, twisted spirally like
the spring of a bell-wire, but not so tightly, and gradually be-
coming thinner, until at their ends they are almost as fine as
cobweb or floss silk. I find that the tendrils at the rounded end
of the egg of this fish are about three feet in length, and those at
the square end five feet. The eggs of the roughhound (S. catulus)
are smaller than those of the nurse-hound, being about two and a
half inches long. The tendrils of these latter measure, at one
end, about two feet six inches, and at the other only about twelve
inches when stretched out. The egg cases are in no way connected

—

ae

PKS Py

23

with each other by the tendrils. Before ejection the spirals are
not straight, but are very tightly twisted and coiled in a small
compass ; and, far from ‘‘ curling round an object by their inherent
vitality, after emission, those first protruded gradually relax
their convolutions; the coils slacken and lengthen out like an
overstrained spring of a bell-wire; and it is not by any “ inherent
vitality” in the tendrils, but by inherent instinct in the parent fish,
that they are purposely, and of forethought, entangled with the coral,

- fucus, or shell, which the mother selects as a suitable anchorage

for them. After witnessing the deposition of these eggs, the use
and meaning of the several portions of the structure of their cases
are plain and unmistakeable. The case itself is made of material
sufficiently firm and tough to protect the contained ovum from
injury, but not so hard as to be liable to fracture. The rounding
off of the corners of the end first extruded facilitates its passage
from the body of the fish. The fine flossy ends of the tendrils,
curled up loosely, like a lady’s ‘ frisette,” are just suited to their
entanglement with any rough projecting object. The tendrils at
the square or ‘“ aftermost ” end of the case are longer than those
first entangled, to enable the fish to wind them round and round,
and fasten them off; and when this has been effected, and the
flossy ends have ‘ belayed” themselves, the egg case rides
securely, moored by skilfully-coiled cables, so elastic that they
yield gently to the force of the waves, and it is thus protected
from being violently torn from its hold. And yet some will affirm
that all this perfect adaptation of means to ends in the construc-
tion of these eggs, and the marvellous instinct displayed by tke
parent in her manner of affixing them, have been “‘ developed by
necessity.” To my mind the egg of a dogfish furnishes evidence
of design in its construction, and testifies to the existence of a
supreme intelligence and an omnipotent will.

The reading of this paper was greeted with loud applause ; and
the President then made some further observations on the
« Development of Hydra Tuba.”

A few days ago, said he, Mr. Lawler, the sub-curator of the
Brighton Aquarium, wrote to tell me, with his usual attention to
my wish to be informed of anything of especial interest that may
occur there, that hundreds of small meduse were swimming about
in the tanks. On the Saturday before last I had the delight of
watching them in all their beauty. There they were, in countless

_ multitudes, jerking themselves rapidly along in their course, with a

motion just like that of the quick opening and closing of a lady’s
parasol with a slight fringe round it. The brisk, partial closing of
the parasol propelled them through the water, ferule foremost ;
and just at the moment when the impulse ceased to give them any
further progressive movement, they opened their little umbrella as

o 2

24

wide as possible, and struck out again in the same manner. It
was easy to recognise them as the meduse of Hydra Tuba. The
polypes from which they have been thrown off, have evidently been
brought into the tanks on the shells of the oysters, which we have
found so useful in rendering the sea-water clear and transparent.
Of this I shall have more to say on a future occasion. But. these
beautiful little fellows have a wonderful history attached to them.
The transformation they undergo are almost beyond belief.
People are so familiar with the fact that the brightly coloured
butterfly or moth has once been a crawling caterpillar, and after-
wards a dull chrysalis incapable of locomotion, that they have
almost ceased to regard thesé developments as remarkable, and
look on them as a matter of course. But the changes of form and
habit in many marine creatures which take place during their
varied life, are equally surprising and more complicated ; and,
owing to the difficulty of observing them, are not so well known
to the general public. For instance, the little acorn barnacle
(Balanus balanoides), whose conical house is seen affixed to almost
every stone and shell taken from the sea, was once an active little
thing, capable of free motion through the water. The home-
staying oyster in its childhood paddled itself about by means of its
ciliz wherever it listed, in a manner which you have before heard
described ; the jelly-like ascidian was once a minute tadpole ; and
I might cite dozens of similar instances of marine animals enjoying
activity in youth, and subsiding afterwards into sedentary maturity.
But the transformations of the medus@ are quite as wonderful.
The common jelly-fish, or ‘‘ moon-fish”’ (Medusa chrysaora), which
must be familiar to everyone who has had a sea-side holiday, has
been observed (by Sir J. Dalyell) to produce minute ova, from
which proceed embryos called planula, little crawling organisms,
which by-and-by attach themselves to the rocks, and become meta-
morphosed into stationary polypes. In this condition, as Hydra
tuba, they were brought into the tanks of the Brighton Aquarium,
parasitically affixed to oyster-shells. Hydra tuba has the appea-
rance of a little cone with tentacles, holding by its pointed end to
the surface to which it is attached. At a certain period its outline
appears corrugated, and a closer examination shows these corruga-
tions to consist of so many little saucers, piled up one within the
other. The topmost saucer detaches itself and swims away ; and
the rest, one by one, follow its example until the cone of Hydra
tuba is dispersed, and the little saucers are seen to be so many
meduse, such as are now abundant in the Brighton tanks, and
some of which are on this table. At this stage our real knowledge
of their history ceases. It is believed that they continue to grow
until they become the large jelly-fishes which are so common in
our seas, but I am not aware that any observations have been
made of their intemediater development.

25

Dr. Carpenter proposed a vote of thanks to the President for
his original communication. He said it was something to have
such a communication submitted to them, and the observations

: which Mr. Lee had made about things never before observed by
the eye of man were particularly interesting. He had no doubt

} that there were many points with reference to Natural History

which would be solved in the Brighton Aquarium. He hoped if

their President remained with them, that he would give them, on a
future occasion, some observations of a similar character.

]
b
;
. The vote of thanks was passed by acclamation, and the Presi-
dent having briefly acknowledged the compliment, the proceedings
of a most agreeable evening were brought to a close.

The following gentlemen put their microscopes at the’service of
Mr. Johnson to assist him to illustrate the subject of his{paper :—
Messrs. P. Crowley, C. W. Hovenden, G. F. Linney, H. Long, K.
McKean, G. Manners, HE. Sturge, A. D. Taylor, and Dr. Strong.
There was also exhibited by Mr. Henry Ashby, a preparation sold

or cocoa, but the microscope revealed it to be composed principally
of arrowroot coloured with red ochre. The President exhibited an
egg of the dog fish, in illustration of his own paper.

arch 2nd, 1873.—Paper on ‘‘ Enrozoa” by Mr. Henry AsHpy.

The minutes were read by Mr. H. Long, the secretary, and
confirmed.

Mr. Henry Asupy said—Mr. President and Gentlemen : Con-
scious of the many valuable papers read before this society since
its commencement by distinguished gentlemen from beyond our
-own limits, and also those emanating from our own more promi-
nent members, I have hesitated before occupying an evening of
the session now fast drawing to a close. But holding, as I do,
- that if this Society is to be as successful in the future as in the
past, while ever welcoming assistance from the outside, it must
look for support for the most part to the exertions of its own
members. As one of the rank and file of this Society, I have
ventured to occupy your time this evening in considering one of
the most interesting classes of the animal kingdom, inasmuch as
man, in common with his poorer relatives, plays towards them the
part of unwilling host. For not only are we food for worms
when this world has done with us, but in our lifetime, as we go
about our daily work, we are liable to breed and nourish within us
a host of entozoa as our guests—a lot we share with the humblest
member of the animal kingdom. For parasitism is a law of nature

26

almost as universal as gravitation, from the smallest monad to the
hugest beast, and inhabiting almost every tissue of the body, from
the liquid blood to the solid bone. It is plain that such creatures
need be of the simplest structure ; they need no elaborate digestive
apparatus to prepare their food for assimilation when they are
surrounded by the ready prepared liquid nourishment of their
hosts. We find them, for the most part, destitute of heart or
blood-vessels, secretory apparatus, and nervous system of a rudi-
mentary kind. On the other hand, on the principle that ‘* Nothing
grows like evil,” and necessitated by the vicissitudes of their
changing lives, they have very highly developed organs of repro-
duction. It is evident any systematic attempt to classify them
must be difficult, considering the varying circumstances under
which they live, and the gaps still to be filled up in their hfe
history. There is one characteristic, however, which they all
possess in common with one or two other groups of the animal
kingdom, and that is the possession of a water-vascular system,
which was noticed in the paper read at our last meeting. This
water-vascular system is a sort. of representative of a system of
blood vessels and alimentary canal, the water or fluid in which they
live performing the offices of the blood. It consists of a number
of channels communicating with one another cut through the
parenchyma of the animal, ramifying in all directions, and com-
municating by one or more apertures with the water outside, some
of these vessels being contractile, others provided with cilize, by
means of which they keep the fluid cireulating. By this means
the great pabulum of all animal life, oxygen, is brought in contact
with their tissues, and by which, in the same way, nourishment is
conveyed into the interior and absorbed by the cells. After
describing the six groups or orders of worms, which he classed
under the name of Annelida, Mr. Ashby proceeded with a sketch
of the Ascaris lambricoides, a worm which is common to man and
his domestic animals, as his first type. It varies in length from 3
to 12 inches, and its residence is the intestine. Beginning at the
head, we notice, by means of a lens, three prominent papilla,
which are uniform in size and moveable during life, and are ~
probably suctorial organs, though the animal moves freely about
in its abode. The oval aperture leads at once into a strong
muscular cesophagus nearly half-an-inch in length; this passes
through a slight construction into a straight tube, getting wider as
it proceeds, and finally ends near the hinder extremity in a narrow
aperture. No trace of any glands can be found; indeed it would be
difficult to conceive their necessity in a creature whose food
requires so slight modification to convert it into its own protoplasm.
All the tissues of the body appear highly elastic and contractile,
but the true muscular system consists of four longitudinal bands,
passing from one end of the body to the other. The nervous

*

€

ee ee ee ee eee ee
7 .

27

system is represented by one or two ganglia near the mouth, and
‘cords proceeding down the body. The vascular system by con-
tractile canals communicating with the mouth, and spreading over
the body, but observers are not agreed about the distribution of
the nervous cords and contractile canals. The reproductive
powers of these worms are enormous, Dr. Kstricht calculating that
a mature female ascaris may carry 64 millions of eggs. What
becomes of this innumerable horde? Doubtless, many of them
perish, perhaps devoured by birds, or other animals incapable of
offering them suitable lodgings. But, of one thing we are certain,
and that is, the tenacity with which they stick to life. Professor
Owen mentions a nematoid worm exhibit vital movements after
boiling for an hour in a codfish. Many instances are recorded of
their resurrection after being dried ; and others, after being soaked
in spirits of wine and turpentine. The eggs are ovoid and covered
with a transparent envelope. Rechter placed some ova squeezed
out of an ascaris into some water and watched them from time to
time by the microscope. Segmentation having taken place, the
developement of the young was complete in fourteen days. They
moved with great briskness, but did not break through their shells.

. This continued during the autumn, and during the winter they
were in a quieter state of mind. Thus, it is probable they remain

encysted for a considerable period, until chance throws them in
favourable circumstances, when they break through their shells and
commence life on their own account. Nothing, however, for
certain, is known of their doings from the time they leave the
parent till they turn up like base coin in the intestine of some
animal, Probably they are about in great numbers swept along
by the wind, alighting in stagnant pools, wandering about perhaps
among the green pastures of Beddington, floating down the Wandle,
or lurking in some gutter on the look out for a thirsty dog. It is

_ evident there are a thousand chances to one that any single worm

ever finds its way to a suitable abode, and but for their enormous
powers of reproduction their race must become extinct. There are
two factors necessary for their developement—the presence of the
ova and a suitable soil on which they may flourish. They are
more likely to flourish in that individual animal that is out of con-
dition. One may often notice it is the sickly fruit tree on which

the blight appears. Anyone who has kept dogs must have noticed

if the dog gets at all out of condition, he soon swarms with fleas
and other vermin. I have seen this in dogs kept for experiment,
that when put upon certain diets for long together, as fat or starch,

and when they have undergone operations and got out of condi-

tion, they swarm with vermin. However, dogs are seldom wholly
free from entozoa, from their irregular mode of getting a living;

q - eating and drinking any refuse, they must constantly be exposed to
_ their inroads. Out of twenty-five dogs I have examined there were

28

only three in which I found no tenia or ascarides. But these were
all dogs that had led a city Arab life. Passing over the oxyuris
and its allies, as closely resembling the ascaris, we must delay a
while over the trivhina spirulis, for this little entozoon is invested
with more practical interest, inasmuch as it has, perhaps, caused
more mischief to the human race than any other. The mature
trichina inhabits the intestines of man and animals. It measures
one-eighteenth to the one-eighth of an inch in length, with a round
file-form body, narrow head, finely pointed, unarmed with hooklets
or suckers, and as a single oval aperture. According to Leuckart,
on the second day after entering the intestine they attain their full
size. In six days the female contains ova, the embryo freely
moving in its shell, and when fully mature passes into the intestine.
Thé embryo worm breaks its shell, and not content with the dull
life of its parent, begins its wanderings. Boring through the walls
of the intestines, it wanders freely through the muscles and tissues
of its host, and if its host survives its invasion, it takes on the
encysted form ; it curls itself up, becomes surrounded by a cyst,
and here patiently awaits a further change. This change may
never come, their bearers continuing to live in spite of them.
They die, and a cretaceous deposit takes place around them ; or,
on the contrary, their host is killed for food, the trichina cysts
transferred to the devourer’s intestine, and once more their life’s.
circle begins again. The presence of these free trichiaa in the
muscles of their bearers is liable to give rise to a very serious
inconvenience and danger to life. A single instance, related by
Professor Langenbeck, of Berlin, will show this. Seven persons
took part in a “ church visitation,’ which consisted in their sitting
down to a heavy breaktast of ham, cheese, wine, and the eternal
sausage. A few days after everyone of them were taken ill, and
suspicion rested on the innkeeper for poisoning the wine. They
had fever, pains in the muscles, &c. ; four of them died, and the
other three were ill for some time afterwards. Some years after,
one of the survivors had to undergo an operation which entailed
excising a portion of muscle. This muscle was found filled with
numerous dead trichina cysts. This evidence, with other circum-
stances which-came to light, proved beyond doubt they had eaten
pork in the sausage containing trichina cysts. Passing on to the
Teeniada, or tapeworms, we meet anew elass of ontozoa. The
mature teenia differ from the rematoid worms in their being des-
titute of an alimentary canal, and consisting of a series of segments
or proglottides, each of these being hermaphrodite. We meet with
the tceniada in two forms, the sexually mature and the sexually imma-
ture. The former inhabit those parts of their host that are in free
communication with the exterior, in order that their ova may
escape. The latter inhabit the solid organs of the body as in the
liver. All parasites so found are immature, and generally speaking ~

J

29

the two forms are found in different individuals and different races
of animals. Taking as our type the Twnia solium, we will trace
its life developement. The egg, escaped from a segment which
had already been expelled from its host, commences its own
wanderings. Each embryo is furnished with a complete boring
apparatus, consisting of three pairs of hooks situated at its anterior
ends. By chance it is swallowed by a pig among the rubbish,
and its outer shell crushed by the teeth. Thus set free in the
stomach of the pig it begins a vigorous use of its spikelets, com-
mencing to bore its way through the various organs, or perchance
it penetrates a blood vessel, and is carried to the liver or the brain.
The first portion of its path is traversed by bringing together the
several pairs of spikelets so as to form a wedge-shaped stiletto.
The lateral pairs are then brought back so as to thrust its body
forward. In this free condition it is called a proscolex. Having
arrived at some comfortable spot, say in the muscle, it settles
down for a while into a more quiet life. Dropping its boring
apparatus, it becomes enclosed in a vesicle or cyst, white,
glistening, and filled with fluid. Gradually, during its abode, it
developes a head, armed with four suckers and a row of hooklets.
In this condition it is called a scolex, and is the larva of the tape-
worm. A number of them together produce the appearance in
pork, which goes by the name of the measles. In about ten weeks
they attain the size of a pea to a kidney bean. Their further
history consists in the pork being eaten without being properly
cooked. The vesicles burst, the embryo, fixes its hooks and
suckers in the intestine, and from it segment after segment
grow, until a colony is produced, forming the mature ve@nia,
it may be as much as 35 feet long. In about three months
the lowermost segments contain ripe ova, and are discharged from
the intestine. The head of the tcenia is barely larger than a pin’s
head, armed with four suckers and a double row of hooks for
anchorage. Each segment contains a male and female re-
productive organ, and is entirely distmct from its neighbour.
The only organ in common is the water vascular system. The
lower segments coutain ripe ova. This metamorphosis of the
tapeworm has four distinct stages—ovum and proscolex, both free ;
scolex and perfect form, both fixed. It may, indeed, be compared
in its developement to a butterfly— ovum, larva, pupa, and
butterfly. It is only in the last 20 years that the connection
between these cysts and the tapeworms have been worked
out. Von Siebold and Leuckart fed dogs with the cysts from
various animals, and invariably found they produced tenia,
though difficult to say which tcenia. Not content with dogs, they
determined to experiment on man. Thus Kuchenmeister fed a con-
demned criminal, some hours before execution with some cysticerct
from the hog. They disguised them as grains of rice in warm

30

rice soup, and partly as bits of fat in blood puddings. After death,
a number of young tcenias were found hooked in his intestines.
Humbert of Geneva, not content with that evidence, on the 11th
December, 1854, himself swallowed 14 fresh cystercerct. Early in
March he had the pleasure of finding his breeding experiment
successful. After having described several other kinds of worms
infesting different classes of animals, Mr. Ashby passed on to con-
sider what could be done to prevent the spread of the various
diseases connected with the development of the entozoa. .In the
first place, beyond all doubt, the thing most to be regarded is
never to eat badly cooked or underdone meat. We have learnt a
great deal from the investigation of the entozoa by German savans,
but, perhaps, we have learnt more by the consequences of the
German taste for par-boiled sausage meat. The diseases connected
with the developement of the trichina have flourished as epidemics
in a manner wholly unknown in this country. But we are not free
to boast in this country. During this last winter numbers of hams
have been imported into London, from America, full of tcenia cysts.
These, probably, being the cheaper kinds, find their way into the
cook shops, and it is a well known fact that they are not
thoroughly cooked, for the simple reason that, during that process,
they lose weight. And after all it is very doubtful if the tempera-
ture rises above 150 degrees inside, while it may be at the boiling
point outside. A temperature under the boiling point is insufficient
to destroy the cysts. In the next place, it is the duty of the
authorities to take all suitable measures to prevent cattle and pigs
from becoming infected. It is a well known fact that pigs hailing
from Ireland and America are far more diseased than from our own +
counties of Yorkshire and Berkshire. The reason is not far to
find. Where sanitary arrangements are neglected, and human
filth deposited all over the place, and pigs allowed to wander far
and free in search of food, it can be no wonder that there is plenty
of measly pork to be found. Referring to the pigs of India, which
consumed all the offal and excreta of the Indian villages, Mr.
Ashby read an extract from Dr. Gordon, and argued that it needed
no divine revelation to forbid Israelite or Mussulman the use of
pork. It is interesting, too, to note the sanitary conditions of
Iceland, where Eschricht, writing in 1863, says that the freedom
from tapeworms is the exception rather than the rule, and that at
least one-sixth of the whole population are infested with hydatids.
Each peasant keeps from six to eight dogs, which live together
within the bosom of the family, in the close and filthy huts. I
have only ventured this evening to bring before your notice some
of the commoner and most readily studied of the entozoa. It was
quite out of the question for me to give a description that should
embrace more. To write the natural history of the entozoa would
be to write the natural history of the animal kingdom. According

—

ee a ee ee ee ee ee

Se. ae ha

ali mies

las ari

81

to our tastes, their lines have not fallen in pleasant places, and it
is no very savoury task to unearth them.: It is hardly as cleanly
work as stripping the petals from a flower, or investigating the

habits of pond life; but I claim for their life-history an interest

unsurpassed by any being endowed with the wonderful mystery of
life, and among them may be found a scene of labour as_ practical
as any in the wide domain of great nature’s harvest field.

The reading of the paper was followed by considerable applause,
and Mr. Ashby made some supplementary remarks with reference
to sewage irrigation at Beddington, raising the question as to the
transference of some of the forms of life of which he had been
speaking, from human beings to animals.

The Present said the paper had opened up a vast field for
discussion concerning various animals, and their change into one
final species. He asked Dr. Carpenter’s opinion concerning sewage
irrigation as bearing on the subject of the paper.

Dr. Carpenter said he should have preferred to have heard
remarks upon that view of the subject from others before he made
his observations upon Mr. Ashby’s clear and suggestive paper ; but
as the President had called upon him, he would make a few
observations upon those points which had struck him whilst Mr.
Ashby was addressing them. Mr. Ashby’s reference to the possible
effect of the ova of Entozoa upon humanity through the operation
of sewage farms had not escaped him. It was a subject that had
engaged a good deal of his (Dr. Carpenter’s) attention ever since
the sewage farms were established, and he had given the matter
his serious consideration, for the chances of such a calamity as
that indicated by Mr. Ashby had been repeatedly brought before
some of the London Medical Societies, and he had had to oppose
distinct attacks which had been made upon sewage farms by
enthusiastic men, both at those meetings and before Committees of
both Houses of Parliament. The arguments he had used were,
that although the dangers as indicated might arise, they did not ;
that the inhabitants of Croydon, from certain well known circum-
stances, were more exposed to the possibility of such dangers, yet
that he (Dr. Carpenter) had not met with any evidence that indi-
cated that the people of Croydon were more liable to be troubled
by Entozoa than other places; that in fact it was found by
reference to the books of the Poor Law Medical Officers, by
enquiries of his own medical friends, and by his own experience,
that cases of Tenia Solium were all but unknown among the
natives of Croydon. When cases did occur it was generally (not
invariably, of course) among those who had lived some time in
India, or in some part of the centre of Europe, or in Africa,

32

~ showing conclusively that the ova developeing the disease had been
planted in the human frame in other lands. People who made the
charges against sewage farms did not know anything about the
management of them, and described them in a manner contrary to
fact. They supposed that the ova of entozoa would be carried on
to the land, applied to the crops, and then consumed as ova by
the cattle upon the farm. This idea showed at once their want of
knowledge as to what sewage farming meant. No such contamina-
tion could take place, except by accident, such as might happen in
anybody’s kitchen when meat which might perchance find its way
into the cook’s hands with trichina spiralis, or other parasites in it,
if she did not cook it properly, or it was eaten raw, and disease
was thus propagated. If they cooked their meat properly no evil
could result ; let their farm be managed properly and no such
danger as was indicated in Mr. Ashby’s paper as likely to arise,
could so arise. The possibility of such accident was to be guarded
against, and was no sound argument against a sewage farm.
There was another point that he would like to allude to, viz., the
destination of the millions of ova which undoubtedly did find
their way to Beddington. He had often searched for them years
ago at the outfall, but never found them. He would throw out, as
a hint to members of the Club, that a good work might be done
in solving the question of developement by following out a point
which he had not hitherto found time to do. He had an idea that
the ova of entozoa placed in other channels, in other conditions as
to moisture and as to temperature, might develope into some other
form than that of parasites. He had found the ova of entozoa,
but in every running stream exposed to the air and which received
human sewage, he had never failed to find the blood-red worm, the
‘‘ Naid,” waving its body about in the flowing stream. It was
contrary to received opinion that such a developement should take

place, but whence the ‘‘ Naid,” and where were the parasitic ova _

of the entozoa? The one is never found ; the other is plentiful.
He did not think Mr. Ashby was qnite right in his idea regarding
the way in which the trichina spiralis found its way into the human
body. It did not always simply burrow through the walls of the
intestine, and encyst itself in the muscle, but it found its way into
the circulation, and its ova were carried by the blood ; at times it
invaded every muscle in the body, especially the eye. In sume
parts of Germany he believed those muscles were examined, and if
found infected, the animal was at once condemned as unfit for
food. Now the animal could not burrow into the eye, neither
were the vessels large enough to carry it as such. The ova were
the particles which were so carried, and developed into the para-
site in situ. In conclusion he would just refer to the effect of the
round worm, the lwmbricas. He recollected, when a youth, four
children dying in one family under suspicious circumstances. He

——

we eS ee UC
.

33

made a post-mortem examination, and he found in one of these 53
large worms, from eight to fourteen inches in length, and all the
other children were similarly affected. ‘The children had been
living principally upon turnips, and the worm had set up an active
inflammatory action in the bowels which produced symptoms like
to arsenical poisoning.

Dr. Lancuester mentioned a peculiar case of tania which he
had successfully treated, and stated that from his experience at
the Croydon Hospital, he could say that very few cases of the kind
occurred in this district.

Dr. CarpPENTER said he believed that in some portions of Africa
persons were much infested with entozoa through not having a
proper supply of salt, and he understood, from one of our recent
African travellers, that one of the punishments inflicted upon
criminals was that they were confined in a certain place and
deprived of salt.

Mr. Martin stated with reference to the deprivation of salt
producing entozoa, he believed it was a fact that in the old
kingdom of Poland one of the means of punishment employed was
the keeping prisoners without salt, so that they always died of

_ entozoa in horrible agony in consequence.

Mr. Asuzy ably replied to the various questions addressed to
him, and stated that he had no intention of making an attack upon
sewage-farms. The dangers of such farms had doubtless been
exaggerated, and it was satisfactory to learn from Dr. Carpenter
that tenia prevailed at Croydon to a very small extent.

A cordial vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Ashby for his
paper, and

The Presipent stated that he had an apparatus at Brighton
which he would place at the disposal of Dr. Carpenter for solving
his experiment with the entozoa, and which could be submitted to
the action of a running stream as long as might be necessary.

Besides several specimens of entozoa in glass jars, Mr. Ashby
exhibited some mounted under two microscopes. The following
gentlemen also exhibited entozoa with their instruments :—Dr.
Lanchester and Dr. Strong; Messrs. P. Crowley, C. W. Hovenden,

0's. J ohnson, H. Long, K. McKean, G. Manners, and G. Perry.

Mr. T. Hovenden, of Selhurst-road, South Norwood, and Mr.
Edward Berry, of Park Hill, Croydon, who had been nominated
for membership at the last meeting, were balloted for and declared
duly elected. The undermentioned gentlemen were nominated for

34

election at the next meeting :—Mr. Alfred Toms, Lychett Villa,
Tavistock-road, Croydon ; Mr. T. B. Moseley, Raymond Buildings,
Gray’s Inn; Mr. John Corry, ‘‘ Rosenheim,” Park Hill-road,
Croydon ; and Mr. Henry R. B. Podmore, of Brambletye, Bramley-
hill, Croydon.

The PresIpENT, as a matter arising out of the minutes of the
last meeting, said that some books had been purchased, some of
which were on the table ; others were ordered but had not yet
~ been received. The committee would be happy to receive sugges-
tions for the purchase of books, and would procure them if they
felt justified in laying out the money. One splendid volume on the
table, ‘‘ Carpenter’s Foraminifera,” had been presented to the Club
by his friend, Mr: Frank Crisp, and he (the President) felt sure
that the members would appreciate the gift.

The proceedings of a most agreeable evening were then brought
to a close.

April 16th, 1873.—Paper read by Dr. Greenrieip, of St. Thomas

Hospital, on ‘* The Structure and Distribution of the Blood vessels.”
:

The minutes were read by Mr. H. Long, the secretary, and
confirmed.

The Presipent, before proceeding to the business of the evening,
said he regretted to have to mention the decease of one of their
most prominent members. Their honorary treasurer, Mr. Flower,
was no more. He (the President) had only just heard of his death,
as he had been away from Croydon for some time, and probably
everyone present knew of it before himself. He was sure the
intelligence filled all of them with sorrow and regret. Mr. Flower
was a kind and distinguished member from the first; a very
distinguished man of science, and a highly respected inhabitant of
Croydon. He (Mr. Lee) had looked forward to him and to Dr.
Carpenter for assistance in forming their museum, and it was so
short a time since they had seen him that they could scarcely
realise the fact that he had passed away. He would say no more
concerning Mr. Flower, except that he was sure a large circle of
friends would sympathise with them in the sorrow they all felt for
his death.

Dr. GreenrietD then, at the request of the President, read his
paper on “‘ The Structure and Distribution of the Bloodvessels,”
dealing most ably with the subject, and giving not-only an account
of the smaller vessels in the higher animals, but of their structure
and mode of developement in some of the lower, illustrating his

85

remarks by reference to diagrams, and mentioning some very
interesting experiments with tadpoles, frogs, &c. He regretted
that since he had undertaken to read the paper he had been so
much occupied that he had not had time to prepare it in the
manner he intended, and he feared that what he presented to the
members only gave them a disconnected idea of the subject.

Dr. Carpenter thought that Dr. Greenfield had expressed him-
self so ably that he had left no hole by which he could be pulled
to pieces. He had expressed himself very ably on a difficult
subject, but one which must commend itself to the Microscopical
Society. He then referred to the simplicity observable in Nature’s
-works as seen in the structure of the capillaries, whether in animal
or vegetable forms of existence. In those creatures which had no
vessels they saw a budding process, which Dr. Greenfield had
described, and which was very interesting to notice. - Dr. Carpenter
also referred to the first establishment of circulation in some
animals as being more in connexion with the lacteals than the
capillaries, and independently of heart or brain.

Mr. Asupy also made a few remarks on the lecture.

Dr. GREENFIELD haying replied,_a cordial vote of thanks was
passed to him for his very interesting lecture, and the President
‘intimated that it had given the members great satisfaction, and
that they would be very pleased to hear Dr. Greenfield again.

Mr. A. D. Taynor, who exhibited some honey-comb with queen
bees and workers, said he had asked a friend of his to get him
some queen bees, and he had thought of him during the winter, .
and furnished those now produced. The bees appeared to be in
situ with the portion of the comb in which they had been found
dead.

Dr. Carpenter asked in the event of a queen-bee dying, how
the vacancy was filled up.

Mr. Taynor said he believed that numerous queens were born,
but only one was chosen.

_ Mr. Berney said that during the reign of the old queen-bee, the
younger queens in the hive were imprisoned ; but if the old queen
died one of the younger ones were let loose to be the future queen.

The following gentlemen placed their instruments at the service of
_ Dr. Greenfield :—Messrs. H. Ashby, J. Berney, W. R. Cooper, J.
_ §. Johnson, H. Long, G. Manners, K. McKean, G. Perry, A. D.

- Taylor, and Dr. Strong.

86

The undermentioned gentlemen who had been proposed for
membership at the previous meeting were balloted for and declared
duly elected :—Mr. Henry R. B. Podmore, ‘‘ Brambletye,”
Bramley-hill; Mr. Alfred Toms, Lytchett Villa, Tavistock-road ;
Mr. John Corry, ‘‘ Rosenheim,” Park Hill-road ; and Mr. T. B. ~
Moseley, 2, Raymond-buildings, Gray’s Inn.

There were nominated for ballot at the next meeting Mr. Geo.
Simonds, of Beddington-lane, and Mr. Charles Coleby Morland,
Rastrick Lodge, Morland-road, Croydon.

May 21st, 1873.—Paper on ‘‘ Our British Breeruzs,” by Mr. A. D.
TAYLOR.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and
confirmed,

The following gentlemen were nominated for election :—Mr.
John Price, jun., Ashton House, Tavistock-road, Bedford-park ;
and Mr. James Fletcher, Howard House, Enmore-park, South
Norwood.

The Prestpent then called upon Mr. A. D. Taylor to read a
paper on ‘‘ Our British Beetles.”

Beetles, Mr. Taynor said, may justly be called the scavengers of
creation, for wherever there is any decaying matter, whether
animal or vegetable, on land or in water, there will be found
numbers of these insects, both in the lava and perfect state,
actively engaged in its removal ; and so beautifully are they con-
structed for this purpose, with large armour-like coverings to their
bodies, or close brush-like hairs, that although many of them are
found in most disgusting material of all kinds, yet none of the
offensive matter clings to them in any form. Other species may
be found in our gardens feeding upon snails, slugs, and various
insects, not being by any means particular in eating each other.
I have never seen any of these carnivorous beetles in groups,
probably on account of this special failing of theirs ; while, on the
other hand, the vegetable feeders are generally found in some
numbers together; and it is among these last that our enemies may
be found, more especially in the order commonly known as Weevils
(Rhyncophora), the most destructive being the corn and rice
Weevils. Ata meeting of the Entomological Society of London,
in 1870, it was stated that 74 tons of Spanish wheat had been
carefully sifted to separate the beetles from the corn, and out of
this quantity, 10 ewt. of Weevils were sifted. Again, 145 tons of
American maize were subjected to the same process, and at two
siftings 13 tons of Weevils were removed ; and from the small size
of these insects, there must have been many millions of them. I

37

have been told that almost any quantity of these Weevils may be
obtained from the docks, and that in some of the vessels they may
be swept up in handfuls. Beetles are distinguished by two horny
or leathery wing cases, termed elytra, and two membraneous under-
wings folding beneath the elytra; these being kept open during
flight, giving the insect an appearance of having four wings. In
their pupz state they are not covered by au uniform hard case, as
in the Lepidoptera, or moths and butterflies ; nor active, as in the
Hemiptera (an order of insects having membraneous wings, with
wing covers usually half membraneous and half coriaceous), but
exhibit all the parts of the future insect in a rudimentary condition,
covered by a continuous tight-fitting outer skin, which renders

them incapable of motion by means of their limbs. After briefly
referring to the metamorphosis which the beetle pass through,
; namely, egg, larva, and pups, Mr. Taylor then proceeded to

describe the external anatomy of this interesting insect, and then
entered upon a description of the various sections of families. The
order Coleoptera, he said, contains a vast number of species, of
which nearly 3,000 are known in this country, and these are
divided into eleven great sections, namely, the Adephaga, or
carniverous beetles; the Brachelytra, or Devil’s Coach-horses ; the
Necrophaga, or carrion feeders ; the Lamellicornes, or chafers ; the
Sternoxi, the Malacodormi, the Heteromere, the Rhynchophora,
the Longicornes, the Eupoda, and the Pseudotrimera. These
are again divided into sub-sections, families, &c. The first section
is divided into two sub-sections—the Geodephaga, which contains
the terrestial, and the Hydradephaga, the aquatic species. The
first-named are easily distinguished by their hard well-developed
mandibles, or jaws, and their legs eminently constructed for rapid
movements, combined with strength. This section is specially
noticeable for their carniverous propensities, passing their lives
both in the larval and perfect state in the pursuit and destruction -
of their weaker brethren ; they are to be found in wet marshy
places ; under stones, bark, and felled trees; in the cracks of mud
banks and chalky cliffs; also on sandy heaths. Most of them are
nocturnal in their habits ; a few of them, however, are to be found
~ in the bright sunshine, actively flying or running about in pursuit
of their victims. Many of the day-feeding species are metallic,
brightly coloured, prettily banded or spotted; a few are clothed
‘with scales or scanty hairs, and these form beautiful objects for
‘microscopical examination. The members of the water-beetle sub-
~ section exhibit a similarity of structure, with modifications adapted
to the change of element. Their larva are also aquatic and very
_ predacious. Mr. Taylor then described the Devil’s Coach Horses
(Ocypus olens), which he said constituted a very large group.
Most of the larger species were predatorial, and must not be placed

. D

38
either together or with other insects in the collecting bottle; a
great number of them were carrion feeders, and were found in the
bodies of small dead animals; others were found in rotten fungi
and decaying vegetable matter; a few under bark, in flowers, or
parasite upon Hymenopterous insects, &c. One of the families of
this section (the Oxypoda) is found in the nest of a certain species
of ants. It is rather a curious fact that ants, which show such
antipathy to intruders in their homes, as well as their being some-
what carniverous in their habits, should allow many of the beetle
tribe to live with them and have the run of their nests. An-
other family, known as the Bacon Beetle, are great ravagers,
and on being frightened retract their limbs and counterfeit
death. Another family, the SBythride, are conspicuous
from their faculty of packing their limbs; and the last one noticed
in the section was Hydrans-piecus, often seen in aquaria, and is
perhaps, the largest British beetle known. Passing on to the next
section, the Chafers, Mr. Taylor said this section was divided into
ten families. Of these he mentioned the common Rose Beetle, the
June Bug, the common Cockchafer, the habits of the larva of which
he said were unfortunately too well known ; the Clock of Dumble-
dor, so-called from their rolling up pellets of the excrement of
animals in which they had deposited their eggs; the Coprede, to
which belouged the sacred beetle of the Egyptians ; and the well-
known Stag Beetle, which was very common in the South of
England, but very seldom seen in the North. Among the section
Sternoxi are to be found many interesting species. Amongst
others, Mr. Taylor mentioned the Elateride, which are sometimes
called ‘‘ skip-jacks ”’ or ‘‘ click beetles,” for their powers of jumping
when placed on their backs. Having described the mode by which
this jumping was effected by the insect, Mr. Taylor passed on to
the next section—Malacodermi, which he said was divided into 15
families, one of the most prominent being the Lampyridz, genus
Lampyris, the female of which is the common Glow-worm. Another
family was the Byturide, genus Byturus, the larva of which was
found in the fruit of the blackberry, raspberry, &c. In another
family, Ano-bride, is the cylindrical little Ptilinus Pecticornis,
whose neat round drills may be frequently observed in old willows.
This species is noteworthy for the beautiful fan-like structure of
its antenne in the male. In the next section, Heteromera, con-
taining 20 families, among the best known are the Cellar, or
Churchyard Beetle, the Mealworm, the Cardinal (the elytra of which
are exceedingly beautiful), the Oil Beetle, and the Spanish Fly, or
Blister Beetle. Of the next section, the Rhynocophora, or
Weevils, Mr. Taylor said he possessed more species than. any
other section, and so beautiful were they, that to his mind they
were, one and all, fit objects for microscopical examination and study.

39

They rank among our numerous insect foes; the section is
divided into 17 families, of which the first is the Bruchida, the
| larva of which is very destructive to our beans and peas—and is
__ often brought to the table in those vegetables. In the genus
) Sitones are many species especially noxious to clover and trefoil.
Some of the species in the genus Anthonomus commit great havoc
among apples and pears, the female insect boring a hole into the
young buds and then depositing an egg in it, the larva sub-
sisting upon the blossom, and occasionally the fruit. The Nut
Weevil, the larva of which is commonly found in a nut, is
also a very beautiful species. Mr. Taylor referred to several
. other families in this section, all of which he said were very prettily
__ variegated, although most of them were well-known for their
’ destructive habits. Briefly glancing at the next section, the
___Longicornes, Mr. Taylor said it comprised a series of Beetles
__ eonspicuous for the great length of their antenne. They are
entirely. plant-frequenting insects, existing, as lava and pupa,
either in solid timber, or on the surface of felled logs and beneath
: the bark; and in their perfect state haunting the trunks of trees
and bundles of dry twigs, or basking in flowers. Many of the
; species are gaily coloured, and some of the elytra as well as the
antenne are worthy of examination. There is another genus,
q Tetrops, of which the single species found near London is worthy
of notice from the fact of its eyes being completely divided by its
antenne. The next section was Eupoda, divided into nine
families, all the species of which, Mr. Taylor said, had their
special attractions. He mentioned a few of them and passed
on to the last section, Pseudotrimera, containing eight families, the
principal of which was a collection of insects generally known as
Lady-birds, abundant all over the kingdom and especially so in
our hop districts, where they are valued for their blight-destroying
habits. Before concluding, Mr. Taylor mentioned that the whole
_ of the mounted specimens exhibited that evening had been
specially prepared by himself to illustrate his paper ;, and from the
great number of both beautiful and wonderfully-constructed insects
“in the order Coleoptera, he had been somewhat puzzled to make
a selection. Mr. Taylor added that beetles might be very easily
obtained, as they might be found almost anywhere. This was
now the best time in the whole year for collecting, and when
caught they might be preserved for months in an air-tight jar,
filled with bruised laurel leaves, and could be set at leisure.

Mr. Taytor exhibited some very beautiful mounting of several
_ species of beetles in illustration of his paper; also a number of
_ microscopic objects illustrative of the subject which he so ably

treated. In addition to Mr. Taylor’s microscope, the following

p-2

40

members placed their instruments at his disposal :—Dr. Strong,
Messrs. H. Ashby, J. Berney, W. R. Cooper, C. W. Hovenden,
J. 8. Johnson, G. F. Linney, H. Long, K. McKean, G. Manners,
and J. Parry.

Dr. Srrone asked which was the best way of killing and
preserving beetles.

Mr. Taytor said the best way was to immerse them in a test
tube in boiling water. Care, however, should be taken to immerse
them long enough, otherwise they would show signs of vitality, and
make their escape. He happened with a misfortune of that kind
on one occasion. He found that a good means of preserving them
was by placing them in a bottle with broken laurel leaves.

The PresipEnt said the question of killing destructive beetles
was very important. Some of the Weevil species committed great
havoc in coffee plantations, and destroyed timber trees. He was
asked some time ago to give his advice in a case where these
insects had completely destroyed a large quantity of ash wood,
rendering it useless for the purpose to which it was to be
applied, and his advice was to bake the wood. These insects
had been soaked in carbonic acid, and still they lived; but he
believed that the baking of the wood would kill them. How the
insects in growing coffee bushes were to be destroyed he did not
know.

Mr. Taytor, in reply to a member, said the larva of the beetle
was very difficult to rear. He succeeded, some 14 years ago, in
rearing some—the first ever known in this country. He pointed
out how the genus Byturus which infested the blackberry and
raspberry might be obtained. When the fruit gradually dwindled
and died away, the piece became slowly absorbed, but when
picked before it withered, fermentation took place, and an excess of
moisture was developed sufficient to drown the insect. This Mr.
Taylor had prevented by burying the fruit in sand, which removed
the superfluous moisture, and enabled him to secure the larva.

The PresipEnt, in according to Mr. Taylor the thanks of the
Club for his very interesting and highly practical paper, suggested
that that gentleman should take charge of an excursion now that
the season was coming forward, and teach the members where to
find these beetles for themselves. The President also announced
that the usual monthly meetings would be adjourned to the 17th
September. He was happy to say that their meetings this year had
not been inferior to those of former sessions. Some excellent —
papers had been read, followed by good discussions, and cheerful
and happy association of the members with each other, and he
trusted this would continue for their mutual benefit. The summer
months would be devoted to excursions, of which due notice would
be given.

41

The following gentlemen, who had been nominated at the pre-
vious meeting, were duly elected :—Mr. Charles Coleby Morland,
Rastrick Lodge, Morland-road; and Mr. George Simonds, of
Beddington-lane.

EXCURSIONS—1873.

14th.—An Excursion to Reigate, to meet the members of the
Quekett Club. ;

lune 19th. Some members went to join the Quekett Club at their
_ Annual Dinner, at the ‘‘ Swan,”’ Leatherhead, and a few sient the
afternoon on the Mickleham Downs.

i y 12th.—Excursion to Hampton Court.
gust 9th.— Excursion to Wandsworth Common.

ber 6th.—Excursion to Keston, meeting a large number of
_ the Quekett Club. This excursion was better attended than any
of the others, and a very pleasant day was spent.

; It is to be regretted that so few members availed themselves of
the opportunities afforded by these excursions.

nber 17th, 1873.—Paper read by Mr. Cxcm SaunpERs, on
“ Buoop; 1rs ConsTITUENTS AND Lire.”

___The fact of the circulation of the blood appears to have been
unknown until the startling discoveries of Harvey, in 1628; and,
a subsequently to that, but little with regard to its composition has
been found out until comparatively late years; for some time,
_ however, ‘physiologists and microscopists have been successfully
_ prying into some of the secrets of nature in this particular depart-
ment, amongst whom Husley, Gardener, and Beale are names well
a ‘known.
> Preliminary microscopical experiments on the human blood are
_ ‘more easy to conduct than many other experiments, owing to the
_ great convenience we haye for obtaining the object ; by twisting a
_ piece of string round the middle of the last joint of some-one else's
middle finger, and, when the end of the finger has become darkly
_ coloured, pricking it with a sharp, clean needle, you will obtain a
good sized drop of blood and he will suffer scarcely any pain. Place
_ the drop upon a glass slide and cover it gently with a piece of thin
glass ;, let a second slide receive another drop, and let it be put
Pu ander | an inverted tumbler to keep it from drying; and let a third

42

To the naked eye the layer of blood upon slide number one
appears of a pale reddish colour, quite clear and homogeneous ;
but on viewing it with a pocket lens, it will look like a mixture of
excessively fine yellowish-red particles, such as sand or dust, in a
watery and almost colourless fluid. When the blood is just drawn,
the particles will be seen scattered very evenly through the fluid,
but by degrees they flock together into minute patches, and the
layer becomes more or less spotty.

. On looking at slide number two, the drop of blood will be found
unaltered in form, but changed in that it no longer flows, but
has become a soft moist mass that may be removed from the
slide with a penknife. This setting, or coagulation, be it ob-
served, is very different indeed from drying; and, on turning to
slide number three, you will discover that the salt has prevented
the coagulation, the blood remaining as fluid as it was when it left
the body. /

Let me at once bring before your notice the solid or living
part of the blood. The fine particles, of which I have spoken
as being seen under a pocket lens, resolve themselves, under
the microscope, for the most part into red discs, rather thinner
in the centre than at the edge, and with a slightly granulated
surface; in fact, they are in shape more like the domestic
crumpet, which is sometimes to be found a welcome addition
to the tea table, than anything else that I know of. They are
soft and elastic, so that they readily squeeze through apertures
less than their own breadth, and immediately regain their proper
shape on getting through. As to the size of these corpuscles, they
have none to speak of—that is to say, their dimensions are so
very minute that neither observation nor description can give a
clear idea of them. About 3,200 of them can be ranged in
single file in the length of one inch very well; then 3,200 files side
by side, each file containing its 3,200 corpuscles will give
10,240,000 corpuscles to form the pavement of cone square inch ;
but they are lying flat upon the floor, and they will probably be not
more than one fifth as high as they are broad, so that we may
imagine 16,000 layers in the height of one inch, all of which gives
the result of 163,840 millions of corpuscles in one cubic inch. In
the full grown and healthy human body there are about 15-Ibs.
of blood,¥of which about 21-lbs. 2-oz. are solid matter or cor-
puscles, whose total array comes out at about two and a-half
millions of millions. In other animals than man the corpuscles are
slightly different, both as regards shape and size ; in the mammals
generally they are of the crumpet shape, with the surfaces of the
discs slightly hollowed out ; in the camel tribe, however, they are
longer than their breadth and without the hollowed surfaces; in

;
:

43

birds and most fishes they are oval and flattened, the shape of the
surfaces varying in different tribes; they have also a nucleus in

_ them usually of an oval shape; in the reptiles they are oval, very

large, and comparatively thin with rather hollowed surfaces, with a
nucleus which projects a little sideways.

About one in every five hundred of the solid bodies to be found
in our veins is of altogether a different sort from those of which
we have been speaking, being globular and colourless ; and while
the coloured corpuscles are hurrying along in the stream of serum,
keeping themselves, apparently, as much as possible in the centre,
our new friend, the colourless corpuscle, loiters along on the
margin, very often actually touching the sides of the channel, and
looking, at first like a transparent ball, covered with knobs,
rolling over and over as it moves. By looking more carefully,
however, we find that his shape is constantly changing, first
one part of the surface and then another, being pushed out and
withdrawn in a curiously undetermined manner. The entire sub-
stance, indeed, of which he is formed is in a state of perpetual
unsettlement, flowing and rolling in every conceivable direction.
Some microscopists describe him as first pushing forward a minute
feeler or finger into some fine cranny or pore of the body, much
smaller than himself, and then bringing after the feeler all the rest
of his mass in the same attenuated way until the opening is com-
pletely passed, after which the corpuscle regains his original size
and shape. Sometimes specks of great activity are seen here and
there inside the corpuscle, and then it begins to grow larger and
splits into fragments, forming a brood of young corpuscles, each
exactly like its parent in all its powers and appearances.

The pale corpuscle is believed to be formed out of the fully
prepared albuminous material. (Professor Huxley says it probably
comes from the liver.) It iy in fact a living creature fashioned, in
some way or other, out of the dead liquid in which it appears, but
from which it is distinguished, very broadly, by the power of motion
it contains within itself, the particles of which it is composed
always dancing, rolling, and falling over each other. Another mark
of life that it possesses is the power of growth; it increases its
own substance out of the contributions it receives from the
materials around it: and yet a third evidence of life is to be seen,
and it is this: the substance of the life-endowed corpuscle has the

power of constructing a material which is not alrve, but has been
_ produced by living operation, and which cannot be produced in any

other way: this material is known as “‘ formed substance.” It
seems probable that the fibrin of the blood is itself ‘* formed
substance” which has been made by the energy of the living
corpuscles.

44

We have then three distinct states of matter in the blood:

1st.—Food substance or formative material, such as the fluid
albumen.

2nd.—Living substance, or formative material which has been
endowed with actual life, such as the corpuscle immediately under
our notice, and :

3rd.—Formed substance, the final result of vital operation,
only to be obtained therefrom, but not itself alive. It seems to
be a law that food substance can only become formed substance
by going through the process of being living substance.

Taking one of our colourless corpuscles, we find that being
living substance, it is busily engaged in the production. of formed
substance from the food substance around it. Some of this formed
substance, as the fibrin perhaps, is thrown off into the general
current of the blood, but in other instances it is merely thrown as
far as the outside of the corpuscle and there forms a film all round
it: in other words the little living body has enclosed itself in a cell ;
but when the cell is formed, and formed completely, all further food
for the inhabitant must be drawn in through the pores of the cell
wall and, after having satisfied the growth of the inmate, is used
as more formed substance in thickening the cell-wall from the inside,
strengthening and modifying its character. And all the various
parts of the body are made in this way, a number of the finished
cells being fixed together in a mass which is threaded by channels
for the purpose of supplying fresh food to the innermost workers,
until, as each cell-wall becomes more and more perfect and
developed, the living germ within becomes less and less, and at last
the cell is fully formed in a fit character for its position, but it is
no longer alive.

While the colourless corpuscle is engaged in the process of
multiplication by splitting, as it does, into families of young ones,
it does not clothe itself with formed substance ; it only does so
towards the end of its life when it goes into the building trade, as
seen before.

The colowred corpuscles are more of the nature of cells from
the very first, and are most probably a variety of the young coloured
corpuscle; but the question of their early relationship is still
undecided. It is thought by some that a nucleus in the colourless
corpuscle developes into the coloured race, and by others that the
red globule is as a porous mass of ‘‘ formed substance,” containing
in its pores coloured living pulp.

Globules of oil are also found in the serum ready to keep up

the combustion necessary to maintain the animal heat: these are
derived from the fat contained in the flesh eaten. .

45

I have not been able to touch upon many parts of my subject
such as to the constitution of the colouring matter in the red
corpuscles, or the knowledge brought to light by means of the
spectroscope ; I have simply endeavoured to bring before you some
of the more prominent facts in relation to the constitution of the
blood as discovered by eminent microscopists, and, at the risk of
-_-wearying you, to show you some of the peculiarities and properties
of this complex and fundamental part of our own frames, this
beautiful series of substances, pointing so directly to the exquisite
ingenuity, so to speak, of the Framer of our bodies, which is to be
seen throughout the universe by any who will seek it, but nowhere
more obviously than in ‘‘ The blood which is the Life.”

An interesting discussion followed, in which blood poisoning, the
infusion of blood of quadrupeds into the veins of living human
beings, and the identification of blood stains by means of the
microscope were referred to by the President, and a cordial vote of
thanks was passed to Mr. Saunders for his excellent paper.

The Prestpent stated that Dr. Carpenter had kindly accepted
the office of Treasurer in place of their lamented friend, Mr.
Flower, and the vacancy would now be filled up. This intimation
was received. with much satisfaction, and the President having
announced that the next meeting of the club would be held on the
15th October, the proceedings of a most agreeable evening were
brought to a close.

The following members placed their microscopes at the service
of Mr. Saunders :—Messrs. P. Crowley, J. S. Johnson, H. Long,
K. McKean, G. Manners, G. Perry, and A. D. Taylor.

4 The following gentlemen, who had been nominated at the last
meeting, were ballotted for and duly elected :—Mr. John Price,
- jun., Ashton House, Tavistock-road, Bedford Park ; and Mr. James
_ Fletcher, Eastmore House, Howard-road, Enmore Park, South
Norwood.

‘tober 15th, 1873.—Paper read by Mr. Simpson, of the Forest Hill and
Sydenham Microscopical Club, on ‘‘ Severna UNDECIDED oB
Dovustrun Pornts in Narurat History.”

Mr. Smreson said that in a science like Natural History there
must, and ever will be, many difficulties to perplex the most
_ eareful student. To whatever branch he may turn his attention,
_ he will constantly meet with something which he cannot explain ;

_ something which is contrary to his preconceived notions of what he
3 has met with elsewhere. These might be called undecided or doubtful

46

which, in the present state of our knowledge, appeared to him to be
disputed or doubtful. We all knew the difficulty that existed, in
the lower forms of animal and vegetable life, in distinguishing the
one from the other—a difficulty which did not appear to decrease as
our knowledge increased. So much was the difficulty felt that one
able zoologist (Dr. Haeckel) had proposed to form an intermediate
kingdom, in which to place all organisms of a doubtful character.
Professor Rolleston remarked that ‘‘ there are organisms which, at one
period of their life, exhibit an aggregate of phenomena such as to
justify us in speaking of them as animals ; while at another they ap-
pear to be as distinctly vegetable.” It was only within the last few
years that the position of two well-known objects—Volvox and the
Sponge—had been determined. The former, from its power of
locomotion, was ranked by the earlier observers with the microscope
among the infusorial animalcule, whilst the latter, from its want of
those powers, and from its habit of fixedness, was placed in the
vegetable kingdom. But now the Volvox was considered to be a
low form of vegetable organism, while the sponge was looked upon
as one of the Protozoa, or first form of animal life. Then, some
insects resembled the leaves on which they fed or among which
they lived; others were like little bits of stick or twigs. Other
animals were white in winter; the red grouse was assimilated to
the colour of heather, the black grouse to that of peaty earth, and so
on. Butif these disguises were intended, as stated, for the pro-
tection of these creatures, how was it that we found so very few,
comparatively speaking, thus protected ? Why should one tribe or
family be thus favoured, and numberless others left to take care of
themselves as best they could? Whilst admitting that certain
animals were thus protected, he could not help thinking that the
so-called ‘‘ disguises” were accidental, by which he meant that in
the immense varieties of forms and colours that we met with in the
field of Nature, some animals must of necessity bear a resemblance
to some vegetable or other object in colour or shape, so that the
term ‘‘ disguises’ was not correct, inasmuch as it implied a power
in those animals which they did not possess. Of the half-dozen
disputed or undecided points, Mr. Simpson first alluded to the air
or swim bladder in fishes, which he said was an organ, the function
and action of which had by no means been clearly ascertained.
Having quoted from the descriptions of this organ by several known
authorities, Mr. Simpson said it was evident that the bladder was
present in some fish-and absent in others whose habits and
habitats seem to be alike. Another question which it appeared
to him was not thoroughly understood was, the power which
some of the class of reptiles had, in common with other of
the lower order of animals, of throwing off portions of their
bodies. The word ‘‘ power” was the term usually adopted,

_———s
*

-

47

and it implied a voluntary act on the part of the animal, and it was
with that meaning that it was generally used by writers on
physiology. Professor Jones speaks of the ‘singular power of
breaking off the limbs which was possessed by some of the
erustacea.’’ The common lizard and blindworm were both well-
known to possess this faculty, and some wonderful stories had been
told respecting the former. All the writers spoke as if the

animal had the power of doing this, but his belief was that the

act, so far from being voluntary, was quite involuntary; that it
was a mere spasmodic effort, arising from fright or other causes ;
and that the animals had no more power in the matter than we had
to stop the pulsation of our hearts, or to prevent starting or turning
pale when suddenly frightened. Mr. Simpson then passed on to

birds, respecting which be thought several things would be found

which were not thoroughly known. First he asked what was the
*‘oil-gland,” which was situated near the tail. It was usually
supposed that this gland furnished an unctuous secretion for
the purpose of oiling the feathers, and so enabling them to
repel moisture so effectually that they were never wetted. Some
considered it to be an excretory gland, and contended that
if it was used for oiling purposes, dirt would adhere to
the feathers. The Penguin, a thorough water bird, had no oil-
gland, and many birds were so saturated with oil that an oil-gland
would be unnecessary. It was probable that the manner in which
the feathers were placed was the cause of the water running off
them as it did. So long as a water bird was alive, it kept dry
under any circumstances, but in case of death, or a broken wing,
for instance, its power of keeping its feathers in the proper position

_ to resist the entry of water ceased, and the bird soon became wet
to the skin. This gland was absent in the Rumpless Fowl, and yet
this bird kept its plumage in beautiful condition. Another point in

connection with birds which was not thoroughly understood was
their migration, which Mr. Simpson said was of two kinds—partial

- and complete. Partial migration was effected by going from one

part of the country to another ; but in complete migration the
birds came over to our land from distant regions at one season, and
left it at another. The difficulty of accounting for the migration of
winter birds was great, because it did not appear to be necessitated
either by change of food or climate. It seemed to be unaccount-
able that birds, after having remained through the hardships of a
severe winter, should leave us on the return of spring for colder
climates, there to build their nests and rear their young. The only
reason he could assign was, that they were unable to withstand

' great extremes either of heat or cold, consequently they left the

higher latitudes during the extreme cold, and the southern ones

during the extreme heat. Mr. Simpson having briefly referred to

48

a protruding middle claw with which some birds (such as the Night
Jar) were furnished, adduced several instances as showing that this
singular construction of the foot was not yet properly understood.
He also pointed out that in the invertebrate class of animals there
were various other difficulties, as might be readily imagined when
we consider the small size of the objects and the difficulty there was
in observing them. Mr. Simpson also remarked that there was a
great difference and uncertainty of opinion respecting the construc-
tion of the tongue of the bee, some supposing it to be tubular and
others believing it to be solid throughout. The last subject to
which he referred was the curious moving little organs on the
echini, called Pedicellarie. These were long considered to be
parasites, and although they were now known to be part of the
shell as much as the animals themselves, yet he thought their fune-
tions were not clearly understood. Some had supposed that they were
useful in keeping off parasitic intruders, whilst others looked upon
them as so many hands by which any object grasped by one of
them situated on the posterior half of the body, could be gradually
passed over towards the mouth. As these animals were now very
common in aquaria, perhaps their President could give them further
information respecting them. These, concluded Mr. Simpson, were
some of the points in Natural History which appeared to him to be
undecided ; and a great many more might be added to the list by
any one who had studied any particular branch of Zoology. Our
knowledge must be greatly increased ; more observations must be
made and facts accumulated, before we could hope to clear up many
of them ; and it was, in a great measure, by societies such as this
that much might be done in that direction. Our minds were all
differently constituted, therefore we saw things in various lights ;
and it was by meeting together and comparing our ideas, that we
might hope to elicit the truth which should be the grand aim and
object of every true Naturalist.

After some discussion, the Presmpent, then, on behalf of the
club, awarded their thanks to Mr. Simpson for his able paper.

Mr. Smrpson having briefly acknowledged the compliment,
replied to a few observations that had been made in the course of
the discussion, and this terminated the business of the meeting.

The following gentlemen exhibited objects with their micro-
scopes :—Messrs. H. Ashby, W. R. Cooper, C. W. Hovenden, J. 8.
Johnson, H. Long, G. Manners, J. Price, and A. D. Taylor.

November 19th, 1873.—Paper read by Dr. Carpenter on “ Dry Ror
AND ITs CrypToGaMic ALLIANCES.”

-The minutes of the last meeting having been read by Mr. H.
Long, the secretary, and confirmed, the undermentioned gentlemen

49

wore ballotted for and.declared duly elected :—Dr, H. Philpot, 6,
Sydenbam-road ; Mr, E. Mitchell, Sanitary Inspector, Croydon ;

r. E. Bailey, 4, Ripley-place, Dingwall-road, Croydon; and Mr,
H, W. Windsor, 8, Old Jewry,

Dr, Carpenter said tho subject he had undertaken to introduce
to the Society was Dry Rot and its Cryptogamio Alliances, by which
he meant those mombors of the vegetable kingdom whieh produced
effects corresponding to dry rot, and which effects took place in con-
- Boquence of disturbances in animal and vogotable life produced by the
be of fungi, It was right that he should define what was meant

y Cryptogams, because there might be some persons present who
wore not so thoroughly acquainted with Natural History as othors,
and in order that it might be known in what part of the vegetable
kingdom those plants were ng by naturalists, He alluded to
tho difficultios which had been experienced as to whether they
—__ Bhould be classed under the head of animals or vegetables, the lines
of separation, as in many other instances in Nature, being exceed.
ay aight, but he considered they really were vegetables, though
© vegetables they destroyed starch, and gave out carbonic acid,
__ Oryptogams, compared with exogens and endogens, had essential
erences, for they consisted of cells only; this character was
however not absolute, for vasoular tissue was found in ferns and
lub mosses, though not even in the young plants of those families :
again, growth always took place from the tips of threads of cells, and
their ramifications, They had no true pistils, no pollen, and no
anthers, but wore essentially agamous, ‘There was no embryo as far
as the spores were concerned, This a of the vegetable
kingdom is divided into aerogens and thallogens, Tho acrogens
generally have herbaceous leafy appendages, with stomata and
Bpiral spermatozoids, Tho thallogons aro seldom herbaceous,
and if loafy, have no stomata,

Tho spores rarely produced prothallus, and if they do, they
ene a second order of spores germinating at definite points,
— if with spermatozoids aro.produced, they are not spiral.

It is among the thallogens that we find the specios which con-
tains ‘dry vot."’ Wo will trace it to its proper place,

Tho thallogens aro divided into algals (or seawoeds), which
lorived nourishment from tho water in which they were submerged,
and differed as to fruit from the mycetales, the other division of
thallogens, this latter was sub-divided into two families with
sim kind of fruit, viz., the lichens and fungi. The lichens
were aorial, and were nourished by air and not by a matrix, and

contained gonidia, The family of fungi were hysterophytal or
opiphytal,that is either growing within or upon organic matter,
nourished by a matrix, not producing yonidia, Tho gonidia were

‘

50

globular cells with green contents developed in a central layer of the
thallus, and contained chlorophyl; and the presence of gonidia
may be taken as proof that the plant is lichen, not fungus.
It might be thought that the lichens were more allied to
seaweeds than to fungi, but this is not so, because a fungus
has fruit similar to the lichen, but dissimilar to the seaweed,
and it is by the character of the fruit that the alliance is established.
It should also be understood that no proper conclusion can be
come to as to the nature of these plants, unless the fruit is abso-
lutely produced. Great confusion with regard to fungi prevailed
among the early writers, because several kinds passed through
several grades before arriving at maturity, and those grades
were thought to be different families or orders. There were about
2,500 British kinds, but many classes were made which were only
parthogenetic, that is, passed through many changes, as was well
known to occur among insects and other members of the animal
kingdom before the final change was arrived at. They have their origin
in mycelium or spawn, which are threads of closely compacted cells,
processes being put forth from the germinating spores, The idea or
notion of a fungus as distinguished from an algal, forbade the idea of
free cells without ulterior development. Many mycelia produced in
vegetable and mineral infusions were only submerged confervoid
forms, and should be referred to alge. With reference to the forma-
tion of fruit, every fungus had a vegetating and a fructifying surface,
the two being confluent at first. The fruit was formed on two distinct
plants, viz:—1. Acrosporous or sporiferi. The tops of certain threads
swelled into bodies which gave rise to a single cell; the cell contents
either condensed into a mass, or compounded by the formation of
membranous partitions. The spores ultimately fell off, and threads
formed by germination. 2. Ascigerous, or sporidiferi. Certain
threads formed bags or tubes, and the cell contents resolved into a
definite or indefinite mass of spores, often eights. The family of
Jungales, or fungi, was divided into six principal orders, which were
called by hard names, but easily understood by those gentlemen who
had learnt Greek, and to them a description of their nature would
be unnecessary beyond naming them, but as all present did not know
Greek, he would describe them, viz :—Hymenomycetes, or, naked
spores, of which an ordinary mushroom was the type. Gasteromycetes,
or those in which the spores were enclosed in a peridium, or bag, of
which puff-balls were examples. Hyphomycetes, or web-like, in
which the hymenium formed a web-like growth with spores spring-
ing from it, as in the potato blight. Coniomycetes, in which the
hymenium could scarcely be seen, and which had abundance of
dusty spores, and in this order we find those diseases affecting our
grain crops, as bunt and red rust; these four are sporiferi. Then

Ascomycetes, in which the spores are contained in asci or bags,

ponerse

51

as in truffles and morels; and lastly, Physomycetes, as in
those moulds which affect our fruits, jams, and other things
which are said to ‘‘go”’ suddenly, and which were of great
interest to the housewife, and afforded materials of great beauty for
the microscopist; these are sporifera. The agaric which is
found in the hymenomycetes class, consists of mycelium or
spawn ; hymenophore, or stem and cap; hymenium, or gills. The
hymenium is not a real membrane, but is the extension
of mycelium and forms the gills in mushrooms, tubes in
toadstools, veins in chantarelle, pores or veins in dry rot, and
spines in the hydrum. The hymenomycetes consisted of several
divisions, including agaricini, the latter divided into six groups,
distinguished by colour of spores, viz., 1 white, 2 pink, 3 ferugin-
ous, 4 brown, 5 purple, and 6 black. Dry rot used to be

placed among the agaricini ; but-Berkeley has placed it among the

polyporei. The mycelium was eomposed of filaments creeping in the
substance of the wood, disorganizing it, feeding on its elements and
leading to its decay, sometimes in the most rapid manner possible.

- Dry rot, or merulius lachrymans, Dr. Carpenter remarked, was con-

nected with a very important matter, of which they had heard a
good deal lately. He recollected three or four years ago, a church
near to Sutton was affected seriously before it was out of the con-
tractor’s hands. St. Matthew’s Church was also affected in a similar
manner by it, soon after the building was finished, and the Parish
Church of St. John’s was found to be seriously injured from a
similar cause, although its erection was superintended by the
greatest architect of the day; whilst the Congregational Church in
Dingwall-road showed that we were not restricted to the established
churches for instances of its destructive effects. A friend of his
recently built a large billiard room, but in the course of a few
months it was found that the table was disappearing into
the room below. The _floor had altogether gone with the
dry rot before the year was out in which it had been
erected. The subject of dry rot was very interesting, because
it explained some of those changes which took place in the

_ human body; he considered that a condition similar to dry rot could
- exist in the human frame as well as in timber ; and although some

great men held that it could not be, because they could not
get spores of disease to grow when away from the juices of the
body, he (Dr. Carpenter) made bold to say that, in so deciding,

_ they were deciding against evidence, because they might

with just as much justice decide that the spores of ordinary agarics
which were before the meeting were not spores of a fungus, because
they could not be made to germinate and grow fruit in their present
state, unless planted in a suitable soil. ‘The spores of an ordinary

mushroom could not be made to grow with any degree of

52

certainty. He had been trying for a long time to grow different
spores. In some he succeeded, and in some he did not; ordinary
mushroom spores would not grow in the usual way, but if
watered with the urine of a horse, or if stable ‘manure was
added, the spores would grow as fast as possible, but unless they
had the particular material which was wanted for the spores to
germinate they would not get them to grow ; and wise-acres said they
could not, whilst in reality they had failed to make them grow, be-
cause they had not the proper matrix. Thus it is proved that a
solution of albumen in distilled water will not allow of fungus
growth if kept for a year, but the addition of a few drops of almost
any acid makes a profuse growth of fungi very rapidly
manifest. Thus it may happen that the first germs of fungi
may grow very slowly for want of proper nidus, but let it
be supplied, and the fungus puts in a very rapid appearance
indeed. The germs of merulius lachrymans, the name of, the
dry rot fungus, probably exist on all kinds of wood (several of the
microscopes in the room showed the spores). When germinating,
they send threads of mycelium into the vascular tissue of the timber,
abstract the nitrogenous matter from it, set free carbonic acid and
water, and leave behind next to nothing, viz., the inorganic or
mineral matter of the tree only, in the lightest possible skeleton
form. ‘The effect of the fungus in the act of growth is to produce
acid; acid also promotes its growth and hence, if there is no venti-
lation to carry away the results of its growth, viz., the impure and
acid air, that very air will help forward the further destruction of the
timber by retaining the acid which is required, whilst if immature
timber is used, the juices which are contained in it may, by their
own changes, ferment and really produce the acid which is
wanted for the growth of the fungus. To use immature wood,
therefore, in unventilated places, is to make the production of dry rot
a certainty, and shows gross carelessness on the part of those who
are responsible for it. The power of fungus growth is very great.
Probably some might remember that at Basingstoke some years
ago, the inhabitants found heavy flag-stones mysteriously raised,
and on taking them up it was found that it was due to the growth
of a number of fungi beneath. Asa remedy for dry rot, he had no
hesitation in saying that there should be free ventilation. If this were
well looked to, and the use of immature wood prohibited, dry rot
would not occur, and indeed ought not to have occurred in those in-
stances he had mentioned. Referring to the potato blight, Dr. Car-
penter ascribed it to the presence of the botrytis infestans (specimens
of which were exhibited), and showed that the spores were planted
with the seed potatoes, and that thus the possibility of the disease
was provided for. In July and August, during thundery weather, a
whole field might be infected ina night. He showed that its action

58

was precisely similar in its effects and had asimilar origin to that which
produced diphtheria in the human being. He also contended that
the method of housing potatoes contributed to the propagation of the
disease. The potaoes were put into clamps, or damp cellars, where
they became covered with botrytis, and were taken thence and planted
with some of the conditions necessary for reproducing the disease.
The germs being planted with the tuber, often in the form named rest-
ing spores, it was quite certain that in thundery weather, with heat
and moisture, they would develop, but if care were taken to destroy
the germs as in the dressing of corn, there would be less chance
of potato blight. Last year he addressed some letters on the
subject to the Times, and this year he had had a great deal of
correspondence on the same subject. Some persons had written to
say that they had followed his advice, and had had no blight.
Others had not been so successful, but in those instances there
could be no doubt that the remedy had not been properly applied.
He felt fully satisfied that potato blight could be reduced
to a minimum by proper treatment. In conclusion, Dr. Carpenter
said that a study of fungus life might help forward some of those
questions now disturbing the scientific world, and be also the means
of raising their society in its position amongst other societies of the
kingdom, if the members could solve some of the disputed points
by special attention to apparently minor matters, but really matters
_ which were at the base of all true knowledge.

Mr. Berney said he had not gone deeply into the nature of
fungi, but he knew something of dry rot. It was likely to be
_ oceasioned if timber were felled in the spring instead of the autumn,
___ because in the spring it was full of sap, while in the autumn it could
be obtained free from sap. Unless floors were thoroughly venti-
lated, they were quite certain to be affected by the dry rot, and

ventilation in the centre was not sufficient to remove it, for there
would still bea stagnant atmosphere. He stated, however, that the
application of sulphate of copper to timber would destroy the dry
rot, and get rid of the fungus altogether.

_ Myr. Purry exhibited some pieces of wood in which dry rot had
established itself, and showed that whenever there was a damp
4 material on one side, and a waterproof material on the other, dry
rot was sure to be produced. He illustrated this by a piece of coal
box into which damp tea leaves had been thrown, and which had a
polished external surface. He also referred to the practice of
placing oilcloth in servants’ apartments in the basements as likely to
injure the structure of houses.

Mr. Martin referred to the fact that the potato disease ex-
hibited itself differently on light and heavy lands; that in some
E

54

years there was a great deal of it, and in others very little; and
raised some questions as to how the disease had originated lately.

Mr. Perry, as one interested in ships, pointed out that timber
kept in contact with salt water never got the dry rot.

The Presmwent thought that although salt might be very well
applied to a ship to prevent the dry rot, it would not do in a house,
as it would gather the moisture from the atmosphere, and the
boards would generally be wet.

A member stated that wherever there was a confined atmosphere
and a certain amount of damp, dry rot would be likely to be pro-
duced. He then thought it would more properly be called damp, or
stagnant rot. As the practical remedy, he suggested ventilation
from corner to corner, which would be sufficient to remove it.

Dr. Carpenter briefly replied to the observations which had
been made upon his lecture. He considered that the potato
disease might be propagated by local circumstances—i.e., local with
regard to a district—such as thunderstorms, and that thus one range
of hills would sometimes be affected, because the proper electric
state was present, while on another there would be no trace of
disease. Ags showing the importance of paying attention to the
subject of dry rot, he mentioned that during the Crimean War, our
ships in the Black Sea suffered immensely from it, and there was a
great destruction of timber. He also showed that in various other
ways dry rot was a most destructive agent, and that it was desirable,
both from sanitary and economic considerations, to study its causes
and prevent its action.

A cordial vote of thanks having been given to Dr. Carpenter for
his highly instructive and admirable lecture, the proceedings of the
evening were brought to a close.

The following members put their microscopes at the service of
Dr. Carpenter :—The President, Messrs. H. Ashby, J. Berney, P.
Crowley, J. 8. Johnson, H. Long, K. McKean, G. Manners, G.
Perry, J. G. Price, EK. B. Sturge, A. D. Taylor, and H. T.
Whitling.

November 26th, 1873.—Soirée at the Public Hall.

The Soirée, held on Wednesday evening under the auspices of
this Club, was even more successful than those which have preceded
it. Not only was the number of visitors larger, but the objects
exhibited were on a more extensive scale than hitherto; and the
acquisition of the small hall and other rooms prevented the incon-
venience to visitors which must have been experienced had they
been restricted to the use of the large hall.

55

The assemblage, as is usual on such occasions, was a brilliant
one. The general effect was heightened by the conversion of the
platform into a miniature boudvir, which had been tastefully
arranged by Messrs. Ridge and Son, North-end, and with a
collection of choice plants, lent by Mr. Ley, presented a very
beautiful appearance.

Amongst the exhibitors, in addition to the home club, were
members of the Royal Microscopical Society, the Quekett, the
Old Change, the South London, and the Sydenham and Forest
Hill Clubs, besides a number of our most celebrated makers of
optical instruments.

The following members of the Croydon Club exhibited objects,
viz. :—H. Ashby, N. L. Austen, Dr. Anderson, J. Berney, Charles
Bonus, W. H. Beeby, R. Brodie, Dr. Carpenter, T. Cushing, P.
Crowley, A. Crowley, J. Chumley, W. R. Cooper, A. B. Drummond,
J. Flower, C. W. Hovenden, J. S. Johnson, H. Lee, G. F. Linney,
H. Long (hon. sec.), G. Manners, T. B. Moseley, K. McKean,

_ Wz. J. Nation, Dr. Owens, G. Perry, G. Purser, J. G. Price, A.
G. Roper, C. Royston, Dr. Strong, E. B. Sturge, J. G. Turner,
H, T. Whitling, F. West, M. Woodford, and J. Woodward.

Valuable and interesting objects were also exhibited as
follows :—

W. H. Rowland, stuffed birds; A. Crowley, eggs, skulls, &ec. ;

_ P. Crowley, Wolfe’s illustrations of animals; M. Wigzell, of the

Croydon School of Art, pictures ; W. Blake, junr., ivory turnings ;

Thomas Hanbury, Chinese curiosities; and E. B. Sturge, ancient
books.

Amongst the scientific gentlemen who attended on Mr. Lee’s
invitation were Mr. Glaisher, F.R.S., and and Mr. Thomas Spencer,
F.C.S.

The evening was enlivened by music, Mr. Pusey, jun., being the
performer on the piano.

ber 17th, 1873.—-Paper read by Mr. Cuartes Jecxs, on ‘ Toe
Cotour oF THE Frowrrs or TEMPERATE, AS COMPARED WITH
| THOSE oF TrRopicaL CLIMATES.

Mr. Jecxs said:—Mr. Wallace has stated in his ‘* Malay
_ Archipelago,” that the colour of the flowers, and indeed of vegetation
generally, is not so brilliant in tropical as in more temperate
_ climates, and we also find it stated in a book on ‘‘ The Chivese
_ Beas,” by Dr. Collingswood (if I remember rightly), that the same
Tule holds good with respect to seaweeds. Now, it is true that

E 2

56

these statements are quite at variance with those generally believed
concerning the Flora of tropical climates; but coming from the
source they do, we can scarcely, I think, dispute their accuracy.
Indeed, when we consider the subject, we shall find that such a
result might naturally be expected ; for, amid the dense gloom of a
tropical forest but little light can penetrate, and it is, as we all
know, light which gives colour. Even in our own climate the
colour of flowers is not so brilliant ceteris paribus in a dense wood
as in an open plain. The idea of brilliant colour, especially
appertaining to tropical flowers seems, as Mr. Wallace remarks, to
have arisen partly from the fact that in this country tropical plants
are generally grown in conservatories, where they are exposed to
abnormal conditions of light. It would seem, perhaps, that
while the tropical regions are far richer in the production of
vegetable forms, so far as concerns brilliancy of colour, we have this
advantage, that is the vegetation of temperate latitudes is more
brilliant in hue than that of tropical regions. How are we to
account for this? Partly, I think, as regards vegetation and the
colour of flowers, by the following considerations, or perhaps more
properly, suggestions. We know that the colour of flowers
depends, in some measure at least, upon the amount of radiation of
light. Now, there are three distinct classes of rays from the sun ;
rays of light, rays of heat, and what are called actinic or chemical
rays, which, combined with the others, are probably effective in the
production of those chemical changes which all plants more or less
undergo. It is, then, by the absorption and radiation of these rays
of light that the colour of the flower is produced, and as in tem-
perate climates, these rays seem to be in excess, while those of
heat and actinism are subsidiary, especially, perhaps the former,
the result seems to be that in such regions the colour of flowers is
comparatively more brilliant than in tropical climates, where, besides
the larger amount of heat and actinic rays and the smaller propor-
tion of rays of light, the effect of these latter is possibly much
counteracted by the greater amount of moisture present in the air.
It also seems possible that the greater richness of soil which
generally prevails in tropical climates, may be another reason
of the comparative want of brilliancy in the flowers, for wherever
the soil is light and dry, indeed, even arid, under the conditions of
a clear blue sky and bright sun, we find the colour of flowers
in proportion more brilliant than in certain tropical regions is the
case. Coming to our own climate, we shall, I think, find that these
suggestions are in some measure borne out; as for instance, in the
generally brilliant colour of our wild flowers. It would seem, then,
that a rich soil, combined with a damp atmosphere, and a larger
proportionate amount of heat and actinic rays, has the effect of, as
it were, deepening, and, perhaps, to a certain extent, fixing the

57

colour of flowers. To refer to our practical experience in such
matters, is it not generally true that a dry warm season, with plenty
of sunlight and clear blue sky, is accompanied by a more brilliant
colour in our flowers, and that the latter are also more abundant.
Owing to the effect of these conditions, the seed is more plentiful ;
while under the contrary conditions, the reverse is generally the case.
It is true that the deeper colour generally accompanying a mountain
Flora may seem an exception to this, but it should be remembered
that here we generally have the presence to a certain extent,
especially on the lower slopes of the mountains, of more tropical
conditions as regards a greater amount of moisture. Coming now
to foliage, I think we shall find that the conditions above-named as
probably affecting the colour of flowers have here also a propor-
tionate effect, for the foliage of tropical climates is generally of a
deeper colour than that of temperate regions, that of the latter
being of lighter hue; and, indeed, the further north we go within
the temperate zone, the more, as a general rule, do we find this to
be the case, the comparatively greater amount of light rays being
accompanied by a correspondingly lighter colour of the leaves.
There is, however, one exception to this, and so far, as I know, but
one—that of New Zealand, where the foliage is of a lighter colour,
more approaching that of our own vegetation ; but the climate of
New Zealand is one nearly similar to our own in character, in the
free access and circulation of air admitting more readily the rays of
light ; and while it naturally increases the extent of evaporation, it
also tends to check the superabundant presence of that moisture,
which, as arule in tropical climates, owing to the denser character of
the foliage, which also helps to produce it, tends to perpetuate the
condition of things which we find there—the prevalence of a deeper
hue in the foliage. Again, it is, I believe, a fact that dull-coloured
flowers generally have the sweetest scent ; while bright and brilliant-
coloured ones have either no scent at all, or a disagreeable one. In
our own country, for instance, we find that those of brilliant colour,
which are perhaps predominant, are comparatively scentless, and
that this rule is generally borne out among wild flowers. I think
_ the cultivated flowers are scarcely a fair test, as the colour, and
perhaps scent, too, can be modified to almost any extent. There
ave, doubtless, many exceptions to this rule, but still I think our
own experience establishes it as generally correct. Now, may it not
be suggested that the same causes, whatever they may be, which
tend to produce more brilliant colour, tend also to lessen sweetness
of scent, and vice-versa ? and in tropical regions we know the scent
of the comparatively dull-coloured flowers is particularly powerful.
_ The, perhaps, greater number of brilliant-coloured scentless flowers
found in a state of nature in our own climate, at least, I think,
_ may be in part accounted for by the visits of butterflies, &c. ; for

8

or

as soon as any flower exhibits any tendency to variation in the
direction of brilliancy of colour, it is probably visited by these
insects, and its propagation thus ensured, the tendency to brilliancy
of colour being increased by the law of heredity, and further
confirmed by suitable conditions of growth; and it is true that,
toa certain extent, this may take place with regard to dark-coloured
flowers (by reason, perhaps, of their sweeter scent); but owing
possibly to colour being generally more attractive to insects, and
other causes, these latter seem to fail in the competition with their
more fayoured rivals. It is interesting to consider the rationale of
this transportation of a germ from a plant of more or less brilliant
colour to another, by the ultimate effects of which the stock is as
it were established. Now it is probable that flowers owe their
colour to the fact of the existence of a very delicate tissue, which
has the property of absorbing some rays, and rejecting others (for
all flowers are naturally colourless before exposure to light), but in
some cases, owing perhaps to various causes, this tissue absorbs
rays of light of a different hue from those which we are accustomed to
consider as belonging to the flower in question, and the result is
a variation in colour. As soon, then, as this variation (however
slight it be) appears, it is taken advantage of by butterflies, which,
attracted perhaps by the difference in hue, visit the flower and
transmit the germs to another flower in which, in course of time,
the variation in colour becomes fixed, partly by the transmission of
the germ having taken place at the proper time and under fayour-
able conditions, and partly also from the action of the law of
heredity by which any variation in a plant is, under favourable
circumstances, liable, not only to be again produced, but absolutely
increased in amount with each case of reproduction, so that the
variation is now developed in an ever-increasing ratio until it
becomes more or less confirmed. In connection with this subject,
the question suggests itself{—do cultivated plants come under the
same law as domesticated in contradistinction to wild animals ?
We kaow that the former, at least sometimes, are not so fertile as
the latter, so that it would seem that, by confinement or domestica-
tion, a certain degree of change is produced in the generative
organs inducing partial sterility. Now, there seems reason to
believe that in proportion as a plant tends to vary, so does it suffer
in its fertility. It is the domestication or cultivation of plants
which often produces variation, and this probably means with
cultivated plants an increase in brilliancy of colour of the flowers,
which would seem, probably by inference, to be attended (at least to
some extent) by infertility. The same suggestion may, I think, also
be applied to wild flowers, the brilliant colour of which we have
seen to be often caused by variation ; but the tendency thus pro-
duced to decrease in fertility may be here, perhaps, in some measure
counteracted by the continual intermixture or crossing of different

ay

————— TC OOO

59

species by means of the visits of butterflies, which possibly tend
to prevent any excess in variation. Again, as our wild flowers seem
to be generally noted for brilliancy of colour (in this respect
possibly excelling cultivated ones), it may be suggested that this also
is accounted for in part by the greater range of intermixture of
different germs. Besides, supposing it to be true that bright
coloured flowers are less sweet-scented as a rule than duller
coloured ones, it would seem possible that as a flower becomes
more brilliant in colour, it also generally becomes less sweet
scented, and it may not be an object with gardeners to produce a
predominance of brilliant colour at the expense of sweetness of
scent. Now, if the above theory of colour in flowers be correct,
it would seem to follow that we have some reason for the supposi-
tion that, as in a comparatively equable, warm, and damp climate
(the latter word implying the probable absence to some extent, at
least, of the light rays of the sun), brilliant colour in flowers and
vegetation is rather the exception than the rule; so, as our own
climate partakes more of these conditions, becomes more equable
and damp, and therefore probably more dull as regards light rays,
will brilliant-coloured flowers, at least in a state of nature, become
more and more rare? There would also seem to be some reason for
the suggestion (supposing the laws of nature now in action around us
to be the same in character as those of long by-gone ages) that as
the climate of the Carboniferous era is now generally believed to
have been rather of a damp and equable than of a tropical
character (somewhat, perhaps, resembling that of New Zealand,
but probably more humid) the Flora of that period was of com-
paratively dull colour, and possibly more sweet-scented than that
of the present day, while the foliage was probably of a deeper green
than now. As an example of this we know that the principal part
of the vegetation of that time consisted of various forms of conifera)
eryptogomia and tree ferns (the two latter possibly of a darker hue
than those now living, owing to excess of moisture, &c.) Now we
find at the present time that mosses and ferns flourish most
luxuriantly in damp situations and sheltered from the sun, so that
upon the theory I have advanced, we are thus enabled to suggest
the probable effects of that dim uncertain light and atmosphere
upon the primeval vegetation of the great humid coal formation.
And now, in conclusion, I cannot but feel that the theories I have
advanced must seem to many as somewhat wild, crude, and un-
digested; but I trust they will remember that they are only
theories, or, rather, perhaps, suggestions. I hope, however, that I

have said nothing in any way of a dogmatic character; if it seem
80, I trust it will be understood that any such utterance was quite

unintentional. I have tried rather to suggest than to assert, and if

Thave been fortunate enough to throw out any fresh material for
thought, I shall be amply repaid.

60

An interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper, in
which the President, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Morland, Dr. Carpenter, Mr.
P. Crowley, Mr. Perry, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Haddock took part.
The chief point touched upon was the action of light with regard
to the formation of colour in flowers. Dr. Carpenter pointed out
that flowers having different hues was evidence that they decomposed
light, and fixed a certain portion of that light in their tissues.
Certain chemical agents would produce a change in a flower, but
without light, so far as lateral flowers were concerned, it would be
impossible to get a variety of colours. He had not an acquaintance
with foreign countries, but he had been under the impression that
tropical climates certainly produced the most brilliant flowers, as
they did birds of the most brilliant plumage. The possession of
scent in a flower was generally accompanied with less brilliant hues,
but this was not always the case. He did not think that much
light was wanted for the production of colour, because some of the
fungi on which he had remarked at a former meeting, grew in
in the deepest glades of the forest, and had the most brilliant hues
possible, and generally the darker the glade the brighter the hue of
the fungus that grew there. Dr. Carpenter also referred to the
brilliant colours that could be obtained from gas tar, showing that
although ages ago, when the vegetation of the coal formation
flourished, brilliant colours were not produced, still the colouring
matter was there, and could be obtained. He considered Mr.
Jeeks’ paper a most suggestive one, and he highly commended it.

Mr. Taytor expressed an opinion that light had but little to do
with determining the colour of flowers. He mentioned that he
once planted some crocuses the wrong way upwards, and as they
did not appear above the surfaee of the soil, he made an examina-
tion, and found they had bloomed in the ground in their usual
colours.

Mr. Happocx expressed an opinion that plants of the same
class seldom bloomed in two colours, but the experience of other
gentlemen was against this supposition.

The Presmpenr having put a variety of questions to the
lecturer, to which that gentleman ably replied, a cordial vote of
thanks was passed to Mr. Jeeks for his interesting paper.

The Prestpent then formally announced that the annual
meeting would take place in January, and that in February, he
would contribute a paper on a subject which he had previously
mentioned.

The undermentioned gentlemen were ballotted for and elected :—
The Rev. G. Smith, Whitgift School, Croydon; Mr. E. W. Barnett,
Essex Lodge ; and Mr. Frank Crispe, 134, Adelaide-road, N.W.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

RULES.

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its members ; for the
discussion of subjects connected with, or dependant upon Microscopical
research; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopie Objects and
Preparations ; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and nine other members—three to
form a quorum. Two of the Committee shall retire every year, but shall
be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by two or more
members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge of him,
and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, according to the
Form appended. The certificate shall be read from the chair, and the
candidate therein recommended balloted for at the following meeting—three
black balls to exclude.

The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on the Ist
of January, and no person shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until
his subscription has been paid.

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the Club
provided they do not reside within the district ; such honorary and corre-
sponding members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of the Club
and shall have no vote in its affairs.
4.—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural History
amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals of that class may
be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first communicate some
original information or observation on Microscopy or Natural History, or
exhibit such specimens as shall, by their merit, satisfy the committee. Such
Associates shall enjoy the privileges of Honorary Members.
5.—No Member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Club
until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to the Secre-
tary of his intention to resign.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any member from the Club,
the same shall be done by a resolution of the committee, which shall be read
at the next ordinary meeting; and at the following meeting a ballot shall
take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-thirds of the members
present shall vote for such member’s expulsion, he shall no longer be con-
sidered a member.

7.—Any member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, who
shall enter his name, with that of the member by whom he is introduced,
~ ina book to be kept for that purpose.

ORDINARY MEETINGS,

1.--The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third Wednes-
_ day in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and August), at
eight o’clock in the evening; the chair to be taken at half-past eight pre-
cisely ; or at such other time as the committee may appoint.

62

2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—

I.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for approval as

being correct.
[L—The names of candidates for membership shall be read, and the ballot for the

election of members shall take place. 3

III.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed ; after which the chair

shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a conversazione, to
terminate at ten o’clock.

3.—In the absence of the President, the members present at any ordi-

nary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening.

4,—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of the
committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject of the
papers to be read shall be given by the secretary to the members. No paper
shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by the especial per-
mission of the chairman.

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

I.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two members appointed
at the ordinary meeting in December. No member of the committee shall be
eligible as an auditor.

2.—At the same meeting notice of the annual meeting in January shall
be given from the chair, and the nomination of members for election as
officers for the ensuing year shall be announced.

8.—An annual meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-past
eight o’clock, when the election of officers for the year ensuing shall take
place, and the report of the committee on the affairs of the Club, and the
balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4,—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at one of
the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed alteration or
additions must be given at or before the preceding ordinary meeting.

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Mr.
of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to recommend
him for Election.
° (on my personal hnowledge ).
This Certificate was read 187
The Ballot will take place 187

NotTE.—The foregoing Rules were adopted at a general meeting of the original members
of the Club, held on the 16th of March, 1870, when the following gentlemen
were elected as officers and members of the committee.

President—HENRY LEE, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &c.
Treasurer-- JOHN WICKHAM FLOWER, F.G.S., &c.
Hon. Sec.—HENRY LONG,

Committee :

ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D. GEORGE MANNERS, F.S.A.
JOHN BERNEY, F,.R.M.S. G. F., LINNEY.

WILLIAM REEVE COOPER, GEORGE PERRY.

PHILIP CROWLEY, HENRY J, STRONG,

FREDERICK WEST, Jun.

ee ee ed

THE LIBRARY.

RULES FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.

1.—Books to be lent out to Members at any time when the Library
of the Literary Institution, at the Public Hall, is open, on application
to Mr. Pusry, the Librarian. ;

2.—All books and periodicals to be marked with the stamp of tha
Club and numbered before being circulated, and kept in such a place
as shall from time to time be determined by the committee.

3.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written
application for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall
be held by the Librarian until the book is returned. No member shall
have more than one work at a time, nor shall he keep any work for a
longer period than 14 days. But when a book is returned by a member
it may be borrowed by him again, provided it has not been bespoken by
any other member. Books which have been bespoken shall circulate in
rotation according to priority of application.

4.—Standard works, as shall be named by the committee, to be kept
for reference and not to be lent out.

5.—Members retaining books longer than the specified time shall
be subject to a fine of one penny per day. If any book be retained by
a member for two months, and be not returned after written application
has been made for it, the committee may order it to be replaced and
charge the member in default with the amount thus incurred, in addition
to the fine. If any book, when returned by a member, is found to have
been damaged during the period such member has had it, a fine equivalent
to the injury shall be paid by the member. ;

LIST OF BOOKS BELONGING TO THE CROYDON
MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

1 Vol. Beck’s Iustrated Catalogue cf Scientific Instruments.
1 ,, The Rey. J. B. Reade’s Address before the Royal Microscopical
Society.
1 ,, The Achromatic Microscope, by Beck.
1 ,, Polarized Light, by Charles Woodward.
1 ,, Davies on Mounting.
1 ,, Collection and preparation of Algce, by Johann Nave.
2 ,, Smith’s Diatomacez.
1 ,, Quekett on the Microscope.
1 _,, Carpenter on the Microscope.
1 ,, Microscopical Manipulation, by Suffolk.
1 ,, How to work withthe Microscope, by Dr. Lionel S. Beale.
1 ,, Marvels of Pond Life, by H. J. Slack.
1 ,, Carpenter’s Foraminifera,
1 ,, Turton’s British Shells,
2 ,, Bentham’s Flora.
1 ,, Berkeley’s Cryptogamic Botany.
1 ,, Lectures on Histology, by Quekett.
1_,, Human Microscopic Anatomy, by Kolliker.
Nos, 20, 21, and 22, Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club.
Lithographed Drawings of Trilobites.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Adams, W. A., Dingwall-road.
Adams, T. R,, M.D., Ottoman Villas, St. James’s-road.
Allsop, Marston, London-road.
Anderson, J. C., Albert-road, Addiscombe.
Anderson, — M.D., Chelsham Villa, Wellesley-road.
Ashby, Henry, St. James’s-road.
Austen, Nathaniel Lawrence, F.L.S., F.Z.8., ‘‘The Acacias,” Pitlake.
Baldock, J. H., F.C.S., 3, High-street, South Norwood.
Bailey, E., 4, Ripley Terrace, Dingwall-road.

Baldiston, Frederick, Glastonbury Lodge, Sydenham-road.
Barnett, E. W., ‘‘ The Larches,”’ Penge-lane, Sydenham.
Barrett, — M.D., Carshalton. 7

Beeby, W. H., 41, North-end.

Berney, Edward, M.R.C.S., 73, High-street.

Berney, John, F.R.M.S., 61, North-end.

Berry, Edward, Park Hill-road.

Bennett, Arthur, 107, High-street.

Bindley, T., St. Peter’s-road.

Blake, W. J., Duppas Hill-terrace.

Blockey, W. F., 38, London-road.

Bonus, Charles, Oakwood House, Sydenham-road.
Brodie, Robert, M.A., George-street.

Carpenter, Alfred, M.D., J.P., 113, High-street.
Chambers, C., ‘‘ Eversfield,” Sutton.

Clarke, A. H., 143, High-street.

Cleaver, H. A., M.R.C.S., 40, North-end.

Cooper, George, M.R.C.S., 4, George-street.

Cooper, W. R., Esholt Royd, Oakfield-road.

Cordon, George, 53, High-street.

Corry, John, ‘* Rosenheim,” Park Hill-road.

Cresswell, Alfred, M.D., South Norwood.

Crisp, F., 184, Adelaide-road, N. W.

Crowley, Alfred, Bramley Oaks, Bramley-hill.
Crowley, Jonathan Sparrow, 3, Park Hill-rise.

4
|
;
:
.
|

f
Crowley, Phillip, Waddon House.
Cushing, Thomas, Woodstock Villa, Alexandra-road.
Curling, G., Elgin House, Addiscombe. 4

Curling, J., Elgin House, Addiscomhe. 4

65

Dickens, Richard Joseph, Addiscombe-road.

Dix, T. H., 36, High-street.

Diver, Ebenezer, M.D., Caterham.

Drummond, Arthur B., Lynton House, Oakfield-road.
Drummond, John, 76, North-end.

Drummond, William, 2, Sydenham-road.

D’Archambaud, A., Albert-road, Croydon.

Fastty, J. M., J.P., Wellesley House, Wellesley-road.
Edridge, T. R., J.P., ‘‘The Elms,” High-street.

Evans, Henry, Bramley-hill.

Ewart, Ernest, Edwin Villa, Mayday-road.

Fagg, Edward, Warwick Villa, Addiscombe.

Fletcher, F., Eastmore House, Howard-road, South Norwood.
Fletcher, James, Eastmore House, South Norwood.
Flower, John, M.A., F.Z.S., Fairfield-road.

Gibson, John, Canning Lodge, Addiscombe.

Goddard, D. E., ‘‘ The Ferns,” Harcourt-road, Wallington.
Gregory, John, Park Hill-lane, Croydon.

Grundy, Charles, Outram Villa, Outram-road, Addiscombe.
Haddock, Roland, 64, High-street.

Hales, Edward, 27, ‘‘ The Waldrons.”

gna Sale 2, St. John’s Villas, Bensham Manor-road, Thornton
eath.

Hingston, Robert, Park Hill-road.

Hodges, O. T., 19, St. John’s-road.

Hopgood, James, Clapham Common.

Horsley, Henry, M.R.C.S., 24, North-end.

Hovenden, C. W., Clifton Lodge, Selhurst-road.
Hovenden, T., Arbor End, Selhurst-road.

Hudson, Robert, F.R.S., J.P., Clapham Common.
Ingrams, William, Whitgift School.

Jacobs, Alfred R., Carshalton.

Jecks, Charles,.26, Langham-place, Northampton.
Johnson, Cuthbert W., F.R.S., ‘*‘ Waldronhyrst,” The Waldrons.
Jolland, C. J., St. Peter’s-road.

Jones, E. F., St. Germain Villa, Forest Hill.

Klaassen, H. M., Upper Grove, Selhurst-road, South Norwood.
Lanchester, Henry, M.D., Park-lane.

Latham, Baldwin, Whitgift Lodge, Wellesley-road.
Lashmar, Charles, M.D., Wellesley-road.

Lee, Henry, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., ‘‘ The Waldrons.”
Leeds, C. E., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.

Ley, J. H., Lansdowne-road.

Linney, G. F., Friends’ School, Park-lane.

Long, Rev. D., Bramley-hill.

Long, Henry,'M.Q.M.C., &c., 90, High-strect.

66

Lovett, E., Holly Mount, ‘‘ Upper Addiscombe.”

Loy, William Thomas, 9, Garrick Chambers, Garrick-street, London.
Mallett, E. M., 2, Cromwell-terrace, Clyde-road, Addiscombe.
Major, C. W., Cromwell House, Duppas Hill-terrace.
Manners, C., Lansdowne-road.

Manners, George, F.S.A., F.L.S., Lansdowne-road,
Marshall, Edward, M.R.C.S., Mitcham.

Martin, Howard, ‘‘ The Ferns,” Addiscombe.

McKean, Kenneth, Bramley-hill.

Millard, C., Brandnis Hill House, Beddington.

Mitchell, E., Whitehorse-road.

Moore, John, Oakwood, Park-hill.

Morland, Charles Coleby, Rastrick Lodge, Morland-road.
Moseley, T. B., Brighton-road House.

Muggeridge, T. Benjamin, Upper Addiscombe-road.
Muggeridge, W. H., Lower Addiscombe-road.

Nation, W. J., M.Q.M.C., 1, Clifton Villas, Thornton-road.
Newton, Charles, Crossland Villa, Broad-green.

Noakes, Henry, Whitgift-street.

Oldfield, John, 16, Tamworth-road.

Oswald, Edward Charles, ‘‘ The Palace.”

Owens, Henry, M.D., F.R.M.S., 6, Sutherland Villas, Selhurst-road,
Page, Joseph, 5, Ebenezer-terrace, Parson’s-mead.

Paget, Peter, Coombe-lane.

Pain, O., 30, High-street.

Peake, F., 14, ‘‘ The Waldrons.”’

Peek, W. H., M.P., Wimbledon House, S. W.

Penley, U., Fairfield-road.

Perry, G., Park-lane.

Petherick, H. W., Maple Lodge, Havelock-road, Addiscombe.
Philpot, H., M.D., 6, Sydenham-road.

Podmore, H. R. B., “‘ Bramletye,” Bramley-hill.

Price, G. N., St. Peter’s-road.

Price, J. G., Ashton House, Bedford Park.

Punnett, P. S., ‘* Wintons,” Park Hill-road.

Purser, George, 3, Wellesley Villas, Sutton.

Reid, George, Teignmouth Cottage, Elgin-road, Addiscombe.
Ridge, Byron, 60, North-end.

Rigby, G., Wellesley-road.

Roberts, Rev.:G. R., ‘‘ The Limes,” High-street.

Robinson, W. Mosse, Birdhurst.’

Roby, R. F., Shirley House, Selhurst-road.

Rogers, W. Edward, Shaftesbury Cottage, Lansdowne-road,
Roper, A. G., M.R.C.S., 57, North-end.

Rowland, W. H., High-street.

Shepherd, J., ‘“‘ The Hollings,” Sutton,

67

Simons, George, Beddington-lane.

Snelling, W. H., Selhurst-road, South Norwood.

Smith, Rev. G., Whitgift School.

Spencer, C. J., ‘‘ The Grange,” Sutton Common, Sutton.
Spencer, John. M.Q.M.C., ‘‘The Grange,’ Sutton Common, Sutton.
Stanley, W. F., ‘‘Stanleybury,”’ Albert-road, South Norwood.
Stephenson, H. P., ‘‘ The Hermitage,” Warrington-road.
Stevenson, Albert, Pedstone Villa, Brighton-road, Sutton.
Steele, Joseph, L.D.S., M.R.C.S., George-street.

Strong, H. J., M.D., North-end.

Sturge, Edward B., ‘‘ The Waldrons.”

Suffield, Rev. R. R., Alfred Villa, Parson’s-mead.
Sutherland, W., M.D., George-street.

Taylor, A. D., Ripley-terrace, Dingwall-road.

Thrale, Peter, George-street.

Thrale, Ralph, George-street.

Toms, Alfred, Lytchett Villa, Tavistock-road.

Townly, E. W., 116, High-street.

Tritton, Thomas, 2, Clifton Villas, Selsdon-road.
‘Turner, H., Wellington Terrace, St. James-road.
Twentyman, Alfred, Fairfield House, Addiscombe-road.
Walters, Walter, Park Hill-road.

Warren, Francis, Ailsa Villa, Wellesley-road.

Waters, C., George-steeet.

Watney, D., Bedford Park.

West, Frederick, ‘‘ The Waldrons.”’

West, Frederick, jun., ‘‘The Waldrons.”

Whiffin, G., Bramley-hill.

Williams, E. A., B.A., Friends’ School, Park-lane.
Windsor, H. W., 8, Old Jewry.

Winshurst, H. W., Thicket-road, South Norwood.
Whitling, Henry Townsend, F.R.M.S., High Street.

14 FE? 1887

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FIFTH REPORT

AND —

| ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF TRE

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB

ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD

JANUARY 20, 1875.

f. a CROYDON :
ian PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘‘CHRONICLE” OFFICE, HIGH STREET.
A

1877.

FOR THE YEAR 1874.

President ;

HENRY | LEE, F.LS., F.G.8S., F.R.M.S., &c.

Treasurer :

ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D., J.P.

Committee :
BERNEY, F.R.M.S. 'J. S. JOHNSON, M.R.C.S.
WILLIAM REEVE COOPER. GEORGE F. LINNEY.
PHILIP’ CROWLEY. GEO. MANNERS, F.L.S., F.S.A.

JOHN FLOWER, M.A., F.Z.S. GEORGE PERRY..
HENRY J. STRONG, M.D.

Honorary Secretary :

-

KENNETH Mc KEAN,

Summerfield, Warham Road, Croydon.

/

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Fiera Annuat Mzztine of the Club was held on Wednes-
day, 20th January, 1875, Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed,
the following gentlemen were ballotted for and declared to be duly
elected:—Messrs. W. W. Baynes, D.L., J.P., A. Allen, Charles
Waite, Edward Moore, Howard W. Bishop, Samuel Hollis Anthony,
W. G. Stoneman, and Nat. Bogle-French, jun. The following
gentlemen were nominated for election at the next meeting :—
_ Messrs. John 8. Turney, The Ferns, Canning Road, Addiscombe ;
_ Capt. Colin Mackenzie, Hareston, Bedford Park; and J. Lacy
- Morley, M.R.C.S., Lower Addiscombe Road.

; The Presipent announced, with some regret, that there had
been no competition for the prize of £2 which had been offered
_ by Mr. Long, who had invariably taken a great interest in the
_ welfare of the Club, for the best twelve mounted objects. Mr. BE.
Leyett was the only member who had endeavoured to compete.
He had sent in twelve very excellent mounted objects, and as he
had complied with the conditions he was entitled to the prize. He
knew that the time of the members was very much occupied, but
still he had hoped to see three or four, at least, compete. He
(the President) had some idea of doing so himself, in order that
4 the prize might not be won by a walk over, but as he thought that
dh is object might be misunderstood, he had abandoned the idea. If
‘Mr. Lovett would intimate to Mr. Long what book he preferred,

M . Long would purchase it for him. The President then referred
to the proposition for devoting a portion of the balance in hand to
2 lecture by some distinguished man. The choice of the Committee
3 a d fallen upon Professor Morris, than whom there was not a more
eloquent man or more eminent geologist. Unless anything unfore-
seen occurred, it was proposed that the lecture should be delivered

6

on Wednesday, February 17th, instead of at their next ordinary
meeting. The subject would be an interesting one, namely, ‘‘ The
London Basin and the Geology of Croydon.’’ It was proposed
that each member of the Club should receive four tickets for the
admission of his friends, and he believed the Committee would be
willing to give more than four tickets to any member who wished to
have them. He thought this would be the inauguration of a very
successful movement, and he hoped that it would be the means
of largely augmenting the number of members. It was proposed
that the first lecture should be delivered in the Small Hall, and
that the result of their first experiment should be a guide as to
their future arrangements.

Dr. Carpenter suggested that the Large Hall should be
engaged. He thought the Small Hall would not be large enough
to accommodate all who were desirous of hearing so eminent a man
on so interesting a subject.

The Presiwent said Dr. Carpenter's suggestion was worthy of
the re-consideration of the Committee. Personally he had no
objection to the Large Hall, if it was disengaged for that evening,
and if there was a probability of its being well filled ; otherwise he
would prefer seeing the Small Hall completely filled, to having
a sparse attendance in the Large Hall, which would be depressing,
not only to the lecturer, but also to the audience. If the Large
Hall was used, the number of tickets given to the members would
be increased.

Mr. Marrin having ascertained that the Large Hall was not
engaged for the 17th February,

The PresipEnT invited those present to express their opinion
on the matter. Some were in favour of the Large Hall; others
thought the Small Hall would accommodate all who attended. On
a show of hands being taken, it was found that there was a majority

in favour of the Large Hall, and the President expressed a hope that

every member would assist in making the project a great suceess,
as he considered it to be an important event in the history of the
Club.

7

4
a
y
:
;
i

, | The Prestent then called npon Mr. McKean, the Hon. Secre-
tary, to read the following report :—

? FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

In presenting their Fifth Annual Report, your Committee have much
___ pleasure in announcing that the Club continues to make satisfactory progress.

During the past year forty new members have been elected, eight have
withdrawn (some of these in consequence of having left the neighbourhood),
and two have been removed by death. On the 31st of December, 1874, the

number of members was one hundred and seventy-one. n

By the decease of Dr. Sutherland and Mr. N. L, Austen, the Club has
lost two of its valued and industrious members.

The attendance of members at the monthly meetings, though not sur-
passing the previous year, has yet been fully sustained ; the average attend-
ance of members being, in 1873, thirty, and in 1874, thirty.

'

The following is a list of papers read during the year :—

February 18th.—‘*On some developments that have taken place in the
Brighton Aquarium,” the PRESIDENT.

March 18th.—‘‘ On Lenses in connection with the Microscope,” W. T.
Surrork, Esq.
_ April 15th.—‘‘ On Spectro-Microscopy,” D. E. Gopparp, Esq.

May 20th.—‘‘On the preparation of Animal Tissues for the Microscope,’
F. W. Paut, Esq.

November 18th.—‘‘On the Minute Anatomy of the Human Lung,”
_ Dr. ANDERSON.

December 16th.—‘* On Sponges,” Captain TYLER.

In the early part of the year, an arrangement was made with Mr. W. T.
Surro.k to deliver a course of Five Lectures to the Club on the Microscope
and its apparatus A nominal fee of 5s. was charged to the members for the
course, and 37 availed themselves of Mr. Suffolk’s valuable instruction.

_ The Excursions during the summer months were made in company with
the Quekett Microscopical Club, in compliance with an invitation to that
effect. They were as follows :—

Tune 13th, Caterham and Godstone. Sept. 5th, Bromley and Keston.

4th, Addlestone. 5 19th, Darenth Wood.
4 13th, Southend. October 3rd, Barnes.
» 25th, Finchley Common. »» 17th, Wandsworth Common.

At the invitation of the President, an Excursion to the Brighton
uarium took place on Saturday, 26th September, and was attended by
ly 50 members, who, with the representatives of the Croydon Press,
. the privilege of seeing the private tanks and the various appliances for

‘king the Aquarium not shown to the general public.

8

_

The Annual Soirée was held on the 25th November, and was quite as
successful as any of its predecessors. One hundred and seventy-two
microscopes were exhibited, and of this number the Club contributed fifty-
four. Valuable assistance was given by Fellows of the Royal Microscopical
Society, and by Members of the Quekett, South London, Forest Hill, Mar-
gate, Tower Hill, and New Cross Clubs, and by the leading Opticians, as
well as by several private gentlemen. Number present, six hundred and
twenty-five, of whom one hundred and eighty-six paid for adniission.

The following additions to the Library have been made by donations :—

“‘The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club,” from the com-

mencement to the present time, presented by the President. :

‘¢Spectrum Analysis,’ by W. T. Suffolk, presented by the Author.

Your Committee regret that the books in the library are seldom used,
and take this opportunity of stating that they will be happy to receive sug-
gestions as to the addition of any works of reference.

During the past year one dozen slides have been presented to the Club’s

cabinet by Mr. J. S. Johnson ; one dozen by Mr. Philip Crowley ; and one
dozen slides by Mr. E. Lovett.

On the retirement of the late honorary seeretary, Mr. Henry Long, a

testimonial was, by the unanimous desire of the members, presented to him.

A portion of the Club’s funds having been devoted to this purpose, a hand-
some Microscope Stand by Crouch, was purchased, and the presentation took
place at the Greyhound Hotel, on Wednesday evening, June 17th.

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10

The Treasurer’s statement of accounts having been taken as
- read, 0

Mr. Perry moved, and Mr. J. S! Jonnson seconded, the
adoption of the report, which was carried nem. dis.

The election of officers who had been nominated at the last
meeting was then proceeded with.

Mr. W. H. Rownranp said he had been unexpectedly called
upon to propose the re-appointment of their excellent friend, the
President, if he would be good enough to accept the appointment
again. In the few remarks that he should make, he was afraid he
might say something that he ought not to say, and omit some words
which he ought to mention. There could be no doubt, however,
that the proposition was one which commended itself to the
consideration of the Club, and he was happy to think that
anything he could say would add very little indeed to the impor-
tance of the proposition before them. It had been frequently
apparent to them all that the Club had derived the greatest
possible benefit from having as its President a gentleman of
Mr. Lee’s energy, talent, and ability, and although it might
be possible to find another gentleman in this town to occupy
the position, he was sure no other could carry out the duties so
well and satisfactorily. His varied and extensive knowledge on the
subjects which from time to time came before the Club, had been
of immense assistance to the members, and he hoped the time was
far distant when their friend Mr. Lee would be compelled to resign
the post he so well and so honourably filled.

Dr. CarPEnTER, in seconding the motion, cordially endorsed all
that had been said by Mr. Rowland. He hoped that so long as Mr.
Lee remained in this neighbourhood, and was willing to continue
the Presidency of the Club, they would annually have the privilege
of electing him. There was no doubt that it was to Mr. Lee’s
exertions the Club owed its present position, and so long as the
members could have the benefit of his valuable services, so long
should he (Dr. Carpenter) be unwilling that any other gentleman
should be proposed as President of.this Club.

The motion having been carried by acclamation,

11

- The Prusment said this was the only meeting in the course of
the year at which he felt uncomfortable. He always felt happy at -
their meetings, and he was happy now in the consciousness that he
possessed their universal suffrages and good feeling. He would not
trust himself to say much on the present occasion, for he deeply
felt the kind expressions which had fallen from his friends, Mr.
Rowland and Dr. Carpenter. Year after year he had considered
that the office of President should be filled by some other gentle-
man, and had it not been for a pressing request of the members,
he should have thought it right to place his-resignation this year in |
the hands of the Club. He assured them that he should willingly
relinquish his post at any time, and extend to his successor
his cordial support and co-operation ; therefore the Club would not
lose his services by his resignation of the Presidency.

It was moved by Mr. W. R. Coorsr, seconded by Dr. StTRoNG,
and carried unanimously, that Dr. Carpenter be requested to con-
tinue the office of Treasurer.

Dr. CarPenter having replied, it was proposed by Mr. Philip
Crowley, seconded by Mr. G. F. Linney, and earried, that Mr.
Kenneth McKean be re-elected Hon. Secretary.

Mr. Mo Kzan haying briefly thanked the Club for their renewed
expressions of confidence,

Mr. Batpocg proposed, and Dr. AnpERson seconded, the re-
appointment of the Committee, and the President, in putting the
motion, said the Committee had worked admirably; they had
relieved him of all the details of the Soirée; they were a hard-
working, sterling Committeee, and they had the interests of the
Club at heart.

The motion haying been carried unanimously,

The PresrpenT, in offering a few observations on the report,
alluded in feeling and sympathising terms to the death of two valued
members of the Club, Mr. Austen and Dr. Sutherland. He then
commented on the fact that as so few books had been taken out of
_ the library, the Committee had not felt themselves justified in
‘purchasing any more books. When books had been taken, they
had been kept so long a time, that he feared the holders had

12

incurred heavy penalties. He should like to hear an expression of
opinion from the Club as to the desirability of purchasing a few
books of reference with the funds they would have to spare after |
defraying the expenses of the lecture. According to the report, it

would appear that there had been an average attendance of thirty at :
each meeting during the year. This result had been arrived at by :
.examining the attendance book, but he believed that the return .
from that source did not indicate the actual attendance, in conse- |
quence of some gentlemen having neglected to inscribe their names .
in that book. He therefore hoped, for the honour of the Club,
that in future members would be careful to sign their names. He
also suggested that every gentleman who exhibited a microscope at
their meetings should not only inscribe his name on the ticket, but
also the name of the object exhibited. The summer excursions did
not appear to have been a source of much attraction hitherto,
notwithstanding that the Committee had endeavoured to make them
more attractive. The President also expressed a hope that the
Club would turn their attention to the Flora and Fauna of
the neighbourhood, which afforded abundant scope for pleasant
occupation.

Suggestions were then made by Dr. AnpERson and Dr. Srrone *
that the library should be strengthened by the purchase of a few
works of reference, and that steps should be taken to bring the
library more prominently before the members. It was thought that
a few standard works on Botany, Geology, &c., would be a useful
addition. to the library, and the President said that the subject
should receive the Committee’s attention.

Dr. Carpenter said he should like to support the President’s
suggestion with regard to a more complete cultivation of the Flora
and Fauna of this district. If anyone who possessed a microscope
would take a subject, however small and unimportant, and work it
out thoroughly, the Club would be enabled to investigate many
objects in detail, and derive full and complete information respecting
them. For instance, he saw the other day that a Frenchman had
made the subject of chalk his study, and had published drawings
showing that there were more than 800 varieties of form in carbonate
of lime. This result had been attained by working out the subject
to its fullest extent ; and he was certain that there was abundance

13

of material in this neighbourhood which, if fully studied, would
afford valuable information when discussed at the conversational

meetings of the Club. Beautiful fossils were to be found in the
- flints with which our streets are covered, and hidden beauties, only
to be revealed by the microscope, are to be found in all directions,
and are worthy of a search.

a A suggestion having been made that the meetings of the Club
_ should be held fortnightly instead of monthly, it was over-ruled
_ temporarily by the President, who said that the Committee, at
_ present, feared that a few young and enthusiastic members might
attend fortnightly for a time, and afterwards grow tired of such
frequent meetings. He would rather make them long for more,
than that they should be tired of what they had. With regard to
_ the flints of this neighbourhood, the President adverted to the
beautiful collection which was in the possession of the late Mr. J.
W. Flower. The Club on one occasion had been favoured with an
”q inspection of that valuable collection, and he hoped that their friend,
- Mr. John Flower, would afford them an opportunity of another
q inspection. Had his lamented father been spared, there would have
_ been no necessity for looking beyond the confines of the Club for a
_ lecture on the Geology of Croydon.

The proceedings then terminated.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.

aS es

February 18th, 1874.— Henry Len, Esq., President, in the Chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The
following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members,
namely :—Mr. .C, Jecks, 26, Langham-place, Northampton ; Mr.
Charles Waters, George-street, Croydon; Mr. C. J. Jolland, St.
Peter’s-road, Croydon; Mr. Edward Lovett, Holly Mount, Upper
Addiscombe-road ; Mr. John Oldfield, 16, Tamworth-road, Croy-
don; Mr. Frederic Fletcher, Kastmore House, Howard-road, South
Norwood; Mr. John Gregory, Dark-hill-lane ; Mr. Charles Millard,
Brandies-hill House, Beddington. The undermentioned gentlemen
were nominated for membership at the next meeting :—-Dr. Alfred
Cresswell, of South Norwood; Reuben F. Roby, Shirley House,
Selhurst-road; Mr. Francis Peake, 14, The Waldrons, Croydon ; ~
Mr. Robert Hingston, Park Hill-road; and Mr. Charles Manners,
Lansdowne-road, Croydon.

With reference to the proposed lectures by Mr. Suffolk, the
President explained that he had seen that gentleman and had some
correspondence with him. He read a letter from him, enclosing
a list of his lectures as delivered before the South London Micro-
tcopical Club, and stating the terms upon which he would be
willing to deliver them at Croydon. The President then stated
that the Committee thought they might have a course of six
lectures, and that a subscription of five shillings from each of the
members who would like to attend them would not be too much.
He asked those who were desirous of availing themselves of these
lectures to give in their names to the Hon. Secretary. 4

The Prestpent then proceeded to deliver some remarks ‘“ On
some of the Developments that have taken place in the Brighton
Aquarium.” Mr. Lee said—When I last had the pleasure of com-
municating to the Croydon Microscopical Club the result of some
(observations on the Brighton Aquarium, I described the process
never previously witnessed by human eyes, so far as is known) by
which the oviparous dog-fishes attach their eggs to projecting sub-
stances at the sea bottom. This problem solved, two questions
remained to be answered ; first, were the eggs laid by the mother
in captivity impregnated ? Secondly, if so, how long a time would
pass before they were hatched? ‘The first pair of eggs of last

15

season were deposited on the 14th of January, and during the
- following week many others were successively attached to oysters
on the sham gorgonias made of birch broom twigs, and fastened to
_ heavy stones, which I placed in the tank for the use of the fish in
_ their mooring operations. After that more than 200 of these eggs
of the ‘ rough hound ” and many of the ‘‘nurse-hound”’ were laid
in the Aquarium, and of the greater number of the former the date
of deposit has been carefully noted. The finding of these eggs
occasionally in the dredge, or cast ashore with the young embryo
not half-grown in them, and yet having the outer surface of their
shells covered with algce, sponges, and other marine organisms, in
- acondition which indicated the growth of many weeks, had quite
_ prepared us for watching patiently for some months for their
arrival at maturity. For. the purposes of observation, I attached
several of their eggs artificially to my sham gorgonias, and placed
5. them where they could be conveniently watched. In some of these
the movements of the young fish were clearly seen from its first
7 existence as a minute, worm-like creature living apart from, but
connected with the yelk-bag from which it derives its sole nutri-
_ ment while in the egg. At the end of six weeks, the little fish is
_ about an inch long, and attached by an umbilical cord or tube to
the yelk-like sac or nutrient vesicle ; the head is of the ungainly
shape usual in the embryonic condition of young fishes, the eyes
disproportionately large, the ventral fins scarcely perceptible, and
the tail and hinder portion of the body much elongated. For the
first three or four months the young fish increases in size very
owly, but at the end of that period its body is as long as the egg-
se in which it is curled round. The contents of the umbilical
sac or yelk-bag are gradually absorbed, and this appendage itself
di minishes in size, so that a little more space becomes available for
the youngster’s movements. But when it begins to be incon-
‘yeniently cramped for room, it kicks out with its tail against the
rounded end of the case (that which first issued from the ovaries)

t

with a steady, sustained stroke of thirty to the minute, something

up ina boat, with his face to the bow, and pushing the sculls,
i stead of sitting down and pulling them. The now hardened
es of the wedge-shaped head, driven instinctively with
emitting and regularly-delivered blows, like a mechanically-
ked battering ram, split the two layers of the borny mem-
ne of the case at its square end, and at length it forces a
munication with the outside water, some of which enters the
. The respiratory organs at this period are still totally different
n those which will be of service to the young animal in its perfect
n, and exhibit, with remarkable distinctness, the progressive
es which these organs undergo in the fcetus of all vertebrate
s. Instead of the gills, characteristic of the fish, it is fur-

16

nished with external branchiw, something like those of the newt,
and before it is capable of enjoying a separate existence in the world
of the sea, these have to be absorbed, and the internal gills
developed. The growth of the young fish, and the changes that
take place in its organisation are rapid as it advances towards
maturity, and at the end of the sixth month——the yelk-bag being
entirely absorbed, and the gills perfect—it issues from the square
end of the egg, a well-formed young dog-fish, about four inches
long, marked and spotted like its parents, and able to take food by
the mouth. We have now about a hundred and fifty of them alive.
I am glad to be able to add that the young dog-fishes bred at the
Brighton Aquarium have been found valuable material for one of
the greatest contributions to modern science, viz., the masterly
treatises by my distinguished friend, Professor W. K. Parker, on
the development of the embryo skull. If one of the egg-cases,
containing a young embryo fish be cut open, and its contents
transferred to a deep watch-glass full of sea-water, and placed
under a microscope, a spectacle will be presented which none
could regard without admiration. The circulation of the blood
through the branchice will be seen even more distinctly than
in the foot of the frog, whilst within the umbilical cord will be
visible two great vessels. Through these veins the blood will be
seen passing in contrary directions, one of them conveying it
from the heart of the fish to the nutrient sac, from which it
travels by the other back again to the heart. Passing on to a
description of the eggs of the rays, Mr. Lee said the empty cases
of the skate and thornback-ray, known as ‘‘ mermaids’ purses,”
‘¢ skate-barrows, &c., were familiar objects of the sea-shore. These
black horny cases are about three inches long and two inches broad,
flat on one side, slightly rounded ‘on the other, and havinga thin,
tapering projection from each of the four corners, like handles of
of a hand-barrow, a butcher’s tray, or a police “ stretcher.” A
person picking up some of these plentifully-strewn items of flotsam
and jetsam, would find them empty, or at best containing a little
water or wet sand. The young fish had arrived at maturity and
escaped. ‘Tired of being left by its mother locked up in the house
by itself, it had made bold to force the door, and seek its living in
the outside world. How? The tenement seemed all secure and
undisturbed, but it was nevertheless certain that the youngster had
got out and the sand had gotin. A moment’s thought would tell one
that if the door was forced, the runaway had no means of repairing
the fastenings, and that where the fish had made its exit the sand
found ingress. Pressing with thumb and finger on the yielding case
of flexible horn, out would come sand and water through a pre-
viously unnoticed transverse rupture, or slit, across one end of the
case. How was this made? By the young fish whose temporary
prison it once was, and by a process similar to that which he had

17

described as employed by the young dog-fish. Examining the reason
why the eggs of the skates and rays were so seldom cast upon the
sea-shore until the young one was gone, and the shell had served
its purpose, he remarked that, thanks to the facilities of observation
at the Brighton Aquarium, he had been enabled to answer this
question. The egg-case of the rays is covered on its convex side
with a mass of agglutinated fibres which, when the egg is placed in
a jar of water, are seen floating out around it like a dense growth
of felted conferve, and extending along its edge like a broad web.
When the egg is first laid, this webby mass is in a glutinous
condition, and adheres to whatever it touches. The egg is deposited
with the convex side upwards, the proper position of the future
fish, and it appears to be the habit of the parent to cover it by a
peculiar motion of her fins with the debris of the bottom on which
she lies. ‘The stones, shells, sand, &c., stick tightly to the gummy
garniture, which hardens almost instantly, and thus the egg is
weighed down by the substances adhering to it. Some eggs of the
‘spotted ray,” laid in the tanks in June last, were covered up in
this manner, although others were merely deposited in the shingle.
_ The rays, like other flat fishes, are, owing to their conformation
_ and habits, rather troublesome in an aquarium. The flapping of
their broadly-expanded bodies and lateral fins stirs up the deposit
at the bottom of their tank, and causes the water to become turbid.
At Brighton, therefore, it had been found expedient to keep only
_ sufficient specimens to illustrate the various species procurable,
and consequently only a few of their eggs had been found there
_ deposited, some of which had not been fertile. Still, from the
_ little material thus placed under his observation, he was enabled to
_ record important results. The eggs were not translucent, like those
of the dog-fishes, and so it was impossible to judge with certainty
of their contents ; but although they had only two which they knew
_ contained living embryos, Mr. Parker’s work was so important to
_ Bcience that he (Mr. Lee) felt justified in arresting the development
_ of one of them at the end of the sixth week after its extrusion by
_ immersing it in spirits of wine, and handing it to the distinguished
- anatomist, who considered it one of the most valuable and instruc-
_ tive specimens he had ever received. The other egg was successfully
_ hatched soon after the expiration of the fifth month, but as the young
fish, when it left its case, had still a portion of the umbilical sae
attached to it, and unabsorbed, he had reason to believe that its
exit was prematurely caused by unskilful and incautious handling ;
that if left to itself it would have probably remained in the egg for
‘some time longer, and that its true period of development is as
‘nearly as possible the same as that of the dog-fish—namely, six
months. From specimens obtained at Margate, he was enabled to
‘show the position of the young ray in the egg after it assumes its
proper form. ‘The two sides of the body were folded over on the

18

back, the lateral fins meeting and slightly overlapping, and the tail
curled round on one side, the tip pointing towards and nearly
reaching the head. Passing on to the spawning of the cod tribe,
Mr. Lee described the enveloping membrane of the eggs as so thin
and trausparent that they were hardly perceptible by an uneducated
eye. In appearance they resembled clear globules, rather smaller
than a granule of boiled sago. He found that the specific gravity
of these eggs was so delicately adjusted by the All-wise Ruler of
Nature that in water of the density of that taken from the open sea
they floated even when it was tranquil, whilst the constant motion
of that which washed the shores, althongh its density was less, was
suflicient to preserve them from sinking to the bottom. The floating
of these ova is accomplished by the presence of several small
globules of oil, which may be seen within the ovi-sac, and dotted
over the yelk. Under the microscope the embryos, variously
developed, show beautifully the form of the blastoderm in the least
ripe specimens, and in the more advanced the young fish may be
seen curled round within them; the prominent eyes, the arched
mouth, the rudimentary gills, and the vertebral column being plainly
apparent. Some days after the ova were first seen in the tank, not
only was the form of the fish discernible in many of them, but the
young fry just hatched were detected in the water enjoying indepen-
dent life. The tiny things, when first turned out of their ege-
shelter, are only about three-sixteenths of an inch long, not nearly
so large as a young perch at the same period. It would take a
dozen of them to make up in weight and bulk the body of a gnat.
He (Mr. Lee) could not at present state positively from personal
knowlege how long a time elapsed between the emission of the
spawn by the mother fish and the escape of the young fry from the
egg. Up to the present time he had been unsuccessful in his
endeavours to ascertain this with precision. Dr. George Ossian
Sars, of Christiana, stated that the period was sixteen days. He
hoped to have verified this by artificially spawning the fish of both
sexes, in the same manner.as he had frequently performed the
operation on trout and salmon. He humourously detailed the ex-
periment made for the purpose, the result of which, however, was
unsatisfactory. In conclusion he stated that the incident of the
~ spawning of these fish in the Brighton Aquarium was one of con-
siderable interest, as bearing, lst — On the confirmation of. the
discovery of Sars in 1865, that the cod, mackerel, gurnard, and
other species of fish, spawn at the surface of the water, where the
ova float during the whole time of their development. 2nd—On
their spawning season. 8rd—lIndirectly, and arising out of these,
on the expediency (or the contrary) of legislation for the protection
of sea-fish, by the enactment of an annual close-time, as proposed
by some, and on the restriction of trawling, as advocated by others.
Mr. Lee added that he was watching carefully the progressive de-

¥ 19

velopment of the embryo cod, and hoped some day to be able to
day before the members of the Microscopical Club more exact in-
- formation concerning the changes it undergoes before leaving the
egg. Interesting developments of the octopus, the crustacea,
‘sponges, &c., had also come under his observation, which might
supply material for a future paper. (Applause.)

The President exhibited, in illustration of his paper, a specimen
of the web-like matter by which the eggs of skates and rays adhered
‘ laid; he also showed an egg

dog-fish, showing the external
branchic instead of internal gills ; egg-case of skate, &c.

___ A few questions were put by Dr. Carpenter and one or two other
gentlemen with reference to the points which had been touched
‘upon, after which a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the
‘President for his interesting paper.

Besides several microscopes with interesting specimens of cod
ova, exhibited by the President, the following members had objects
under their instraments—several of which exhibited developments
relerred to by the President in his paper :—Messrs. P. Crowley,
Manners, Dr. Strong, Messrs. J. 8. Johnson, J. Berney, K.

Kean, H. Long, G. F. Linney, A. D. Taylor, J. G. Price, and
Ashby.

h 18th, 1874.—Henry Luz, Esq., President, in the chair. The
tes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. The
owing gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members,
ly :—Mr. Francis Peake, 14, The Waldrons, Croydon ; Dr,
d Cresswell, South Norwood ; Mr. Reuben F. Roby, Shirley
use, Selhurst-road; Mr. Robert Hingston, Park-hill-road ; and
Charles Manners, Lansdowne-road. The following gentlemen
2 proposed for election at the next meeting :—Mr. John Henry
dock, F.C.S., Member of the Pharmaceutical Society, 3, High-
i; South Norwood; Mr. John H. Ley, Lansdowne-road,
; and Mr. Edward Mallett, 2, Cromwell-terrace, Clyde-

he Preswenrt then called upon Mr. Suffolk to deliver hig

The Lecturer said it was not his intention to encumber his
marks with technicalities, nor should he be able to impart any
information than might be found in the excellent works on
nicroscope which were published ; but it was often found that
‘Teal instruction was to be gained by means of a lecture, and
8 subject would be found much more simple than it was con-

20

sidered to be by reading a formidable work on optics. In alluding
to the phenomenon of refraction, the lecturer explained, by the aid
of diagrams, that it was the effect which transparent mediums pro-
duced on light in its passage through them. Opaque bodies re-
flected the rays, and transparent bodies transmitted them; but it
was found that if a ray in passing from one medium into another of
different density, fell obliquely, it was turned out of its course.
In passing through a pane of glass, the rays suffered two refrac-
tions, which, being in contrary directions, produced nearly the same
effect as if no refraction had taken place; but in plane mirrors
the rays of light were reflected from objects placed before them,
exhibiting to us their image. The lecturer then referred to the
lenses of a microscope. ‘The property of those which had a con-
vex surface was to collect the rays of light to a focus; and _ those
which had a concave surface to disperse them. Lenses which had
one side flat, and the other concave or convex, were called plano-
convex and plano-concave. The focus of the former was at the
distance of the diameter of a sphere of which the convex surface
of the lens formed a portion. Parallel rays were brought to a focus
by the plano-convex lens at a point. A concaye lens, so far from
possessing magnifying power, if anything, rendered objects smaller.
The single microscope consisted simply of a convex lens, in, the
focus of which the object was placed, and through which it was
viewed ; but a double microscope was a more complicated instru-
ment, in which you looked, not directly at the object, but at a
magnified image of it. In this microscope two lenses were employed :
the one was placed so near the object that the image which it
formed was farther from the lens than the object itself was; the
image, therefore, was larger than the object itself, and it was
further magnified by being viewed through another lens, which
acted on the principle of the single microscope, and was called the
eye-glass. ‘The pocket lens, he said, was most useful and indis-
pensable to botanists, naturalists, and students of other sciences.
The proper use of these lenses was to place the eye and the object
at precisely the same distance from the glass. For instance, if it
was an inch glass the eye must be an inch from the glass, and the
object also an inch from the glass, and so on with respect to larger
or smaller glasses. The lecturer then explained the difficulties
which opticians encountered in getting rid of spherical and chro-
matic aberration. Spherical aberration, he said, may be known by
the want of sharpness when a ftne line, or small spot, or body with a
well-defined circular line is examined. Instead of the lines appear-
ing sharp and distinct and definite, they seemed to be blurred and
foggy, even when focussed with the utmost care; and when there
are several lines or spots near to one another, they appear to run
together, producing a general shadow, instead of each one being
distinctly defined and separated from its neighbours. If the glass

21

has not been properly corrected for chromatic aberration, lines are
seen with coloured fringes, blue if the lens is ‘‘ under-corrected,”’
and reddish if ‘‘over-corrected.”” These aberrations had been
_ removed by combining two glasses containing opposite properties,
_ and this was the secret of the manufacture of achromatic glasses.
Mr. Suffolk then explained three methods of varying the magnifying
_ power—tIst, by using a more powerful object glass ; 2nd, by using
a deeper eye piece ; and 3rd, by elongating the body of the micro-
_ scope. There are two kinds of eye-pieces, namely, the Huyghenian,
invented by a Dutch astronomer, consisting of two plano-convex
glasses, the flat surfaces of which are directed upwards, the one
_ nearest the eye of the observer being the ‘‘ eye-glass,’’ and the one
_ at the greater distance the ‘‘ field-glass.”” The other eye-piece is
_ that invented by Ramsden, and is called the ‘ positive ” eye-piece,
_ which only shows an object well in the centre, and is used in transit
_ telescopes, theodolites, &e. It differs from the Huyghenian eye-
piece, inasmuch as, by it an object may be viewed beyond itself.
_ Referring to microscope stands, Mr. Suffolk strongly recommended
_ that invented by Wenham, and then passed on to consider the
- action of binocular prisms, and the arrangements which had been

_ perfected by Mr. Wenham, which that gentleman had-considerately
given to the public, instead of realising a large fortune, as he might
have done by patenting his valuable invention.

%y At the termination of the lecture, the President accorded, in
_ the name of the Club, a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Suffolk for
_ the valuable instruction he had imparted.

‘The following members exhibited their microscopes, viz :—

TT. R. Adams, M.D., P. Crowley, J. 8. Johnson, H. Long, G.

Manners, G. Perry, and J. G. Price. It was stated during the

evening that Mr. Mc Kean had consented to undertake the duties

_ of Hon. Secretary in place of Mr. Henry Long.

il 15th, 1874.—Henry Lez, Esq., President in the chair. The
ninutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed,

: Mr. Edward Mallett, Mr. John H. Ley, and Mr. John H. Baldock.
The following were proposed for membership :—Mr. George Curling
nd Mr. Jesse Curling.

Mr. D. E. Gopparp gaye a lecture on the ‘‘ Spectro-micro-
scope,” and illustrated his subject with numerous diagrams. At
its conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to him. The fol-
lowing members exhibited their microscopes :-—Messrs. J. Gregory,
J. 8%. Johnson, EK. Lovett, G. Manners, J. G. Price, A. D. Taylor,

22

May 20th, 1874.—Henry Len, Esq., President, in the chair.—-The

minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed,
Mr. George Curling and Mr. Jesse Curling, both of Elgin House,
Addiscombe, were ballotted for and duly elected members. Captain
John Coare Swaine was nominated for membership.

The Presment stated that this was the last night of their
season, according to the bye-laws, but in accordance with a wish
which had been expressed, the committee had consulted together as
to the best way of doing something more than expressing their
thanks to their retiring Secretary (Mr. H. Long), for his exertions
during the time he had held that office. It was his advertisement
in the local papers that first brought them together, and most
punctually and admirably had he performed his duties. This had
decided them to prolong their stay with each other, and instead of
separating for the season to-night, to carry on their meetings till
the 17th of June, when, instead of having their ordinary meeting,
they would have a friendly supper, and would take advantge of the
occasion to present to their late Secretary a testimonial, consisting
of avery handsome stand for a microscope, to which apparatus
might be added according to convenience. Due notice would be
given of the supper and the presentation.

Frank S. Paut, Esq., of Guy’s Hospital, then read a paper on
‘¢Tym PrepaRATION OF ANIMAL TissuEsS FOR MiIcROSscOPICAL
EXAMINATION.”

Mr. Pau said—I am about to bring before your notice this
evening a branch of Histological study with which it is probable
many of you are not very familiar ; for amongst the daily-increasing
number of Histologists, only a few—and that few, almost without
exception, students of medicine—have devoted themselves to the
investigation of animal tissues in their higher and more elaborate
forms. The beautiful shells of the foraminifera, the brilliant scales
of the butterfly, or the glittering colours of the polariscope, too
frequently give to the young microscopist an unworthy conception
of beauty, leading him to preserve the shell of an insect, while he
ignores its organisation ; or to make pretty pictures with the scales
of the butterfly, while he remains in ignorance of its alimentary
canal; his object being for ever to prepare specimens which, by
the brilliancy of their colours, or the boldness of their structure,
are able to be appreciated by the outside world, rather than to
search out the arrangement of complex structures which could only
be admired by himself and his fellow-workers. Yet it is evident
that this is passing away, for one sees now, side by side with the
beetles and flies of the shop, slides of muscular fibre, cartilage, or
nerve tissue. You will agree with me that it is a move in the right

’

ee

ey

23

direction ; and that it is more scientific to examine the secreting
structure of the kidney as a whole, than to make a pretty specimen
showing only the red vessels with their malpighian tufts. Not that
I intend to depreciate for one moment the value of injections of
these tufts, but that I would impress upon you the necessity of
studying them in conjunction with the tissues in which they are
embedded ; for their purpose is to keep these tissues in repair, and
they are, therefore, inferior to them—inferior, not only in function,
but, if you will believe me, in beauty also. But it behoves me to
enter, without loss of time, more immediately upon the plain facts
of my subject. First, however, let me explain, that I have supposed
the study of compound animal tissues to be far from general, and
therefore propose to enter into elementary details concerning their
preparation. If, however, I have been mistaken in this, I shall
have to regret a sad failure in bringing before you this paper, which
is only intended as a guide to those who have not studied, but are
willing to study a subject, perhaps more than all others, replete
with scientific interest. 'To commenee, then, at the very beginning,
let us suppose we have obtained a portion of some solid organ—
the kidney for instance. We must, in the first place harden it.
Now, for hardening tissues, as wen as for cutting, staining, and
_ mounting them, there are a great variety of methods; so many, in
fact, that were I to attempt a short description of each, I should
_ ‘leave no time for the rest of my subject. Therefore I propose in
_ this, as in other steps of preparation, to describe only those which,
__ having seemed to me the best, I have usually adopted. First, then,
we place our piece of kidney, which should be about the size of a
_ filbert, in equal parts of methylated spirit and water. In this it
should remain for about 24 hours. Then transfer to a weak solu-
tion of chromic acid, 1 per cent., or only half this strength for
nerve tissues. In the course of a day or two, the chromic acid
y solution must be changed, and again in two or three days more,
and even a third time in the course of a fortnight, should the
me hardening not progress satisfactorily. At the end of this time the
_ tissue should have become hard and tough, for both these pro-
_ perties are indispensable, since it is easier to cut soft substances
_ than those which are hard and brittle. Well »* Supposing the
chromic acid stage to have been satisfactory, we place it in methy-
_ lated spirit for a few days to complete the process of hardening ;
this final change adding very considerably to the firmness of the
tissue. It is well, perhaps, to explain the object of these various
_ changes during the process of hardening. First, it is intended, by
_ placing the tissue in spirit and water, to avoid any softening
_ through decomposition in the centre of the substance, since chromic
acid does not permeate the tissue sufficiently rapidly to preserve it
_ from decomposition in the centre of a thick piece. Moreover, the
spirit and water washes out a quantity of blood and serous fluid

24

which would, by the chromic acid, be rendered solid, and so give
rise to a false appearance in the section. Next we must consider
why the hardening should not be continued in spirit, since so the
process would be easier and much more rapidly completed. The
reasons are not numerous, perhaps, but they are powerful. Spirit
will harden sufficiently and much more rapidly, but it interferes
with the shape of the individual cells of the tissue, acting differently
upon different cell contents ; while chromic acid simply permanently
fixes whatever the tissue contains. Chromic acid, moreover, itself
stains the tissue, so that very good specimens are obtained by at
once mounting sections in glycerine, which cannot be the case with
spirit, for the tissue having been in part hardened by abstraction
of water, when placed in glycerine becomes in some parts at once
unduly distended, especially the connectie tissue, and in others too
transparent for observation ; so that chromic acid seems to have
weighty advantages over spirit for hardening animal tissues. But
when all the elements of the tissue have been permanently fixed by
it, a return to spirit is very successful. The substance becomes
harder, more easy to cut, more easy to manipulate, and stains more
readily. So that for converting a soft animal tissue, of which in its
fresh state it is impossible to cut fine sections, into a tough, hard
block, from which the finest shavings can be cut, we have only to
place it first for 24 hours in equal parts of spirit and water, then
for about a fortnight in 1 per cent. solution of chromic acid,
changed three or four times, and finally into methylated spirit for a
few days. And this is the method I should certainly recommend
in all ordinary cases. There is, however, another method fre-
quently of great service, especially for cutting sections of carmine
gelatine injections, and that is freezing. The method is very
simple. It is only necessary to make an ordinary freezing mixture
with ice and salt, and to throw the substance to be cut into it for
a few minutes, when it becomes as hard as a board, and yet very
easy to cut. These are the only methods of hardening that I use,
except when it is not convenient to freeze carmine injections, when
spirit must be used instead, for chromic acid destroys the colour ;

therefore I will pass on to the consideration of the next stage, that .

of cutting the sections. This is to be done either with a section-
eutting machine, or a razor. Some very good machines have lately
been constructed in which sections may be cut of hardened tissues
embedded in paraffin, or fresh ones frozen; but for ordinary pur-
poses a good razor answers admirably. Some difference of opinion
exists as to the form of razor to be used. One ground flat on its
under-side is generally recommended, but I think this to be a
mistake, for with a little practice you will be able to rely on the
steadiness of your hand for cutting an even section, when a razor
ground hollow on both sides is infinitely superior on account of the
beautiful edge which can always be so easily produced upon it.

=

, ‘
ee ee ee ee

The razor should always be dipped in spirit first, and the sections
eut obliquely towards the operator. The tissue having been
hardened, and the sections cut, we have next to consider the most
advantageous way of exhibiting them under the microscope, and for
this, in most cases, they must be stained. The chromic acid, as I
have before said, itself stains sufficiently for mounting in glycerine;
but it has the disadvantage of colouring all parts alike. The nuclei,
the cells, and the stroma, are all of the same pale yellowish-brown.
Nevertheless, very good specimens may be obtained by simply
mounting chromic acid sections at once in glycerine, and many
microscopists still adhere to this method. If, however, as I re-
commend you to do, you take the additional trouble of a further

staining, you must, in the first place, select a colouring fluid.

There are many open to choice, none, perhaps, more beautiful than
_ the aniline dyes, yet none that you will do better to avoid, for they

soon fade, and what might otherwise have been a valuable specimen
- is irretrievably lost. Of the others, I would recommend a selection
to be made from carmine, logwood, or some inks, as Field’s
chemical ink, or Stephen’s blue-black writing fluid, and of these I
3 usually employ logwood.- The application of gold and silver to
staining purposes T shall refer to presently. Of the carmine fluids
_ there are two forms in use; Beale’s, which is made up with gly-
cerine, and the aqueous solution, recommended by Klein. They
are too well known for it to be necessary for me to repeat the
formule. The logwood fluid is usually prepared after the manner
recommended by Dr. Green, of Charing Cross, in his Pathology,
- namely, by triturating the extract of logwood in a mortar, with an
excess of alum and water, and subsequently adding a little rectified
spirit to keep it. But I prefer to prepare it by dissolving the
y colouring matter contained in a drachm of powdered extract of log-
- wood in two ounces of water, to which two or three drachms a
- dilute hydrochloric acid have been added. This is then filtered
into about half-a-pint of water, and liquor ammonia is added until
a thick purple precipitate forms, which is re-dissolved by shaking
up with alum. A little spirit may then be added to preserve it.
_ The inks mentioned stain many tissues well, and require nothing
more than dilution in water. Well, to return to the sections. As
1ey are cut, they are washed off the razor with a paint brush
pped in methylated spirit into a watch-glass, until about a couple
of dozen have collected. From these the best are picked out and
transferred to the staining fluid with a needle in a handle, or a
small paint brush; I prefer the former since it carries less fluid.
As to the strength of the staining fluid, that I think can only be
ertained by experience, since it depends upon the number of
ions as well as the quantity of fluid used. One must be guided
chiefly by the time taken to stain sufficientiy, which should not be
Jess than 12 hours; for in rapid staining all the elements of the

26

tissues acquire the same tint, when the main object of colouring is
defeated, namely, to isolate the individual cells and fibres by diffe-
rent shades of colour. It sometimes happens, however, that the
chromic acid is so permanently fixed in the tissue that logwood
cannot displace it, however strong the solution you use may be.
In this ease it is only necessary to soak the section for a few hours
in very dilute solution of potash, say one per cent. of liquor po-
tassce, or even less; then, after washing in spirit and water, again
transfer to logwood, and they will stain rapidly and well. I may
mention that I find the nests of palettes used by painters to be the
most convenient and the cheapest articles for holding the staining
fluid ; for, at the same time that they are a useful size and shape,
by fitting one upon the other, they effectually preserve from dust.
I procure mine at Mr. Stanley’s, opposite London Bridge Station,
and I have brought a nest down for your inspection. When the
sections appear to have received sufficient colour they are trans-
ferred, on a needle, to a capsule containing water, and gently
washed, then to methylated spirit, which must be changed in a few
minutes, for deliquoration before they are transferred to the centre
of a glass slip—one, two, or three aceording to size—and a drop of
oil of cloves or oil of lavender is allowed to run under the sections,
taking the place of the spirit as it evaporates, and permitting the
chloroform balsam or dammar in which they should be mounted to
thoroughly permeate the tissue. The sections should always be
transferred from the spirit to the glass slip with a nice sized paint
brush, since in this way large sections of the most delicate tissues,
such as brain or lung, can be smoothly placed in the centre of the
glass without any fear of breaking. ‘lhe spirit is then drained off
before the drop of oil is allowed to run under. The oil of cloves
is generally used, but I prefer the oil of lavender, since it seems to
mix more readily with spirit, and so the section is not rendered
quite so transparent, I think, as with oil of cloves. This, however,

may only be fancy. Dammar also appears to be preferable to —

chloroform balsam, since it is not so highly refractive, that is for
stained sections. The balsam is as good, or better, for simple car-
mine injections. I ought, perhaps, to mention glycerine jelly as a
medium for mounting staimed sections in, but I believe that it is
applied to better purposes, and that it is inferior to dammar. Still
good specimens are so mounted, and it is a favourite with some.
So much for cutting, staining, and mounting hardened animal
tissues. A few words now in reference to tearing sections. The
process is simple enough, but requires practice to accomplish it
successfully. The tissues ‘arranged in longitudinal bundles are
those to which it is most applicable, such as tendons, nerves,
muscles, &c. A small piece is snipped off with a pair of scissors
and placed in the centre of a glass slip with a drop of fluid, the
half per cent. salt solution answers very well; then fixed at one

27

end with one needle, while with the other the fibres are separated
longitudinally into as fine a fasciculi as possible. A drop of the
fluid in which it is to be mounted is then placed on the under side
of the cover glass, which is then allowed to quietly settle over the
specimen. The process of tearing is much facilitated by first ma-
cerating the tissue in a very weak solution of bichromate of potash
for a few days ; or even in half per cent. solution of common salt.
Next, in reference to some of the uses of gold and silver for stain-
ing purposes ; let us take the latter first. Its great feature is, that

it first stains the crevices or interspaces of the tissue, and it is for
this that it is so useful. For instance, let us take a piece of
peritoneum, the transparent membrane which lines the abdominal
cavity, and is reflected over all the organs it contains, and stain one
portion with nitrate of silver, another with carmine or logwood,
and examine a third portion in its fresh state. The fresh will show
no appearance of cells or nuclei on the surface of the membrane ;
that stained with logwood will show nuclei only: and that with
nitrate of silver a flat layer of cells only; while if the silver and
logwood stainings have been combined, a perfect layer of nucleated
cells will be found covering the internal layer of the membrane.
The method of staining with silver is as follows :—Take a piece,
say of the mesentery of a cat, that portion of the peritoneum which
retains the intestines in place, and steep it in a solution of nitrate
of silver for a few minutes ; then remove it and wash it thoroughly
in repeated changes of common water until it ceases to cause a
white precipitate of chloride of silver. Then expose it in a capsule
of water to light until it assumes a bronze tint. Mount in glycerine
—the best medium for silver and gold stainings—and a perfect
layer of flat cells will be seen, by focussing, to line both sides, for
the membrane here is double. The preparation is more beautiful
and valuable if, before mounting it, it is placed for a few hours in
the logwood staining fluid, since not only are the nuclei rendered
visible, but also the other structures of the peritoneum, such as the
connective tissue, cells, vessels, &c. The omentum, mesentery,
parietal peritoneum, centrum tendineum, and cornea, form excellent
subjects for staining with nitrate of silver. The half per cent.
chloride of gold solution is very useful and often yields good
_ results. But time will only permit me to draw your attention to
one instance of its value, and that is for bringing out the corneal
corpuscles and nerves. This specimen is best obtained by procur-
- ing a fresh frog's cornea, and, having scraped off the epithelium
_ which lines the upper and under surfaces, by placing it in a half
_ per cent. solution of gold until it assumes a straw colour. This
usually takes from a quarter to half-an-hour. It is then washed
and exposed to light in a capsule containing slightly acidulated
_ water for one, two, or three days according to the light, until the
_ yellow colour has changed into a reddish purple; it is then

28

mounted in glycerine and presents the appearance seen in the
specimen under the microscope, with more or less clearness accord-
ing to the success of the staining. This is a somewhat difficult
preparation, and I believe rarely succeeds unless the frog’s cornea
has been first inflamed. When you remember that the cornea
examined fresh shows no structure at all, and by this method large
cells with numerous processes ramifying in every direction, and
bundles of nerve fibres crossing and recrossing fill the field of the
microscope, you will, I am sure, have no hesitation in according to
chloride of gold no mean position amongst your reagents. I have
but a short space left at my command, and that I should like to
occupy by a brief consideration of a very important aid to the
study of animal tissues. I allude to injection of the blood vessels
with some coloured material. It is impossible for me to go at all
deeply into this process, and therefore I will only describe one
variety—injection with the carmine gelatine mass, passing Over
Beale’s glycerine fluids and numerous other preparations. I pre-
pare the carmine mass after the manner recommended by Dr.
Carter. Three drams of gelatine are dissolved in two ounces of
water ; to one ounce and a half of this a solution of carmine is
added, made by dissolving one ounce of pure carmine in two drams
of strong liquor ammonia and diluted with an ounce and a half of °
water. To the remaining half ounce of gelatine solution one and a
half drams of glacial acetic acid is added, and the two are mixed by
gradually pouring gelatine solution with the acetic acid into that
containing the carmine. The smell of ammonia should disappear,
and the colour become lighter and redder. If this is not the case
a little more acetic acid must be added, and its preparation is com-
pleted. Let us suppose, then, that we are about to inject some
small animal. An incision is first made in the skin over the front
of the chest just to the left of the middle line. The left costal
cartilages are then cut through to a sufficient extent to get at the
heart, which is then drawn out of the opening, and kept out by @
thread passed through its apex, which may be held by an assistant
or fixed. A hole is next made in the left side of the heart through
which the nozzle is introduced, and passed up into the large vessel
leading from the cavity on this side and called the aorta, in which
it is fixed by a stout thread. The nozzle may or may not have a
stop-cock attached. The syringe then having been first warmed by
warm water, is filled with injection, which should be only just
warm or it is sure to extravasate, and the process is steadily but
rapidly completed. The body is then opened at once, and any ex-
travasated injection washed out with ice-cold water, which sets at
once the injection. Portions of transparent organs, as the intes-
tines of a mouse or a frog, may be spread out at once on the centre
of glass slips and allowed to dry on, and then mounted in balsam ;
while the solid organs, first having ascertained those which are

29

properly injected, should be thrown into the freezing mixture, and
sections rapidly cut and washed off the razor into cold water, in
which they may remain some hours without harm, if thoroughly
cold. When sections of all the good organs have been so cut, the
best are picked out and dried on the centre of glass slides, and
mounted in balsam. The reason that I recommended freezing and
cutting the section at once is, that if hardened in: spirit, the only
alternative with carmine injections, the gelatine in the vessels con-
tracts so much as frequently to mar the beauty of the specimen ;
while by drying fresh sections little if any of the calibre of the
vessel is lost. But there is a better mode of preserving injections,
and that is by first staining them, when the other elements of the
tissue, as well as the capillaries, are brought into view. It is one
that I recommend you to adopt, and one that I shall put into prac-
tice more frequently in future. But I fear that I have already
exceeded the allotted time, so I must leave further arguments on
behalf of the animal tissues to the specimens under the microscopes,
staying only to add one word of apology for them, in that for the
_ last two or three years I have worked almost entirely at patho-

logical specimens, and have therefore only a few fairly-mounted
_ specimens of normal tissues. To these, such as they are, I now
direct your attention.

A short discussion ensued, on the termination of which the
President accorded to Mr. Paul the thanks of the Club for his
_ valuable paper.

The Presipent and the following members exhibited micro-
_ scopes :—H. Ashby, J. S. Johnson, G. Manners, K. McKean, Geo.
_ Perry. After reading his paper, Mr. Paul gave the mémbers a
_ practical demonstration in cutting sections of animal tissues.

sday, June 17th, 1874, about 60 of the members, with their
- friends, met at the Greyhound Hotel, for a friendly supper, on the
_ oceasion of presenting the testimonial to the late secretary, Mr.
- Henry Long.

Henry Les, Esq., President, was in the chair, and Henry J.
7 _ Sons, Esq., M.D., in the vice-chair.

_ After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman said—About four
and a-half years ago there appeared in the Croydon papers an
_ advertisement requesting gentlemen who were desirous of joining’
the Croydon Microscopical Club to send their names to Mr. Henry

’ Long, of 90, High-street, Croydon. Mr. Long having observed
_ that I was connected with the Royal Microscopical Society, asked

a

§ me to give my name, and I promised Mr. Long, as a fellow of that

30

Society, that I would join the Croydon Club, and do all in my
power to advance its interests. A few gentlemen enrolled their
names, and so small did their advancement seem likely to prove,
that it was proposed at first to meet at each other’s houses, and
several meetings were held in my house. As vur number increased,
it was felt that the meeting at each other’s houses was a source of
inconvenience and discomfort, and therefore it was considered ad-
visable to have another place for our meetings. You know the
rest; you also know that Mr. Long became our hon. secretary,
and worked for us as all members of a Society which was intended
to be a success should work. Perhaps I am in a better position to
speak of the able way in which Mr. Long has discharged his duties
than any other member; for I have had frequently to confer with
him on matters connected with the Club; and sometimes, without
calling a committee’ meeting, we have acted upon our own re3pon-
sibility, and I am pleased to say that what we did has in every
case been thoroughly endorsed by the Club. I can therefore
testify to the energy and ability which Mr. Long has infused into
his labours, and to the courteous and genial manner in which he
has concurred in any suggestions that have from time to time been
made, not only by me, but by members of the committee and by the
club generally. Mr. Long’s professional engagements having
necessitated his retirement from the duties of the post he has so
long and so faithfully discharged, it has been proposed by the Club
to present him with some tangible mark of the respect in which he
is held by them. Mr. Long having been asked to select something
he would prefer, has chosen the handsome microscope which is now
on the table. I have now the greatest pleasure in asking, on
behalf of the Club, Mr. Long’s acceptance of that instrument; I
hope it will assist him in his studies at home; that it will be
useful to him, and advantageous to science; that he will bring it
to the Club and place it at the disposal of gentlemen who read
papers from time to time; and that he will continue to meet us
with that hearty good will which I am sure we all feel towards
him. (Applause.)

The testimonial consisted of a handsome binocular microscope,
by Crouch, which bears the following inscription :—

Presented to Mr. Henry Lone, by the Croydon Microscopical Club, in
pleasant remembrance of his having ably fulfilled the duties of Honorary
Secretary, from the establishment of the Club, March 16th, 1870, to June
17th, 1874.

Mr. Lone, on rising, thanked Mr. Lee for his kind expressions,
and for the great cordiality with which his name had been received |
by the Club. Without wishing to depreciate the credit Mr. Lee
had kindly given him for the part he had taken in the formation of

31

the Croydon Microscopical Club, there was one matter for which
he could take greater credit, namely, his being successful in
securing the valuable services of Mr. Lee as President. (Applause.)
He had in his possession a letter written by one member to
another, in which the writer said—‘It shows Long’s common
sense in soliciting Mr. Lee to become the President of your Club,
for although we have a population of upwards of 60,000 in Croy-
don, I do not know one who is so well qualified to take the Chair.”
The experience of the last four years had fully endorsed that
sentiment. (Applause). With regard to himself, it was a source
of much pleasure to him to receive, through their President, a
practical assurance that the duties which he had much pleasure in
performing for the Club had met with their approval. In social
gatherings of this kind, and under similar circumstances, it some-
times happened that the recipient of a testimonial was about to say
farewell to those with whom he had been associated; but that was
not the case this evening. He hoped still to be able to attend the
meetings of the Club, and take an interest in its proceedings. If
it was acceptable to the Club, he should like to place at the dis-
posal of the committee a book prize of £2, for the best 12 objects

_ mounted by avy member, on such terms as the committee might
determine. (Hear, hear.) He also took this opportunity of thank-
____ ing the Club for their cordial co-operation and assistance ever since

he had been a member.

Several toasts followed, and the proceedings were enlivened by
a number of excellent songs contributed ‘by Messrs. Goldsmith and
‘ Lucas, and by several of the company.

eptember 16th, 1874.—Atrrep Carpenter, Esq., M.D., in the chair.
_ The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Capt.
J.C. Swaine, of Fairfield-road, was ballotted for and duly elected
_ amember. The following gentlemen were nominated for member-
_ ship:—Thos. Henry Barnes, M.D.; Herbert Jas. Ilott, M.B.;
_ Chas. H. Lister, David Mackenzie, Edwin Roper, Walter Rosser,
_ M.D.; and James Russell, M.B.

-

The Cuarrman announced that at the invitation of the President
(who was unavoidably absent from this meeting) an excursion to
_ the Brighton Aquarium had been arranged for Saturday, 26th of
_ September. He then alluded in feeling terms to the melancholy
death of an industrious and much respected member of the Club—
‘Mr. N. Lawrence Austen. It was resolved unanimously that the
President be requested to write, on behalf of the Club, a letter of

32

A copy of ‘‘Specrrum Awnatysis”’ by Mr. W. T. Surroux, was
presented to the Club by the Author, to whom a vote of thanks
was passed.

Dr. Carpenter then referring to a plant which was a con-
spicuous object on the table, said it was a plant which was foreign
to this country but was discovered last: year growing in a shrubbery
at Shirley. .How it came there no one knew. There were several
of them, and as the plant seemed to be of a very handsome shape,
he cut down a branch of it, and took it home to his house. A
lady afterwards came and inquired the name of the plant. Upon
his telling her, she said it was very curious, but there was one
growing at Streatham in a gentleman’s garden, and how it came
there they did not know. The plant was called the Phytolacca
Decandria, or American Poke Weed. It was a common weed in
America, but had lately become acclimatised in Southern Europe.
He did not know of any plants which approximated to it in its
botanical character, but it belonged to an order with which they
were well acquainted—namely, the beet-root, which was the one
redeeming exception to a large lot of useless rubbish. In America
the fresh young shoots were used instead of asparagus or spinach,
and were cooked very much in the same way. The plant bore a
curious fruit, very much like raspberries or blackberries, but grow-
ing in spikes instead of being single berries. They were nauseous
to the taste, and contained a strong tinted juice, said to be used
by the Portuguese for colouring port wine. This might account for
the acclimatisation of the plant i in some portions of Portugal, Spain,
and Italy. If the tint were capable of being fixed, it would make
a beautiful dye. The plant was a prolific bearer of fruit, and grew
to a considerable size. Last year it was killed down by the frost,
but it shot up again, and probably from the ease with which it had
taken root, it would become acclimatised in this country.

The Rev. R. R. Surrrerp asked if the juice were medically
wholesome ?

Dr. Carpenter said he hardly thought it was. It was a vista
purgative, and the leaves had the reputation of curing cancer.
Many things had that reputation, but he did not know of any cures
that had ever been effected by them. As the birds were said to be
fond of the seeds, the probability was that they would get well
distributed, and some day the plant would prove a valuable one.

Mr. Jones asked if phe plants were not mentioned in home-
pathy ?

Dr. CARPENTER was not aware that it was. The term “lac”
was derived from the juice being of a beautiful red colour.

The attention of the members was next directed to some re-

markable shells brought from the River Orinoco by Mr. Smith.
In answer to a question, Mr. Smith said he had only seen the
shells in the delta of the Orinoco, where they were to be found in
thousands on the muddy banks, and on the eastern coast of
Trinidad.
_ Mr. Taytor referred to some snakes which had been found in
the neighbourhood of Surrey-street, living in a dust-hole, and raised
a question as to the kind of diet they were seeking. He also men-
tioned that in turning out the dust-hole a large batch of eggs was
found.

The Cuarrman appeared to be of opinion that there was some
mistake as to facts in regard to the snakes; he did not think they
were scavengers that would dispose of any kina of garbage; if they
were proved to be so, it would certainly be a new feature in natural

_ history.

The meeting then resolved itself into a conversazione, and the
following members exhibited their microscopes :—J. Berney, Fred.
Fletcher, J. 8. Johnson, Geo. F. Linney, H. Long, EK. Lovett, K.

_ McKean, and Dr. Strong.

ptember 26th, 1874.—Visit to the Bricnron Aguartum.—A party,
consisting of members and their friends (as well as the répresenta-
_ tives of the Croydon Press) to the number of 54, assembled at the
Kast Croydon Station, and proceeded to Brighton by the 11.41
_ train. On arriving at the Aquarium, the party was welcomed by
Mr. Lee, and conducted through every part of the building.
_ Almost the first object of interest was a preserved specimen of the
_ Sturgeon, and Mr. Lee explained the fallacy of the notion that
_ the flat-nosed and the sharp-nosed are two separate species ; he
_ said the shape of the nose underwent an alteration as the animal
_ developed in age and size; Acipenser huso was, however, a distinct
‘species. The tank containing the Sterlets was then visited, and an
_ account of their passage from the interior of Russia to this country
was narrated by the President. The Octopus came in for a large
share of attention, Mr. Lee having kindly arranged that it should
. be fed in presence of his guests. The ‘rough-hound” (scy yllium
canicula), and the ‘‘ nurse-hound ” (scyllium ‘stellare ), two species
of dog fish, with a number of the sham gorgonias having eggs at-
tached, were of speeial interest to the Club; the habits of these
fishes having formed the subject of a paper read by Mr. Lee, ata -
‘meeting of the Club on the 19th of February, 1873. After having
inspected the seals, the mackerel, and the herrings, and in short
the whole of the tanks, and everything of interest in the Aquarium
proper, the visitors were shown the engines, the laboratory, and
the store tanks, all of which are closed to the general public.

-

pe)

34

Having re-assembled in the reading-room, the party proceeded
with Mr. Lee to Mellison’s Restaurant in West-street, where a
cold luncheon was served. Dr. Carpenter, on behalf of the Club,
having cordially thanked the President for his kind invitation and
for the instruction he had so pleasantly imparted, the company
separated, and did not return to Croydon till late in the evening,
having passed a most enjoyable day, towards which the magnificent
weather contributed in no small degree.

October 21st, 1874.—Henry Let, Esq., President, in the chair. The
minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, after
which the following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected
members, viz. :—Thomas Henry Barnes, M.D.; Herbert J. Lott,
M.B.; Charles H. Lister; David Mackenzie; Edwin Roper ;
Walter Rosser, M.D. ; and James Russell, M.B.

The following were nominated for election:—Alfred Eastty ;
Walter Paton Hindley; Frederick Hirtzel; Joseph Toms; and
Captain John Davis Wake.

The Presipent stated that he had received a letter from Mrs.
Austen in reply to the letter of condolence which was addressed to
that lady, who expressed her gratitude for the kind sympathy
evinced towards her.

Mr. Lex said, with regard to Mr. H. Long’s prize of books (value
£2) for the best dozen slides prepared and mounted by any member
of the Club, competitors would be required to send in their slides
to his (Mr. Lee's) house before Ist January, 1875. Two members
of the Council of the Royal Microscopical Society would act as
judges, and the winner would be named at the annual meeting.
A letter was read from Dr. Anderson, expressing his great regret
that severe indisposition precluded the possibility of his reading
the promised paper that evening.

The Presipent expressed a wish to see the string of shells
which were exhibited at the previous meeting, and on their being
shown to him remarked that, as he had suspected, they were true
Gorgonias—not shells, the supposed ‘‘shells’’ being groups of
spicules, and the “string,” the horny axis of the organism. The
meeting then became eonversational, and several members gave
their experience as to the best method of mounting various objects.

The following members exhibited their microscopes :—The
President, and Messrs. J. Gregory, J. S. Johnson, H. M. Klaassen,
E. Lovett, K. McKean, G. Perry, J. G. Price, H. J. Strong, and
A. D.- Taylor.

November 18th, 1874.—Henry Ler, Esq., President in the chair. The
minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The
following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members :—
Alfred Kastty ; Walter Paton Hindley ; Frederick Hirtzel; Joseph
Toms ; Captain J. D. Wake; and the following were nominated
for election :—Robert A. James ; William Frederick Miller ; 8. G.
Marks ; and C. Jarrett. :

One dozen slides were presented to the Club’s cabinet by Mr.
J. §S. Johnson, and one dozen by Mr. E. Lovett. The thanks of
the Club were voted to the donors. ~

The Prestpent then called upon Dr. Anderson to read his
paper ‘‘On tHE MinurEe Anatomy oF THE Human Lune.’ The
lungs in man, said Dr. AnDERson, consist of two conical organs,
called, by Kélliker, racemose glands, situated—one on each side of
the chest. Each lung is divided into two lobes by a long and deep
fissure, and in the right lung the upper lobe is sub-divided by a
secord fissure ; there is also a further division into small polyhedral
portions called lobules, connected by areolar tissue. These lobules
are again sub-divided into smaller lobules or lunglets. In structure
the lungs are composed of ramifications of the bronchial tubes with

_ their terminal air-sacs and air-cells, intercellular passages, the pul-
monary arteries and veins, bronchial arteries and veins, lymphatics
and nerves—all these being held together by areolo-fibrous inter-
stitial tissue, and constituting the parenchyma of the lungs. The
nerves are derived from the pneumo-gastric and sympathetic ; they
form two plexuses, the branches from which follow the course of
__ the bronchial tubes, and are distributed to the intercellular passages
and air-cells. The vascular system of the lungs consists of two
_ distinct sets of blood-vessels, namely, pulmonary arteries and veins
for the special function of the lungs, and bronchial arteries and
_ veins for the nourishment of the bronchial tubes, the areolar tissue,
_ &e. Some of the bronchial arterial capillaries discharge themselves
_ into the corresponding bronchial veins, whilst others terminate in
_ the pulmonary system. Special attention may now be directed to the
_ bronchial tubes and their ultimate terminations. The two large
__ bronchi, more or less cartilaginous in structure, proceeding from the
_ bifureation of the trachea, and passing one to each lung, divide and
_ sub-divide like the branches of a tree, and diminish in size until they
_ areno larger than the 30th to the 50th of an inch in diameter. Bach
_ bronchial tubeis distinct from the other, and is lined by mucous mem-
_ brane, which is invested with a ciliated columnar epithelium. These
minute tubes each terminate in a slight dilatation, into which open
a number of orifices leading into somewhat elongated cavities,
_ termed by Waters, air-sacs. From six to eight or ten of these
_ air-sacs, the size of each of which varies from the 45th to the 85th

36

part of an inch, are clustered round the extremity of every bronchial
tube, forming a lobulette or lunglet. These air-sacs possess ex-
ceedingly delicate walls, and do not appear to communicate with
one another, otherwise than by their common origin from the
bronchial tube. They generally increase in size slightly towards
their closed extremity, and often bifurcate.. The internal surface
of every air-sac, and even of the bronchial tube, for a short distance
before it terminates, presents an alveolated or honeycombed
appearance. These minute, shallow, cup-like depressions constitute
the air-vesicles or air-cells of the lung, and from eight to twenty
may be counted on the interior of each air-sac. It will thus be
seen that each terminal bronchial tube is connected with an entire
group of air-cells, and does not end in a single air-cell, and that
these fine terminal ramifications of the bronchial tubes never join
each other. According to Rainey, the minute bronchial tubes when
they arrive at within about one-eighth of an inch of the surface of the
lung become changed in structure, and are continued onward under
the name of intercellular passages, the walls of which are formed by
the air-cells between which they pass, and by which they are sur-
rounded. Suggestions for the microscopic investigation of the human
lung, and the method of preparation of the same, will be interest-
ing to the members of a microscopical club. In order to examine
the air-sacs and air-cells, or alveoli (1) a thin slice should be cut
off the surface of a portion of lung which has been injected, inflated,
and dried, and the portion itself (not the slice) should then be
placed under the dissecting microscope. The cut orifices of the
air-sacs will then be observed ; or (2) soak a piece of lung that
has been injected, inflated, and dried in spirit for some time, and
when the piece is well saturated, dissect it under the microscope.
By imbibition of the spirit, the mass of lung swells, and the air-
tubes and air-sacs remaining distended, the parts assume nearly
the same shape and size they have in life ;. or (3), without making
any section, the ultimate air-tubes may be seen by a magnifying
power of from 10 to 20 diameters, and they can be followed to their
termination if the lung has been properly prepared previously.
This preparative process may be accomplished in several ways,
namely (1), by inflation of the lung through a bronchus, and sub-
sequent desiccation ; (2), injection of the air-tubes with mercury or
wax, &c.; (3), injection of the blood vessels with some opaque
materials, such as a coloured solution of gelatine, red, yellow, or
blue, and inflation of the air-tubes, with subsequent desiccation ;
(4), injection of both vessels and tubes with a transparent substance
which becomes solid on cooling, such as a solution of gelatine, or
a mixture of turpentine and wax. The diameter of the air-cells of
the human lung varies from about the 70th to the 200th part of an
inch; their shape is described as being angular, globular, and ir-
regular. Kolliker says that they are invariably polygonal, and that

37

their external sides are always nearly plane. Jones and Sieveking
say that the vesicles are never angular nor polygonal until subjected
to pressure from some pathological process. It has been calculated
by Rochoux that the total number of air cells in the human lung
amounts to 600 millions. Keil computes the number at three
billions and 488 millions, and the expanse of membrane represented
by them Lieberkuhn reckons as equal in area to 1,500 square feet.
Hales gives an area of 289 square feet, and Keil an area of 21,906
square inches ; but nothing in the way of number or measurement
is really reliable ; this fact, however, is certain: that the extent of
surface is very great. It is in these air-cells that the deposit of
tuberculous matter takes place primarily and chiefly—first, on their
lining membrane or wall, and then gradually extending to the
entire cell, and probably to the minute bronchial tubes and the in-
testinal tissue of the lungs. In Dr. Clarke’s preparations, illustra-
tive of the seat of tubercle, he shews that the deposit extends to
the walls of the air vesicles, the areolar tissue around the blood
vessels and bronchi, and between the lobules cnly, at an advanced
period of growth, and that it does not occur indifferently at any
part external to the blood vessels. The observations of Jones and
Sieveking imply that the primary deposit of tubercle takes place
in a semi-fluid form in the vesicular cavity, which it distends so as
to form a round point, of the size of a small pin’s head, visible to
the naked eye. Rainey says that in tuberculous lungs, success-
fully injected, it can be seen that the tuberculous matter is poured
from the free surface of the pulmonary membrane into the interior
of the air-cells ; the pale colour of the tuberculous matter contrasts
so strikingly with the red capillaries, that the exact form and limit
_ of the former can be seen if only one, or part of one, cell be filled.
It is right, however, to state that opinions are now somewhat

divided on the subject, and future investigations may, to some

extent, modify the foregoing statements. Lach air-cell contains

more or less pigmentary matter, and has a pavement of epithelium

without cilia, composed of minute polygonal cells, which forms a
simple layer, and rests immédiately on the lining membrane which
forms the true wall of the air-celi. These epithelial cells derive
_ additional interest from the fact that, in them, by fatty degeneration,
the first elements of tubercle are made manifest. A beautiful net-
~ work of yellow elastic fibrous tissue, to which the elasticity of the
whole lung is due, connects and yet separates the air- -cells, forming,
in fact, their defined and protecting frame-work, and giving support
to the blood vessels which form minute capillary plexuses (each
_air-cell having its own plexus) so arranged between the walls of
each cell, that the contained air shall have the fullest opportunity
4 thoroughly to aerate the blood. This net-work of pulmonary capil-
aries is spread out so densely that the interspaces or meshes are
eyen narrower than the vessels, which are, on an average, the three

o

38

thousandth part of an inch in diameter ; whilst the pulmonary
vesicle itself is twenty times greater in diameter than that of one of
the capillaries which are distributed on its walls. Between the
atmospheric air in the cells, and the blood in those minute vessels,
nothing intervenes but the thin membranes of the cells and capil-
laries and the delicate epithelial lining of the former; and the
exposure of the blood to the air is the more complete, because the
folds of membrane between contiguous cells, and often the spaces
between the walls of the same, contain only a single layer of capil-
laries, both sides of which are thus at once exposed to the air. To
summarise, in conclusion :—It has been shewn that, as regards the
minute structure’ of the human lung, each terminal bronchial tube
is connected with an entire group of air-cells, not ending in a single
air-cell, nor the tubes themselves anastomosing with each other ;
also that the ciliated epithelium of the bronchial tubes does not
extend to the air-cells, but that each air-cell has a single layer of
pavement epithelium composed ef minute polygonal cells. Such,
then, is the respiratory apparatus in man—complicated, and yet,
when unravelled by the aid of the microscope, and studied in the
light of comparative anatomy and embryology, beautifully simple in
structure. In its multitudinous air-sacs and air-cells, it affords a
very large amount of surface for the aeration of the blood in a com-
paratively small space ; and so important is this apparatus in its
relation to the well-being of the system generally, that the smallest
alteration of its structure leads to the most serious functional
disturbances, and eventually, if unchecked, to formidable disease
and death.

Dr. Anderson’s paper was profusely illustrated by diagrams.

Mr. Henry Asupy made a few observations respecting the
similarity that existed between the brain of man and that of
the lower animals; and said that, as had been shown by Dr.
Anderson in his introductory remarks, the gradual complication
of the structure of the lung in the lower animals had kept pace
with the development of the same organs in the human embryo ;
and this probably had led to the evolution theory propounded
by Darwin in his famous work. we

A cordial vote of thanks to Dr. Anderson was accorded by the
President, on behalf of the Club. :

The President and nine other Members placed their microscopes
at the disposal of Dr. Anderson to illustrate his paper.

39

Yovenber 25th, 1874.—The Fifth Annual Svirée.

The Fifth Annual Soirée was held’ at the Public Hall, George
Street, on Wednesday evening. The Club is indebted to several
Societies for their kind assistance. The following is a list of the
exhibitors :—

_ Tae Royat Microscopican Soctety.—Dr. Bossy; Messrs.

_ Thomas Crook, H. H. Dobson, F. W. Gay, James Smith, W. T.
Suffolk, John 8. Townsend, Charles Tyler, T. Charters White, and
James F. Wight.

Tae Quexetr Cius.—Dr. Matthews (President), Dr. Daniel
Mooré ; Messrs. Frederick William Andrews, Alfred Aubert, E.
Bartlett, W. F. Brown, F. Coles, J. Wallinger Goodinge, G. Green,
J. H. Hadland, William Hainworth, jun., John E. Ingpen, George
Pearce, B. W. Priest, Alpheus Smith, G. J. Smith, J. A. Smith,
A. Topping, and J. R. Williams.

Mareate Microscorican Crus.—Mr. F. B. Kyngdon.

Tower Hitt Crus.—Messrs. J. Alston, James B. Crosfield,
J. Crosfield, J. H. Crossland, F. Doeg, J. Everett, J. Harrod,
Thornhill Langton, Charles N. Levien, J. Macdonald, Richard
Sedgwick, and J. Thompson.

4 Sours Lonpon Civus.—Messrs. J. G. B. Brewer, William G.
Cocks, E. Dadswell, James Deane, Edward Gibson, William
Goode; W. Goodinge, Ridley Hilder, F. W. Hembrey, C. W. -
Hovenden, Frederick Hovenden, B. D- Jackson, W. G. Parks,
_ §. H. Roberts, Henry Robinson, T. D. Bussell, J. A. Smith, C. W. -
_ §tidstone, W. T. Suffolk, W. West, G. Wilkinson, and J. W.
_ Worster.

Forest Hirt Cxivus.—Messrs. R. Beeton, W. Britten, A.
a Brown, C. W. Burt, J. W. Deacon, W. R. Furneaux, E. George
Hart, F. Hind, BE. F. Jones, M. D. Northey, E. Simpson, J. Terry,
__ E. Westbrooke, and W. Fell Woods.

__ Croypon Cxus.—Mr. H. Lee (President), Capt. J. D. Wake,
_ Dr. Anderson, Dr. Adams, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Qwens, Dr. Strong,
_ and Dr. Rosser; Messrs. Albert d’Archambaud, Henry Ashby, J.
cH. Baldock, John Berney, Theo. Bindley, Charles Bonus, Robert
_ Brodie, John Corry, Alfred Crowley, Philip Crowley, Thomas
Cushing, A. W. B. Drummond, Frederick C. Fleteher, Herbert J.
Tlott, BR. Hingston, Robert A. James, J. 8. Johnson, Kenneth
-M’Kean, George F. Linney, William Lee, Henry Lee, jun., E.
Lovett, Henry Long, George Manners, Thomas B. Moseley, W. g.
Nation, George Perry, G. N. Price, George Purser, Edwin>Roper,
James Russell, W. B. Snelling, Edward Sturge, R. D. Tayler,
_ Henry Turner, Fred. West, jun., and John Woodward.

40

Opricians.—Mr. C. Baker, six microscopes; Mr. John W.
Bailey, three ditto ; Mr. Crouch, ten ditto ; Mr. Moginie, two ditto ;
Mr. E. Richards, two ditto; Mr. Stanley, seven ditto; Mr. James
Swift, four ditto, with a new high and low achromatic: condenser ;
and Mr. Edmund Wheeler, three ditto. ;

Altogether 172 microscopes were exhibited. In the Large
Hall, there were shown, in addition to the microscopes, a case
of exquisitely prepared British starfishes by the President; a case
of skeleton leaves comprising 86 different plants and 20 varieties of
ferns, lent by Mrs. Austen ; a collection of moths, butterflies, dragon
flies, and beetles, from the neighbourhood of Croydon, by Dr.
Carpeuter ; an instrument called the ‘‘ Crystal Designer,” by Mr.
W. J. Glover; several cases of medals, by Mr. G. Manners; an |
ingenious model of a section of the Brighton Aquarium, containing
fish, water-beetles, worms, &., in full life, by Mr. A. D. Taylor.

In the smaller Hall there were shown :—Cast shells of cray-fish
and lobsters from living specimens in the Brighton Aquarium, by
the President ; several trays containing fungi and lichens from the
Addington Hills, collected by the Misses Sturge; 25 volumes of
Gould’s ‘‘ Humming Birds,” also many cases of eggs of British
birds, by Mr. A. Crowley ; a model hydraulic machine, exhibited
and worked by Mr. Cushing; Japanese curiosities by Captain
Wake ; a collection of North American Indian dresses and weapons
by Captain Mackenzie, &c., &e.

In the Old School of Art, Mr. George Manners kindly exhibited
a series of dissolving views, which were much appreciated.

Amongst those who accepted the invitation of the President to
attend were the Syrian Patriarch of Antioch and the Bishop of
Jerusalem and suite ; the Solicitor-General, M.P. for Preston, and
Mrs. Holker ; the Mayor of Brighton ; the President of the Brighton
Natural History Society ; the President of the Sussex and Surrey
Branch of the British Medical Association ; the Chairman of the
Brighton Aquarium Company; the Secretaries of the Royal
Microscopical, Quekett, South London, and Margate Microscopical
Societies ; the President of the Croydon Chamber of Agriculture ;
and Mr. Frank Buckland. Number present, 625, of whom 186
paid for admission.

December 16th, 1874.—Henry Lez, Esq., President, in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following
gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members :—Messrs.
Robert A. James, Frederick Miller, 8. G. Marks, and C. Jarrett ;
and the following were nominated for membership :—Messrs. W.
W. Baynes, D. L., J.P., A. Allen, Chas. Waite, Edward Moore,
Howard W. Bishop, 8. Hollis Anthony, W. G. Stoneman, and
Nat. Bogle-French, jun.

———
? baie =

41

The Prustpent said that the Committee had under their con-
sideration the best means of using the accumulated funds of the
Club for the benefit of the present as well as of the future members.
The Committee considered that while they ought to keep in hand
a balance sufficient to meet all contingencies, it was only fair that
the present members and subscribers should have full value for their
subscriptions. ‘The Committee had therefore proposed to engage a
paid lecturer, Professor Morris, than whom no man was a better
geologist. ‘I'he hall would be engaged for the delivery of the
lectures, and members would have the privilege of introducing four
or more friends—ladies or gentlemen—gratuitously. He hoped
this arrangement would infuse new life into the Club, and give it a
fresh start altogether. (Applause.)

Mr. Lee then announced that the annual meeting of the Club
would be held on the third Wednesday in January, when no paper
would be read, but the officers for the ensuing year would be elected.
He therefore called upon the Club to nominate the officers for
election at the next meeting.

The President, Treasurer, and Secretary were at once nomi-
nated for re-election; and Mr. Lex said he had some thoughts
of retirmg from the position of President, but as there was to be
an invigorating movement in the Club, and as he had received a
strong request that he should continue to be the President, he
had consented to retain that position—(Hear, hear)—and he was
authorised by the Secretary and Treasurer to state that they would
be happy to serve during the ensuing year. (Applause.)

Mr. Brodie and Mr. A. D. Taylor having been appointed as
auditors, the present Committee were nominated for re-election,

the Presipent remarking that some of them were ready to give

way in favour of any other gentlemen who might be proposed.
No fresh names, however, were submitted, the prevailing opinion
being that the present Committee had discharged their duty in such
an exemplary manner that it was unnecessary to infuse any ‘‘ new

pblood”’ into that painstaking body.

The President then called upon his friend, Captain Tyler, to
deliver a lecture on ‘‘ Sponges,” and expressed his regret that the

state of the weather had so much diminished the attendance.

Captain TyLeEr—after intimating that he wished his remarks to

be divested of the formalities of a lecture, and to partake rather of

a conversation—said that ‘“‘ sponges’’ was a subject but little
known, except to a comparatively small number of persons, and
yet it was a subject that had held a position of great importance as
Petied the structure of the globe we inhabited. After explaining
_that there was an affinity between the sponge, the gorgonia, and the

42

coral, Captain Tyler said that sponges were of three orders, which
were sub-divided into numerous classes, thus showing that there
was something more to be learnt about a sponge than at first sight
might be supposed. He said that there was no doubt that sponges
were included in the animal kingdom, and that there was to be
found a large variety around our own coast. Having explained the
organism of the sponge, he said that if'two specimens of the same
character came together, they grew into each other and became
one ; but this was never the case with two specimens of an opposite
character. Of the large number of specimens lying on the table,
Captain Tyler specially referred to several in illustration of his
remarks. He exhibited a sponge growing on a coral; another
growing over a shell ; varieties of the same kind of sponges growing
together ; and a number of flints which were thought at one time
to be sponges ; although this was at present an undecided point.
He said that sponges were of all colours, and exhibted specimens
of various tints, one being of jet black. He said he had a piece of
sponge which, if immersed in 50 gallons of water for an hour,
would produce a bright purple liquid. He also pointed that the
form of sponge was no guide to species, and that the nature and
embryo of the sponge was an unsettled question. He offered to
place at the disposal of the Club a number. of specimens for
mounting, and described the method of mounting as follows :—
Cut a thin slice at right angles to the surface, whieh will give you
dermal spicules ; then take a slice, also thin, at right angles to the
surface, soak it in spirits of turpentine, mount it in Canada balsam,
and put it by to dry for examination. Afterwards take a portion
to boil in nitric acid, which will give you the whole of the spicules
previously seen in section, but do not be in a hurry to pour off,
as some of the minutest may be found in portions of the film
removed. Take a portion of the material, put it under a. glass
slide, and mount in Canada balsam as usual. In addition to the
large specimens of sponge, Captain Tyler exhibited a number of
diagrams illustrative of his subject, which was of great interest to
all who had the pleasure of hearing it, but incapable of reproduction,
as a report, in an intelligible form.

The Presrpent said that ‘“‘ sponges’’ had been a favourite study
of his, for his introduction to which he was indebted to his friends,
Dr. Bowerbank and Captain Tyler. He also mentioned that he
‘was instrumental in inducing Dr. Bowerbank to publish the third
volume of his valuable work on British Sponges, which had been
completed, and if it was the intention of the Club to take up the
study of sponges, he should recommend that the work be purchased,
as it would be a valuable addition to their library. Mr. Lee then
aceorded to Captain Tyler, in the name of the members, their
hearty thanks for his kindness in coming forward to discourse on a
subject so full of interest.

43

Captain Tycer said it had given him much pleasure to come
down to serve his friend Mr. Lee, with whom he had spent many
happy hours in scientific researches. The greatest trouble to him

was a doubt whether his lecture would be satisfactory to the Club.

It was difficult to convey his meaning on such a subject in an

: intelligible form unless he had a microscope, several bottles, and

other paraphernalia at bis fingers’ ends. But if the members present
were satisfied with the few remarks that he had been enabled to
make, he was more than repaid for any trouble he had taken.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

eee

————— — eee

RULES.

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its Members ; for the
discussion of subjects connected with, or dependent upon, Microscopical
research ; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopic Objects and
Preparations; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally. :

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and nine other Members, who shall
be elected by ballot.at the Annual General Meeting. Three to form a
quorum.

MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for Membership shall be proposed by two or more
Members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge of hin,
and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, according to the
Form appended. The certificate shall be read from the chair, and the
candidate therein recommended ballotted for at the following meeting.
Three black balls to exclude.

2.—The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on the
1st of January, and no person shall be entitled to the privileges of the
Club until his Subscription shall have been paid.

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the Club,
provided they do not reside within the district ; such Honorary and Corres-
ponding Members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of the Club,
and shall have no vote in its affairs.

4.—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural History
amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the distriet, individuals of that class
may be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first communicate some
original information or observation on Microscopy or Natural History, or
exhibit such specimens as shall by their merit satisfy the Committee. Such
Associates shall enjoy the privileges of Honorary Members.

5.—No Member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Club
until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to the
Secretary of his intention to resign.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any Member from the Club,
the same shall be done by a resolution of the Committee, which shall be
read at the next ordinary meeting; and at the following meeting a ballot
shall take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-thirds of the
Members present shall vote for such Member's expulsion, he shall no longer
be considered a Member.

7.—Any Member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, who
shall enter his name, with that of the Member by whom he is introduced, in
a book to be kept for that purpose.

ORDINARY MEETINGS.

1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third
Wednesday in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and
August), at seven o'clock in the evening ; the chair to be taken at half-past
eight precisely ; or at such other time as the Committee may appoint.

45

2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—

J.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for approval as
being correct.

TI.—The names of candidates for Membership shall be read, and the ballot for the
election of Members shall take place.

III.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after which the chair

shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a conversazione, to
terminate at ten o’clock. :

8.—In the absence of the President, the Members present at any ordi-
nary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening. :

4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of the
Committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject of the
papers to be read shall be given, by the Secretary, to the Members. No
paper shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by the
especial permission of the Chairman.

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two Members ap-
pointed at the ordinary meeting in December. No Member of the Com-
mittee shall be eligible as an auditor.

2.—At the same meeting notice of the Annual Meeting in January
shall be given from the chair.

3.—An Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-past
eight o'clock, when the election of officers for-the year ensuing shall take

place, and the report of the committee on the affairs of the Club, and the
if balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4.—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at one
of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed alteration
or addition must be given at or before the preceding ordinary meeting.

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Mr.

of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to recommend

him for Election.
(on my personal knowledge ).
This Certificate was read 187

‘The Ballot will take place 187

____ Norsz.—Original Rules,-drawn and adopted at a meeting held on the
16th March, 1870.

Rules, as to Election of Officers, and number of Committeemen, revised

TEs BEB RAE
RULES FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.

1.—Books to be lent out to Members at any time when the Library
of the Literary Institution, at the Public Hall, is open, on application
to Mr. Pusgy, the Librarian.

2.—All books and periodicals to be marked with the stamp of the
Club and numbered before being circulated, and kept in such a place as
shall from time to time be determined by the Committee.

38.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written
application for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall
be held by the Librarian until the book is returned. No Member shall
have more than one work at a time, nor shall he keep any work for a
longer period than one month ; but it may be returned for exchange any
time within that period when the Library may be open.

4.—When a book is returned by a Member it may be borrowed by him
again, provided it has not been bespoken by any other Member. Books
which have not been bespoken shall circulate in rotation, according to pri-
ority of application.

5.—Standard works, as shall be named by the Committee, to be kept
for reference, and not to be lent out.

6.—Members retaining books longer than the specified time shall be
subject to a fine of one penny per day. If any book be retained by
a Member for two months, and be not returned after written application
has been made for it, the Committee may order it to be replaced and
charge the Member in default with the amount thus incurred, in addition
to the fine. If any book, when returned by a Member, is found to have
been damaged during the period such Member has had it, a fine equivalent
to the injury shall be paid by the Member.

LIST OF BOOKS BELONGING TO THE CROYDON
MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. ‘

Achromatic Microscope _... ae aon aba Beck.

Address before the Royal Microscopical Society ... Rev. J. B. Reade.
British Diatomacee (vol. 1.) ie a see Smith.

British Diatomace (vol. 2)... es orn ... Smith.

British Shells cf = rs ys a Turton.
Collection and Preparation of Algce BS ... John Nave.
Cryptogamic Botany a ea ee nee Berkley.
Foraminifera... aa BN us 6 ... Dr. W. B. Carpenter.
Flora (vol. 1) es en +5 ee hee Bentham,

Flora (vol. 2)... in ier ne By ... Bentham.

How to Work with the Microscope Soe eee Dr. L. Beale.
Human Microscopic Anatomy wh re ... Kélliker.
Lectures on Histology ... se fe sy Quekett.

Marvels of Pond Life ... TE fs Sie oon ade SSG
Microscopical Manipulation a a = Suffolk.

Polarized Light ... tie ea. a aT ... Woodward.
Preparation and Mounting of Microscopical Objects Davies.

Spectrum Analysis - ‘ ee a .. Suffolk.

The Microscope... oF ee tet a Dr. W, B. Carpenter.
The Microscope ... hs a Ri, oe w. ©Quekett.
Opticians’ Catalogues re a ue ae Beck and others,

Journals of Quekett Club.

THE CABINET.

Slides of various objects, presented to the a Wy Members and others.

Da rt Mes fh rin
at OS, ot Coat wares

Ox « WEDNESDAY, FEDRUARY Ten 1875. ees

=

’

Crystal Palace

Sanderotead
ee

Section from Tilburstow Hill to London.

S
ol See) ane

mS

THE GEOLOGY OF CROYDON AND ITs NEIGHBOURHOOD

From the Geological Survey,

BY W. TOPLEY. EGS.
Seale of Miles

, ee, EE 4 bE a= bt qt ee a a : |
[J atieviun ME foc" [RE] Gaude .
| Eee Gravel & areoarth ns Chalk Lower Greensand i :

“| Zondon Clay hap sel Upper Greensand Veald Clay

LECTURE

GEOLOGY OF CROYDON,

IN RELATION TO THE

GEOLOGY OF THE LONDON BASIN

AND OTHER LOCALITIES,

BY

J. MORRIS, F.G.S.,
Vi ada

Delivered before the Members of the Croydon Microscopical Club, with

F. BALDISTON,

a

ee

=|

THE GEOLOGY OF CROYDON.

One among the many interesting objects of geological enquiry,

is the attempt to restore, or realize in idea, the conditions under which

the various sedimentary strata constituting the surface of the globe

were formed, Buried, as some are, under newer sediments, their
edges only seen, perhaps altered by long continued physical
changes, and portions partially removed, are occurrences which

perfect as the geological record frequently is, and though the line of

involve the enquiry in some difficulty, but leave it still of interest. Im-
j

continuous.

being produced.

shown in the following descending order :—

Pleistocene—Gravel ..........ccesecscscncncnteereeeeesteseenees )

Eocene—London Clay, Oldhaven or Blackheath Beds, ; Tertiary.
Woolwich Beds, Thanet Sands ............00esee8+

Cretaceous—Upper, Middle, and Lower Chalk ...... «. Secondary.

continuity in certain areas is broken, this imperfection may be
compared to a volume in which sometimes leaves and sometimes
whole chapters are destroyed, but which in other and separate volumes
are more perfectly preserved, so that the story or history is

This, to some extent, is found to be the case in studying the
geology of Croydon ; for although the strata in this locality are
apparently continuous, yet, between certain portions of them, there
is good evidence (based upon geological knowledge) of a long lapse
of unrepresented time, during which, in other areas, thick marine
accumulations were taking place and great physical changes were

I propose, therefore, to treat the geology of Croydon as a
means, not only of explaining the origin of the strata here, but of
showing their relations to the strata forming the London basin, as well
as to other and more distant districts. The rocks which constitute
the crust of the globe, are chiefly of Igneous and Aqueous
formation; around Croydon they belong to the latter division,
and consist of gravel, sands, clays, and chalk, which are either of
marine or estuarine origin. Geologists have divided the water-
formed, or sedimentary rocks, into three great periods, dependent
on the peculiar forms of ancient life found in them or on their
relative positions, namely—Primary, or Paleozoic ; Secondary, or
Mesozoic ; Tertiary, or Kainozoic. See Section, Fig. 4, p. 27.
Now the beds in this neighbourhood belong to the later portion
of the second and to the earlicr part of the upper period, as

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5

Thus the several local groups of strata belong to one or other
of these formations, but they are not so extensively distributed as
in other districts.

Making a rough diagram from south to north through
Croydon, we should find, as shown in the diagram (exhibited), .
copied from a section by Mr. A. Tylor, in Mr. Smee’s
interesting book, ‘‘ My Garden,” Ist, The Chalk; 2nd, Thanet
Sands; 8rd, Woolwich Beds; 4th, Oldhaven Beds ; 5th, London
Clay; and if continued across London, the chalk of Hertford
would be found again overlain on its southern side by strata nearly
similar to those which overlie the northern side of the chalk
of this district, thus proving a basin-shaped arrangement of the
strata forming the London basin. This arrangement I hope to
show is favourable for obtaining water by means of deep Artesian
wells, while the gravel which covers the surface, from its geological
position, is another source of water-supply ; hence, therefore, in
sinking anywhere within the London area, we should find the chalk
at various depths. But if the section was continued southwards,
from Merstham to Brighton, although the chalk would be found
again in the South Downs, no deep sinking would reach the chalk in
the intermediate area, in consequence of its having once covered
that area, and having been subsequently removed. This arching over
and former continuity of the chalk of the North and South Downs,
previous to denudation, being due to a general folding, or undulation
which the chalk and some of the subsequent strata have
undergone, and by which the London and Paris troughs or basins were
formed. For broken through as the chalk is by the Channel, it is
continued in France, where the folding is again found, so that it
underlies Paris, forming the Paris basin, which contains. some
beds of the same age as those of London, and are also syn-
chronous with those near Croydon.

The Chalk which forms the last of the great series of secondary
deposits—althongh not fully represented in the British area—is a
soft white earthy limestone, attaining a thickness in some localities,
as at Mr. Colman’s well, at Norwich, 1,000 feet; and in this neigh-
bourhood it is caleulated to be from three to 500 feet thick, by Mr.
Caleb Evans, whose published section of the chalk from Oxted to
Purley is of much interest.

Mr. GC. Evans, in his paper * “On some Sections of Chalk
between Croydon and Oxted,’’ on the Surrey and Sussex Railway,
shews that the following zones appear to be well marked, the
highest part of the chalk (about 50 feet) not being included :—

1.—Purtry Bens: Chalk with nodules and bands of flint.
Zone with Micraster cor-anguinum in upper part and Inoceramus
Cuvieri below.

* Proc. Geol. Association, January, 1870.

6

2.—Uprer Keniry Beps: Chalk with bands of flint. Zone
with Micraster cor-anguinum in the upper part and Ananchytes ovata
and Spondylus spinosus below.

3.—Lower Kentzy Breps: Chalk with fewer flints (dispersed).
Zone with Holaster planus and Micraster cor-bovis. Whiteleaf
Beds: Chalk with bands of marl and very few flints. Zone with
Inoceramus Brongniarti and Galerites albogalerus, about 75 feet.

4.—Uprer Marpen Park Beps: Chalk without flints, but
with layers of marl. Zone of Ammonites peramplus and Inoceramus
mytiloides.

5.—Lower Marpen Park Beps: Chalk marl and grey chalk.
Zone of Ammonites varians and Belemnitella plena. Estimated
thickness of last two beds about 190 feet.

The Chalk is of marine origin, and indicative of a rather deep
sea, and of a warmer period than obtains at present in our area.
The old Cretaceous sea was of great extent, occupying a fair area
in England, it can be traced by its organisms over a considerable
portion of Europe, extending about 1,100 miles from east to west and
840 miles from north to south. Cretaceous beds occur, in some parts
of India, within 10 or 12 degrees of the equator ; along the eastern,
southern borders, and part of the western territories of the United
States ; also in South America, where, along the Chilian Andes, beds
of this age are now elevated 14,000 feet, as they are also in the Rocky
mountains to the extent of 6,000 feet above-the sea level ; while, in
our area, the chalk at Ingpen reaches only 1,100 feet above thesea,
showing the movements which have taken place since the formation
of the chalk. I need not, I am sure, describe here those minute
forms which constitute a large portion of the chalk, as they have,
doubtless, been objects of frequent examination by the members of
the Croydon Microscopical Club ; but those who are not so con-
versant, may be informed that they belong to the lowest division
of the animal kingdom, the Protozoa, which includes besides
them the sponges, infusorial animalcules, and some other forms.
But this contribution of minute life in building up the present
solid chalk, is of further interest when compared with the accumu-
lations now taking place over a considerable portion of the Atlantic ;
for as many of you must be aware, owing to the researches of Dr.
W. B. Carpenter and Professor W. Thompson, and the still earlier
investigations of Professors Ehrenberg and Bailey, that accumulations
are now taking place in its depth of nearly the same nature as the

* Hence, the whole rise since the Cretaceous period, about the central region of the
Rocky Mountains, has amounted to nearly 7,000 feet, and from this it decreased eastward
towards the Mississippi and westward towards the Pacific.—DANA, Manual of Geology,
p, 504,

The Cretaceous formation has a thickness in New Jersey of 400 to 500 feet; in
Alabama 500 to 600; in Texas (including compact limestones with chert) about 800; and
in the region of the Upper Missouri of 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Cretaceous rocks have been
found on tue Pacific coast at Vancouver’s Island, at various points in the Coast range in
California, and along the Sierra Nevada,—DAN4, wbid., p. 468.

7

white chalk, and formed not only by the same genera of Forami-
nifera, but even by the same species which Croydon microscopists
have washed out of their chalk ; associated with these, are silicious
parts of sponges, diatoms, &c., which hereafter may become aggre-
gated together and form bands of flint, as similar organisms in
the old cretaceous sea have partly contributed to produce the flint
nodules so characteristic of the upper chalk.

The following species of Foraminifera, according to Professor
T: R. Jones, are found both living and in the Cretaceous rocks :—

J.—AreEnacrous FORAMINIFERA.
LITUOLIDA—
Webbina rugosa, D’ Orb.
TI.—Prrrorate, oR Hysuine ForAMINIFERA.

LAGENIDA— TEXTULARIDA—
Lagena globosa, JJont. Textularia globulosa, Ehr.
3, sulcata, W. & J. a gibbosa, D’ Orb.
Glandulina levigata, D’ Orb. Ss agelutinans, D’Orb.
_ Lingulina carinata, D’Orb. as trochus, D’ Orb.
Nodosaria radicula, Linn. a: turris, D’ Orb.
. raphanus, Linn. Vulvulina pennatula, Batsch.
ss acicula, Lam. Spiroplecta biformis, P. & Jones.
s glabra, D’Orb. Verneuilina triquetra, v. JZ.
= ovicula, D’ Orb. 3 pygmea, Hyger.
; Dentalina communis, D’Orbd.
9 pauperata, D’ Orb. GLOBIGERINIDA—
Cristellaria Italica, Defrance. arte 5 P
ey triangularis, D'Ord. Globigerina bulloides, D Orb.
a eultrata, Montf. 2 pelagica, D'Orb.
se rotulata, Lam. Rotalia Becearii, Lin.
pt crepidula, F. & M. ;, umbilicata, D’Orb.
Planorbulina farcta, 7. & I. var.
PoLYMORPHINIDA— A Haidingeri, D’Orb.
Polymorphina lactea, W. & J. ” Ungeriana, D’Orb.
oy communis, D’Orb. 6 ammonoides, fezss.
as compressa, D’ Orb. ”» globulosa, Ehr.
;. Orbignii. i ariminensis, D' Orb.
“a Sb lobatula, 17. & J.
Pulvinulina crassa, D’ Ord.
Bolivina punctata, D’Orb. a Menardi, D’Orb.
Virgulina Schreibersii, D’Orb. Af Micheliana, D’Ord.
= Hemprichii, D' Orb. Calearina Spengleri, Gime/.

‘‘ With the Rotalinz, as with Globigerina, the chief distinction
between the Cretaceous and existing groups is in the progressively
increased number of modifications, and among them the incoming
of important variations, though few of them are of generic, or
even of specific value—a distinction strong enough, when supported
by other known geological and paleontological considerations, to
mark the impropriety of calling the Atlantic ooze ‘ Chalk,” except
in the sense of a calcareous rock of marine organic origin.” *

* “Cretaceous Rotaline,” Jones and Parker, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., May, 1875.

8

Fic. 2.—Foraminifera (recent).

1. Planorbulira Ungeriana 4. Rotalia Beccarii
2. Triloculina tricarinata 5. Nonionina turgida
3. Globigerina bulioides
Fic. 3.—Foraminifera (fossil).
\
+ s 6 7
1. Globigerina cretacea (imperfect) | 4. Virgulina punctata
2. Textularia globulosa 5. Lagena levis
3. Globigerina bulloides (under | 6. Vaginulina legumen
side) { 7. Discorbina parisiensis

The Diatomacez which occur in the English Chalk are referred
to Fragillaria, I. capucina, F. pinnata; there are also many minute
bodies called crystalloids and morpholites, by Ehrenberg, which
have been regarded as belonging to simple Protozoa or to Alge.

The recent and previous deep sea explorations have shewn that
the mud forming at the bottom of the Atlantic is not of uniform
character throughout or due to the same organisms, for in the
circumpolar Arctic and Antarctic areas a silicious deposit is being
formed, chiefly derived from the diatomaceous plants and radiolarian
animals which throng the surface, and from the spicula of the
sponges which live at the bottom, while in the intermediate zone,
occupying some 100 degrees of latitude, the composition of the
deep-sea mud ‘is entirely different trom that of the circumpolar
regions.

Thus, in the whole of the ‘‘ intermediate zone,” the silicious
deposit which is being formed there, as elsewhere, by the accumu-
lation of sponge-spicula, Radiolaria, and Diatoms, is obscured and

«
7

9

overpowered by the immensely greater amount of calcareous
sediment, which arises from the aggregation of the skeletons of
dead Foraminifera. The similarity of the deposit, thus composed
of a large quantity of carbonate of lime and a small percentage of
silex, to chalk, which was first pointed out by Ehrenberg, is now
admitted on all hands; nor can it be reasonably doubted that
ordinary metamorphic agencies are competent to convert the
‘‘modern chalk” into hard limestone, or even into crystalline
marble. *

Although the Globiyerina ooze is the most widely-spread
material of the sea-bottom in the intermediate zone of the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, other deposits of green sand, dredged up by
Count Pourtales off the coast of Florida, when examined by
Professor Bailey were found to be casts of Foraminifera, consisting
of a mineral resembling Glauconite. Messrs. Parker and Jones
discovered similar casts in process of formation in specimens of the
sea-bottom of the Australian seas, and during the cruise of the
‘* Challenger” a similar deposit has been observed in the course of
the Agulhas current near the Cape of Good Hope. As bearing
upon this, Ehrenberg had discovered that many of the green grains
of the green sand of Lower Silurian age of Russia consist of
silicious casts of Foraminifera. +

Further, the recent observations of the ‘‘ Challenger’’ have
shewn the interesting fact that in the midst of the intermediate
zone, at depths of 3,000 fathoms and more, the sea-bottom no
longer consists of Globigerina ooze, but of an excessively fine
red clay.{ Professor Wyville Thompson states that the first four
stations in the first section between Teneriffe and St. Thomas, at
depths from 1,525 to 2,220 fathoms, show Globigerina ooze.
From the last of these, which is about 300 miles from Teneriffe,
the depth gradually increases to 2,740 fathoms at 500 miles, and to
2,950 fathoms at 750 miles from Teneriffe. The bottom in these
two soundings might have been called ‘‘ grey ooze,” for although
its nature has altered entirely from the Globiyerina ooze, the red
clay into which it is rapidly passing still contains a considerable
admixture of carbonate of lime. The depth goes on increasing to
a distance of 1,150 miles from Teneriffe, when it reaches 3,150
fathoms ; there the clay is pure and smooth, and contains scarcely
a trace of lime.§ This red clay has been traced for a distance of
1,900 miles from east to west, and chiefly consists of silicate of
the red oxide of iron and alumina.

It may be interesting to enquire whether the red chalk of
Lincoln and Yorkshire may have any relation to this red clay, and

* Prof. Huxley, “Contemporary Review,” March, 1875, p. 646.

+ Brit, Assoc. Report, 1854, Sections, p. 84. Proc. Berlin Acad., June, 1858,
Murchison, Siluria, 1867, p. 356.

+ Huxley, ibid., pp. 651, 652.
§ Proc. Royal Soc., vol. xxiii., p. 44.

10

be due, as suggested by Professor Thomson and his colleagues, to
the insoluble residue of the calcareous organisms of the Globigerina
ooze, or to the suggestion of Dr. Carpenter,* that the red clay is the
result of the decomposition of previously-formed green sand.+

Nor are the Foraminifera the only organisms which ally
the Atlantic deposit to the old chalk sea; for a species of coral, the
Caryophyllia cylindracea, some genera of Echinoida, as Salenia,
Cidaris, Pourtalesia ; {| also Mollusca, Crustacea, and the Crinoids,
Rhizocrinus and Pentacrinus, and Beryx, a ctenoid fish, first com-
mencing in the chalk, are either allied to or representative of the
creatures of the chalk sea, which has led some naturalists to infer that
we are still living in the cretaceous period; but other forms so
characteristic of this period have long passed away—the numerous
carnivorous cephalopods, with the exception of the nautilus ; curious
forms of predaceous fish related to the sharks and others, were the
scavengers of the ocean, feeding on the numerous invertebrata and on
the Teleostean fishes, which here first appeared as the Beryx
and Osmeroides. §

* Proc. Royal Soc., vol. xxiii., p, 242.—M. Neumayr, Naturforscher, June, 1875.

+ Prof. A. Church, F.C.S., of the Agricultural College, Cirencester, has examined
the red chalk, and kindly furnished me with the following remarks :—An ordinary pale
specimen of red chalk from Hunstanton contained, besides small rounded pebbles and
grains of quartz of a dark coloured silicate, a yuantity of fine red slime or mud. This
substance, which constituted over 9 per cent. of the original rock, was separated in the
following manner: The crushed fragments of red chalk were covered with weak
Hydrochloric acid, until no lime was thereby removed. By careful washing, the residual
fine ved matter was separated from the acid solution on the one hand and from the
silicious grains on the other. After thorough washing and drying, it was submitted to
analysis, with the following results :—

In 190 parts.
62°

Ralcai). cePeetaes «+ JeeMe s homes lce
Alumina and ferric oxide ...... 33°4
MERPTEBID arcs) ceeitisisie tans > 31
Undetermined 5. i iiaess easels : 15
Lime and Manganese were absent. 100°0

The specimens of red chalk on which the above experiments were made were much paler
in colour than the darker homogeneous specimens analysed by Prof. Church in the
year 1863.

5 Mr. W. H. Hudleston, F.G.S., who has paid some attention to the subject, has
suggested to me that the Iron in the Glauconite found in Cretaceous rocks is peroxidised
to a very considerable extent, in spite of the green colour usually accompanying the
protosalts of iron, therefore no additional oxidation is necessary on the supposition that
the oxide of iron in the Red Chalk is the result of decomposed glauconite.

Mr. R. C. Clapham says—‘‘It is an interesting question to consider what is the
cause of the colour in Red Chalk. Prof. Phillips thinks that it is derived from
decomposed glauconite or decomposed augite (both of which contain peroxide of iron
and magnesia). It may also be caused by decomposed iron pyrites, as it will be observed
the analysis shews a trace of sulphate of lime.”—The Geologist, 1863, p. 29.

See also Prof. Church, ‘On Red Chalk and Red Clay,” Chemical News, May, 1875.

t We cannot fail to be struck with the persistence of many of the types of the
chalk up to the present time. This was of course known from the time Lyell first called
attention to the similarity of the fossils of the Tertiary deposits with the present fauna ;
it has recently been brought up still more forcibly after several most marked Cretaceous
genera, Salenia, Hemipedina, Phormosoma, and Pourtalesia were dredged from great
depths in the West Indies, showing a much more intimate generic connection between
the present and the chalk than had been admitted.—A. Agassiz, “Illustrated Catalogue
vf the Museum of Comparative Zoology,” 1874, p. 752.

§ The curious genus Echinothuria, described by the late Dr. 8. P. Woodward, and
procured by the late Mr. W. Flower from the Chalk of Kent, is closely related to
Calveria and Phormosoma ; in all essential family characters they agree. Rhizocrinus
belongs, with the Chalk genus Bourgueticrinus, to the Apiocrinid, which attained their
maximum during the Jurassic period, when they were represented by species of the
genera Apiocrinus and Millericrinus.—‘‘ The Depths of the Sea,” pp. 164, 447.

11

Besides these, we have, however, in the chalk other forms no
longer represented: the huge Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaur, the
flying Pterodactyie, a gigantic lizard—the Mosasaurus, a genus
represented in the American cretaceous, where it is associated with
other extinct genera of Reptiles, and some existing types of Tortoises
and Crocodiles. All these and other genera so characteristic of
Mesozoic times, became extinct at the close of the Chalk period.
Fragments are occasionally found of once floating wood, indicative
of some adjacent land, bored, however, by the Teredo before it
became waterlogged.*

Other evidences point, if rightly interpreted, to varying climatal
conditions ; for while the general nature of the deposit and its remains
infer a warm or subtropical ocean, the discovery, about 18 years
since in your neighbourhood, in the chalk-pit near Purley, of a block
of granitoid rock with associated fragments of greenstone and sand,
led Mr. Godwin-Austen to believe, from its size, that it was not
floated in by means of drift wood or seaweeds, but that upon some
ice-bound northern shore, and fallen from the cliffs above, it
became encased in shore ice, with the sand of the beach, and
was subsequently floated away and deposited in a more southern
region, just as the boulders are now carried by icebergs from
Greenland, and dropped when brought into the influence of the
warm gulf stream. The mass of sand and blocks presented
such an assemblage as now might be found on a beach on the coast
of Norway, in latitude 60° north.+ Nor is this a solitary instance,
for, although sand, pebbles, and drift wood are not common in the
white chalk, still pebbles are sometimes found; and some years
since Mr. Willett noticed a rounded block, 13-lbs. weight, in the
upper chalk of Lewes, to which were attached Spondylus lineatus,
some Serpule, and Bryozoa; and in the lower cretaceous beds, near
Cambridge, blocks of various sizes and of northern origin are
frequently found, to which are attached some characteristic shells of
cretaceous age. |}

* The scarcity of the remains of a land vegetation in the upper cretaceous rocks
of England and France, and their comparative abundance and peculiar character in the
equivalent strata of other parts of Europe and of the United States, is a suggestive and
interesting fact ; for the tertiary aspect of the upper cretaceous flora of Colorado (the
Dakota group), and Greenland is also represented in Europe, in Bohemia, Saxony, the
Hartz, and at Aix-la-Chapelle, where, in the Aachenian sands, Dr. Debey has noticed and
described about 400 species of plants, the larger number belong to Dicotyledonous angio-
sperms, associated with some conifers (sequoia &c.), and about 80 species of ferns. (See

Prof. Lesquereux, ‘‘The Cretaceous Flora of the Western Territories,” 1874. Also the
“Memoirs of Prof. Heer and Dr. Debey.”)

+ Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 252.

t Rev. O. Fisher, in alluding to the change of the Lower Cretaceous rocks in
Cambridgeshire, says :—‘‘ A glance at a geological map of England will show the out-crop
of the secondary rocks thereabouts making a semi-circular sweep, having the old rocks of
Charnwood Forest in the centre, We have also a Paleozoic slaty rock within about a
thousand feet of the surface at Harwich. If these two points be joined by a line curving
slightly northward, just parallel to the axis of the weald, such line will represent the
direction of the slight elevation to which the curvature of the out-crop of the secondary
rocks is due, and will pass through the area where the character of the Lower Cretaceous
rocks changes from nodule bed and gault into Red Chalk. A second Paleozoic ridge
following that direction would account for this change (several of the erratic pebbles of

12

Messrs. Sollas and Jukes-Browne, in their paper ‘‘On the
included rock-fragments of the Cambridge Upper Green sand,”
state they are of different lithological characters, and derived from
Paleozoic formations ; among the most abundant are mica-schists,
basalts, granites, felspathic shales, vein-quartz and coarse grits ;
and we may refer them to gneissic, volcanic, schistose, and
sedimentary rocks, probably of Old Red Sandstone, and Car-
boniferous age. Many of the fragments are incrusted with
coprolite, Hxogyra, Spondylus truncatulus, Plicatula sigillum and
Ostrea vesiculosa.*

Prof. Ehrenberg + many years since pointed out the identity of
certain living forms: of Foraminifera with those of the Cretaceous
epoch, and which were noticed by Mr. Lonsdale,{ Dr. Mantell,§
Prof. Bailey and the later and more extended investigations of other
observers, Prof. Huxley, Count Pourtales, Dr. W. B. Carpenter,
and Prof. Wyville Thompson.

The resemblance of the fauna and character of the Atlantie Bed
has led the latter of the above naturalists to conclude that ‘‘ we are
still living in the Chalk period,” a statement in which the late Sir
C. Lyell ** did not, and Prof. Prestwich ++ and Prof. T. R. Jones {f
do not fully coincide. It is true that we find, as before noticed,
both cretaceous and living, about 20 species of Foraminifere,
some closely allied sponges, a coral Caryophyllia cylindracea,§§ five
or six genera of Echinodermata, about 80 genera of Mollusca,
probably two species of Brachiopoda, and species of Beryx; but
the characteristic cretaceous forms are wanting, such .as_ the
Belemnitida and Ammonitide (the Nautilus being the only tetra-
branchiate now living), the Lamellibranchiate Inoceramide and
Hippuritide, the Gasteropodous Neringa and the extinct Lacertilia
(Mosasaurus, Polyptychodon, &c.), and the orders Pterosauria and
Enaliosauria.

The chalk period terminated, and with it became extinct its
characteristic fauna, brought about, probably, by a great change in
the physical geography of the area, by elevation of the sea-bed,
or shrinking of the sea, which preceded the commencement of the
Tertiary era, and which, in this vicinity, presents so marked a change,

the phosphate-bed may be matched from Charnwood); and we might look to the Trias,
which on every side of Charnwood abuts upon the Cambrian rocks, to have furnished the
ochreous deposit giving rise to the Red Chalk.”—Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxix., p. 62

* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxix., p. 11.

+ See Ann. and Mag. Nat, Hist., 1841, vol. vii., p. 296.

t Lyell, Ann. Address, Proc. Geol. Soc., vol. ii., p. 365.

§ Wonders of Geology, 1857, p. 305.

** Elements of Geology, 2nd ed., p. 272.

t+ Anniversary Address, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxvii., p. 69.

tt Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1872, vol. iv., p. 295.

§§ Duncan, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxvii., p, 434.

— ————

13

80 great a break in the animal life, although, in other areas, there
are better evidences of a transition state.*

The Lower London Tertiaries (see map) include the Thanet
Sands, Woolwich and Reading Beds, and the Oldhaven Beds :-—

“The Thanet Beds occur only in the south-eastern part of the
London Basin, beginning from the neighbourhood of Leatherhead,
where they thin out. Thence eastward they gradually thicken and
take up more surface, but nowhere do they form a large tract.
They are confined to the eastern part of Surrey, the southern part
of Essex and Kent, throughout which last county they always
overlie the Chalk, attaining their greatest development in the
Rastern Division.

“The Woolwich and Reading Beds occur throughout the
London Basin, at least it is but a very few spots in West Kent
where the overlying Series has cut them off, and rest on the Chalk
(in the absence of the Thanet Beds) over the greater part of the
London Basin. Their outcrop is very narrow, especially where
their dip is high, as along the northern flank of the Hog’s Back.
A multitude of outliers proves the former extension of this
thin Series.

‘The Oldhaven Beds are sti!l more local than the lowest
division of the Lower London Tertiaries, occurring only on the
south from Croydon eastward, that is to say, at the most eastern
part of Surrey and through Kent ; and in this small range they are
sometimes absent. Although of little thickness this series forms
some comparatively broad tracks in the north-western corner of
Kent, but in East Kent the outcrop is very narrow.” +

The Thanet sands, the first of the tertiary series, have, however,
but a limited extent near Croydon; they are seen in the railway-
cutting, near Coombe Lane, and in the large pit beyond, at Duppas
Hill, Croham Hurst, and probably'the Waldrons, according to Mr.
Whitaker, being a portion of the same beds which extend from
Ashstead to the Isle of Thanet (hence their name), and where they
attain their greatest thickness. Richborough Castle, the site of the
Roman Ritupium, at the entrance of the Stour, and the Reculvers,
near the ancient Regulbium, which guarded the north entrance of

* With regard to the relations of the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods to each
other, Dr. Hayden observes, ‘There is no proof so far as I have observed in all the
Western County, of a true non-conformity between the Cretaceous and Tertiary beds,
and no evidence of any change in sediments or any catastrophe sufficient to account for
the sudden and complete destruction of organic life at the close of the Cretaceous
period.”—Geol. Surv. Colorado, 1869, p. 169.

Prof. Cope in alluding to the transition series of the Rocky Mountain region, says,
“There is, then, no alternative but to accept the result, that a Tertiary flora was con-
temporaneous with a Cretaceous fauna, establishing an uninterrupted succession of life
across what is generally regarded as one of the greatest breaks in geologic time.”—Bull.
Geol. Surv., No. ii., p. 16. 4

This conclusion does not appear to exactly conform to facts, according to Prof.
Lesquereux ; at least on the point of view of vegetable paleontology.—Colorado Report,

1873, p. 372.
+ Whitaker, Mem. Geol. Surv., vol. iv., p. 9.

14

the stream that separated the Isle of Thanet from Kent, are situated
on the Thanet sands.

These sands, partly underlying London and the north of the
Thames, here a permeable bed, form, from their geological position,
a water-bearing stratum, the source in part of the London_ artesian
wells. They are not found in the Hampshire basin, but are represented
in Belgium by the Landenian sands, and in the Paris basin by the
sands of Bracheux. ‘They are of marine origin, and the fossils in-
dicate, according to Mr. Prestwich, a comparatively temperate
climate. In this vicinity, they are unfossiliferous ; but Mr. Cooper
has obtained a shark’s tooth (Lamna) from them.*

These marine beds are succeeded by the next, or Woolwich
and Reading series,} partly of fluviatile, estuarine and marine
origin, showing a further change in the physical conditions of the
district—evidence of land surfaces down which rivers flowed,
teeming with molluscous life, which have left traces of the shell
beds at Park Hill, Duppas Hill, East Croydon Station, and
the Croydon Sewage and Gas Works, Waddon,} from whence

* This formation which up to this neighbourhood forms but a narrow tract between
the other Eocene beds and the Chalk, now gets much thicker, takes up a larger space at
the surface, and runs out in spurs with well marked features, and for the most part not
capped by the Woolwich Beds. It may be well seen in the road-cuttings at Beddington,
which have the usual picturesque look of the deep-cut lanes of a Thanet Sand country,
and in a railway cutting south of the village.

Another spur spreads over Waddon Court to the southern side of the railway ; and
a third, with a small capping of gravel and of the Woolwich Beds forms Duppas Hill, on
the western side of Croydon, and reaches to within a quarter of a mile of Hayling House,
on the hill just to the east, where the sand is again hidden by gravel.

On the eastern side of the Croydon valley this formation and the Woolwich Beds
together form one well-marked escapement. The junction of the former with the chalk
is well shown in the railway-cutting on the northern side of Coombe Lane, and in a large
pit about a quarter of a mile further east. At the former place the junction is rather
irregular, and shows a slight dip to the north; at the latter it is even and regular. At
both there are flints at the base of the sand, which in this neighbourhood is from 30 to 50
feet thick.—Whitaker, ibid, p. 61.

+ This series so named by Prof. Prestwich, from the circumstance that the leading
characters of the deposit are well seen at those two localities, is an intricate and curious
series. At many places it consists of a bright red clay, mottled with various other
colours ; at others these clays are mixed with beds of sand; elsewhere the series is com-
posed of beds of pebbles, with layers of sand and carbonaceous clays, and further east of
silicious sands only. In some places eastward it contains entirely marine fossils ; nearer
London, a mixed group of brackish and fresh-water fossils prevail exclusively; whilst
the mottled clays further westward contain no fossils at all (except Ostrea Bellovacina
at their base), and all these are on the same horizon.—‘‘The Ground Beneath Us,”
1857, p. 58.

{ At Duppas Hill, Croydon, a small outlier is for the most part hidden by the
gravel that caps the hill. There was once a brickyard here, in the plastic clay.

Some very large and fine specimens of Ostrea Bellovacina were got from the
bottom bed in the excavations for some new houses (1870) on the southern side of the
Waddon Road, between the parish church and the railway, and with them avery fair
specimen of a fossil lobster (Hoploparia gammaroides), the first I believe found in this
bed, which is in the collection of Dr. A. Carpenter, of Croydon. The section was :—

aos Mottled plastic clay.
Reading Beds. ) Cjayey green sand.
Thanet Sand.

In the old gravel pit at the south-eastern corner of the outlier (and north of the
road) there are the same beds beneath the gravel, but both the plastic clay and the green
sand are very thin.

There is perhaps a patch of the Woolwich beds on the Croham Hurst outlier,
south of Croydon, though any of this formation that may be present is hidden by the
thick mass of flint-shingle, forming the top of the hill and belonging to the Oldhaven
Beds.—Whitaker, Mem, Geol. Surv., vol. iv., p. 111.

15

Dr. A. Carpenter has obtained a crustacean similar to one
found in the London clay above ; traces of these beds are found at
Sundridge Park, Woolwich, Bexley, and Erith; but at Upnor
more marine conditions obtained, while to the westward, at
Reading, they yield shells and plants, and further west are repre-
sented by unfossiliferous mottled clays, which clays are also found
in the Hampshire basin, a distribution clearly worked out by Mr.
Prestwich, in his communication to the Geological Society.* This
old land, on the southern side, had also a river-course as shown by
the fresh-water bed, with similar shells at Newhaven, Sussex. In
the Paris area, similar conditions obtained, for around Epernay, and
in the valley of the Mame, synchronous deposits were forming,
containing nearly the same fauna, the shelly beds of which, and the
associated lignite beds contribute to the fertility of the soil on which
the vines grow from which the champagne is made.

It was from the presence of similar lignite, or carbonaceous
beds in this formation at Lewisham and Blackheath which, many
years since, induced the belief that good coal might be found there.

In the Belgian area these estuarine strata are represented by
marine beds, and, with slight exceptions, similar conditions obtained
in the area north of the Thames.

The Woolwich beds indicate sub-tropical and estuarine condi-
tions, containing Cyrena, Melania, Melanopsis, Ostrea, Neritina,
and other mollusca.

During some recent excavations at Park Hill Rise, in the
calcareous conglomerate, were found Cyrena cuneiformis, Ostrea
pulchra, Melania inquinata, Pectunculus Plumsteadiensis, Calyptrea
trochiformis, Cardium, Serpula, ce.

Other physical changes succeeded, by which the Woolwich series
became covered with a newer deposit of + sand and pebbles, referred
by Mr. Whitaker to the Oldhaven beds, from their occurrence in
Kent, and forming with the overlying mass, the basement series of
the London clay. These pebbles are well known to you, for they
are largely exposed near Croydon in the railway-cutting, Park Hill,
Duppas Hill, and Croham Hurst; also in the picturesque districts
of Shirley Common and the Addington Hills ; and further east, at
Blackheath, Bexley Heath, and other points. These beds vary in
thickness from a few feet to about seventy, and consist of perfectly
rounded flints, more or less altered in colour by exposure, but

* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. x., p. 75.

* Along the southern boundary of the London Basin the most westerly place where
the Oldhaven Beds are seen is Croydon, beyond which they seem to thin out.

The boundary line through the town is hidden of course, and not only by reason of
the buildings, but also by the gravel ; but it seems to run across the London and Brighton
Railway to Park Hill.

The line of outcrop is also hidden, but an inward spur seems to run northwards
under the gravel to Selhurst, where the beds rise up slightly, and being free from gravel
are to be seen in sections. This outcrop—so far within the general line of the boundary
of the London Clay, and not at a very low level—is owing to some local uprise of the
beds.—Whitaker, ibid., p. 241.

- 2

16

evidently due to some old coast of line of chalk, from the flints of
which they were derived, and on the shore of which they were
rounded; evidence of some long period, and during which,
or after, the area was depressed, for these beds overlap,
and are spread out over the lower strata, while in some parts
of the old sea, shelly deposits were accumulating as pointed
out by Mr. Whitaker; and in their nature and age are different
from the gravel of Croydon in which they are mixed, and also
_ from that of the present Wandle.*

‘* Towards the eastern part of Surrey these lowermost Tertiary
beds begin to have a well-marked escarpment, rising from above
the chalk, as on the east of Ewell. At Beddington and Croydon,
where the Thanet sand has thickened, this is also the case.

‘* Along the outcrop of these beds in Surrey, especially towards
the east, there are many villages, the line of which indeed is in
itself enough to mark (roughly) the junction with the chalk.
Their position is doubtless owing to the springs that occur along
this line.

‘* Beyond Croydon, eastwards to the valley of the Cray and
northwards to that of the Thames, is the broadest tract of the
Lower London Tertiaries, and there occur their most marked
features, owing chiefly perhaps to the development of the pebble-
beds of the Oldhaven Series, the Woolwich and Reading Beds
being often thin, but the Thanet sand greatly helping to form the
gentle hills.

**On the south of this tract the escarpment forms the well-
known range of the Addington Hills, Hayes Common and Holwood,
the high grounds of which consist of the pebbly and sandy Old-
haven Beds, with a more or less even top, furrowed by little
valleys, covered with wide spreads of heath, of gorse and broom,
or of firs, and giving rise to some of the most beautiful scenery
near London.’*}

After the deposition of these sands, pebbles, and estuarine
beds (see Map), known as the Lower London Tertiaries, a con-
siderable change must have taken place in the area of which
Croydon now forms a part ; however the chalk may have contributed

* With regard to the organic remains contained in these pebble beds, one of the
problems which the late Mr. J. W. Flower set himself to work out, on his settling at
Croydon some 25 years ago, was to ascertain whether the immense pebble beds of
Addington, belonging to the Lower Tertiary series, were not formed of fiints derived from
the destruction of higher beds of chalk than any which now remain in the neighbourhood
of London. Stratigraphical Geology has shown that the chalk formation, as it trends
towards the weald, had been largely planed down before the deposition of the Tertiary
Strata, and Mr. Flower’s paleontological researches seemed quite in accordance with
this view, and to point to the former existence of beds older even than any now re-
maining in the London Basin. In pursuance of this object, he carried on for years an
examination of the flint pebbles forming the Addington Hills, and broke up many
thousands of them in search of the small fossils they occasionally contain. Unfortunately
the results of this long investigation have never been published. It was, however,
evident that they were of a nature to confirm the views he had been originally led to
form,—Geol. Mag., vol. x., p. 430.

t Whitaker, ibid., p. 368.

i
.
4
L

17

to the previous pebble bed, the next succeeding stratum, that of the
London clay, a thick deposit of stiff tenacious clay, from 200-ft. to
500-ft. thick, must have been derived from the wear and tear of
some old Southern and Western land, during a long period of
time. It is of great thickness and extent, for it reaches from
Hungerford to Canterbury on the south, and to Harwich on the
north, varying in breadth from a few to 50 miles, and forming the
marked deposit of the London basin. It may have extended all
over the area) now occupied by the intervening chalk ridge, for it

is found in outliers on the Downs; in the Hampshire basin, and

also in the Isle of Wight. Eastward, it passes under the German
Ocean, for it occurs in Belgium, and hence afforded one of the
suggestions for the submarine tunnel, but only reaches France,
near Dieppe, and is not found in the Paris basin, where it is
doubtfully represented by other strata.

Not only does the London clay indicate great physical, but also
considerable climatal changes. There was evidently a much
warmer climate than in the preceding part of the tertiary period,
possibly resembling that of the chalk time, as is clearly shown by
its well-marked Fauna, which is chiefly of marine origin. It
had, however, its land conditions—and here the studies of the
naturalist assist the geologist, reasoning from data of the present
known to us, we may fairly infer the conditions under which its
accumulations took place. A muddy deposit is usually unfavour-
able to certain forms of life ; hence the reason, perhaps, of the
comparative rarity of Sponges, Coral, and Echinoderms, although,
in some localities, the Pentacrinus flourished. The molluscan
life (800 species) was rich in genera, many now restricted to
tropical seas, as Volutes, Cones, Cowries, Pleurotoma, Fusus,
Cassidaria, Venus, Pholadomya, &c., while no less than nine
species of the tropical genus, Nautilus (only two now existing) were
associated with other curious forms. Of fishes, they were many
forms, about 100, some belonging to the Elasmobranchs, such as
sharks, rays, and largely to the Teleosteans, which here increase in
number, although foreshadowed at the close of the chalk period
by two or three forms, as Beryx and Osmeroides ; the Reptiles are
represented by Crocodiles, Chelonians, and Snakes, the latter ap-
pearing, for the first time, in the geological series, and the study
of these forms and their habits, as shown by Professor Owen, are
of much interest. The crocodiles and turtles refer to land condi-
tions. We find marine, soft or river turtles, and also tortoises.
No less than 10 species of marine turtles have been found in the
London clay of Sheppy ;- while, at the present time, there are only
about five known species, and these widely distributed. Those of
us who may believe in the ancient Pythagorean philosophy, might
infer that the love of the civic Alderman for turtle may be due
to the spirit of the old Sheppy chelonian not having been lost

18

in the London area, the Aldermanic sentiment having originated
from the former luxuriance of the animal, or that the present
delicacy may be an ideal survival of its former residence here.
The crocodiles and turtles indicate some shore upon which they
deposited their eggs, while the soft turtle as at present, on the
banks of the Nile, probably performed the office of keeping in
check the greater increase of crocodiles by occasionally feasting
on their eggs. -

Nor were these the only indications of land conditions ; wading
birds and birds of prey were present; also forms of ungulate
mammals, related to the hog and tapir—the Hyracotherium and
Coryphodon ; while Palwophis, if a land snake, as large as an
ordinary boa threaded its way through the dense groves of ever-
greens and succulent plants, the stems and fruits of which, and
other plants, are found so abundantly at Sheppy, as described
by Dr. Bowerbank.* Besides the conifere and other trees, we
find the gourd, custard apple, mallow, and numbers of the fruit of
a peculiar palm (nipadites), related to the Nipa, which grows in such
abundance in the Moluccas, Philippines, and India, that its fruits,
in floating down, almost. obstruct the navigation of the Ganges
through the Delta, associated with which are cones of Petro-
philoides, a genus of Proteacer, now so characteristic of the
Australian continent.t

Besides these are many species of Leguminose, allied to
Mimosa and Acacia, and also some Euphorbie, groups now nearly
confined to tropical forests, and hence is inferred the character of
the climate in this area at the period in question.

With the London clay, the Eocene formations, seen in the
vicinity of Croydon, terminate, and a great hiatus, representing a
long lapse of time, intervenes between it and the superficial gravel
here—an imperfection in the geological record, from the want of
continuity. Suffice to say that vast physical changes took place

* Fossil Fruits and Seeds of the London Clay, 1840.

+ There are two brickyards on the north of Sutton, about half a mile from the
boundary-line, and at Carshalton Gas Works stiff blue clay was found. Eastward of this
the junction with the Reading Beds is hidden by the gravel of the Wandle.

In a field on the northern side of the by-road nearly three-quarters of a mile to the
west of West Croydon Railway Station, I saw (in 1859) a small shallow pit in brown sandy
clay, probably the lowest part of the London Clay. In the cutting at the station the clay
is shown beneath the gravel.

At Croydon the London Clay seems to have been cut back northwards in a hay-like
form, but the boundary-line is in great part hidden by the thick mass of gravel here.
The sections at Selhurst however show that there must be a slight upheaval, as else the
beds below would not have been laid bare.

At the Selhurst brickyard the bottom part of the formation is shown. The higher
pits at this place show the London Clay only ; the upper part brown (discoloured by
oxidation), and with septaria; the lower part a little sandy, bluish-grey brown and
yellow (ochreous), roughly laminated, and with many crystals of selenite. Lower pits
show the junction with the underlying Oldhaven Beds.

_ As the broad extent of country taken up by the London Clay is free from Drift,
with the exception of the gravel along the valley of the Wandle, &c., and on Kingston
and ib se Hills, its clayey nature is most marked.—Whitaker, Mem. Geol. Surv.,
vol. iv., p. 282.

19

during the interval ; for over the London clay, in some parts of the
London basin, are a series of marine sands, 600 feet thick, the
Bagshot and Bracklesham beds, which, composing the heaths and
plateaux of Esher, Bagshot, Purbright, Frimley, Aldershot, and
patches showing their former extension, occur as outliers at
Harrow, Hampstead, Highgate, and beyond Epping, in Essex.
Beds of this age probably extended over what is now Salisbury
plain, for it is the harder portions, remaining as isolated masses,
which have been used in the construction of the outer circle of
Stonehenge. At any rate, the Sarsen stones are of some
tertiary age. (See Table at the end.)

Prof. Ramsay alludes to the great tracts of chalk strewn with
huge blocks of tabular sandstone, and the angular and half-rounded
blocks which lie on the plains to the north and west of the chalk
escarpment, marking the immense waste to which the whole
territory has been subjected long after the close of the Eocene
times :—‘‘ They plainly tell, in fact, that the chalk and overlying
Eocene beds (the Woolwich and Reading and the Bagshot series)
once spread far across the plains which the chalk escarpments
overtook. These have been and are still being wasted back, for
they are comparatively easily destroyed, but the strong ‘grey
wethers’ remain, and as the rocks in which they once lay were
slowly wasted away and disappeared, they gradually subsided to
their present places. Besides the name of ‘ grey wethers,’ they
are known by the name of Sarsen stones and Druid stones, and all
the standing masses of Avebury and Stonehenge, popularly
supposed to be Druidical temples, have been left by denudation
not far from the spot where they have since been erected into such
grand old monuments by an ancient race.” *

These sandy deposits indicate a further depression of the
sea-bed and its extension, and the existence of a southern
land. Their fossils show conditions of considerable warmth
in a sea still open to the south, as stated by Mr. Prestwich ;
this sea must have extended over a considerable area, for
these sandy beds are not only seen in the Hampshire basin,
but their equivalents are found in the fine limestones worked
for buildings in Paris, and in the limestones so largely used in the
ecclesiastical edifices of southern Europe. The materials of
which the Pharaohs constructed the pyramids were limestones
deposited in the seas of this period, and are almost entirely com-
posed of a peculiar foraminiferal shell, the Nummulite, and con-
sidered, by Strabo, as the fossilized lentils such as those on which the
workmen, who built the pyramids, subsisted. Still further east is
this formation found, even to the Isles in the China seas, and on

* The Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britian, London, 1874, p, 123,

20

the Himalaya mountains, to the height of 16,000 feet, showing its
former extent and subsequent elevation.”

Over these Middle Hocene deposits, again we find, in our own
and the Paris areas, a return to land and freshwater conditions
in the Upper Eocene beds of the Isle of Wight, from the Headon
to Hempstead series, inclusive, and which are estimated to be about
600 feet thick. Their equivalents include the gypsum beds, so rich
in peculiar mammalia of this period, near Paris.

Nor were these the only intervening strata between the Croydon
gravel and the London Clay, for the whole Miocene period, rich in
a varied Fauna and Flora, occupied with its marine beds large areas
in Europe and the United States. Its land and freshwater beds
are seen in Greenland and Iceland. The luxuriant forests of
this period, differing from the previous vegetation of the
London clay, and more nearly approaching our own times, have
given the thick deposits of brown coal so largely worked over the
continent of Europe. During this period great volcanic out-
bursts took place in Greenland and in Britain, as seen in the Giant’s
Causeway, Staffa, &c.+ Again, after this period, occurred the eleva-
tion of, or an increase in the height of, the Pyrenees, Alps,
Carpathians, and Himalayas, for, upon their upraised flanks we
find, at considerable heights, from 10,000 to 16,000 feet, traces of
the Miocene and Eocene strata, the latter in the Alps, sometimes so
altered, that they can be used as slates for roofing.

* When we have once arrived at the conviction that the nummulitic formation
occupies a middle and upper place in the Eocene series, we are struck with the com-
paratively modern date to which some of the greatest revolutions in the physical
geography of Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa must be referred. All the mountain
chains, such as the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, and Himalayas, into the composition of
whose central and loftiest parts the nummulitic strata enter bodily, could have had no
existence till after the Eocene period. During that period the sea prevailed where these
chains now rise, for nummulites and their accompanying testacea, were unquestionably
inhabitants of salt water. Before these events, comprising the conversion of a wide area
from a sea to a continent, England had baen peopled by various quadrupeds, by herbivo-
rous pachyderms, by insectivorous bats, and by opossums. Almost all the volcanoes,
which preserve any remains of their original form, or from the craters of which lava
streams can be traced, are more modern than the Eocene fauna now under consideration ;
and besides these superficial movements of the action of heat, Plutonic influences have
worked vast changes in the texture of rocks within" the same period. Some members of
the nummulitic and overlying tertiary strata, called flysch, have actually been converted
in the Central Alps into crystalline rocks, and transformed into marble, quartz-rock,
mica-schist, and gneiss.—Lyell, Elements of Geology, 1874, p. 261.

+ The present Europe, partly then a continent, was, in miocene times, the theatre
of widespread volcanic eruptions in ceutral France, Germany, and that part of the
British Islands now known as the Inner Hebrides. In that region they play a much
more important part in connection with the physical geography of our country than they
do at Bovey Tracey. In the adjacent land of Antrim, through the Isles of Mull, Rum,
Rigg, Cana, Muck, and Skye, a vast broken belt of miocene volcanic rocks forms great
part of the Inner Hebrides ; and far beyond Britain, in the Faroe Islands, and in Iceland,
the same volcanic series is found now, fragments, perhaps, of one large continuous ter-
ritory ; or, if not, at all events of a series of large islands of which the Faroes make one
of the fragments.—Prof. Ramsay, Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain,
1874, p. 129.

z ar J. W. Judd, in his valuable and elaborate paper ‘‘On the Secondary Rocks of
Scotland,” when speaking of the basalts of the Antrim and the Inner Hebrides, says,
‘Thus we are led to the conclusion that along a line stretching at least 400 miles from
north to south, in the north-western part of the British archipelago, there rose, during a
great portion of the Tertiary period, a chain of volcanoes ina state of violent but inter-
mittent eruption.’—Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxx., p. 275.

21

In fact, more than one-third of the land of Europe and the
Maltese Islands have been formed beneath the sea, and raised
above it since the Eocene period; for London, Paris, Brussels,
Bordeaux, Berlin, Vienna, and other towns stand upon strata
either of Eocene or Miocene age.

These elevations and other physical changes probably ushered
in the great and long-continued glacial period, before, during, and
after which an almost entire change took place in the Fauna and
Flora, from that of the previous period. To different portions of this
period belong the numerous remains of the large Mammalia; the
Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, and other animals found in
bone caves, freshwater deposits, and superficial gravels of this
country and of Europe.

Probably, the re-arrangement of this gravel, its later distri-
bution filiing up the valleys and low grounds, may be partly due, as
suggested by Mr. A. Tylor, to a great pluvial period, when large
quantities of rain fell, exceeding that of Seathwaite, in Cumberland,
or even of the Khasia Hills, in India (300 inches in a year), which
not only strongly eroded the strata, but by the force and strength
of the accumulated streams, excavated the valleys, carried away the
gravels ; these were distributed over wide areas, of which evidences
are well seen around Croydon. Situated at the junction of two
valleys, it partly stands on beds of gravel (containing elephant
remains), composed of rounded and unrounded flints, belonging to
different periods. It extends widely over the valley of the
Thames, and has been itself scooped out. The portions of
Bagshot sands previously noticed now remaining attest the
amount of denudation to which the area has been subjected.*

Such is briefly the evidence derived from the study of the strata
found around Croydon; they are not: isolated portions simply
deposited at one time and in this locality ; but fragments of strata
which haye been formed over very large areas, and under
very different conditions. First, the warm Cretaceous period
and the subsequent break; the erosion of the chalk and
deposition of the marine Thanet sands, with a milder climate.
The estuarine Woolwich beds, the erosion of a chalk cliff, and the
formation and dispersion of the Oldhaven and basement beds, with
their marine Fauna, the depression and change which brought in the

* Dr. Forbes Watson in noticing Indian rainfall, says ‘‘A striking ‘example of the
influence of the latter being found in the Khasia Hills in which, during five days, a
down-pour of 30 inches in each successive periods of 24 hours was measured by Dr.
Hooker, and in which the yearly rainfall frequently exceeds 600 inches. In such a
country all the phenomena of the denudation and erosion of mountains, hills, and table
lands, of the formation of alluvial plains, and the growth of deltas, take place with a
rapidity and on a scale of magnitude elsewhere unexampled. The study of all these
processes is important alike to geography and geology, as showing in actual operation
those very forces, to the long-continued action of which must be ascribed most of the
geological changes.”—On the Establishment of an Indian Institute, dc. London, 1875.

See also Mr. Whitaker “On River Drifts,” in the Guide to the Geology of London,
1875, p. 60.—A. Tylor, Geol. Mag., Sept., 1875, p. 459.

22

formation and deposition of the London clay, indicative of a sub-
tropical, or very warm climate, with marine, freshwater, and land
conditions.

The great lapse of unrepresented time, between that and the
overlying gravel (with its Mammalian remains, Mammoth, &c.), has
been indicated ; the gravel belonging in part to the close of, or
subsequent to, the glacial period.

In reviewing the conditions under which the strata I have
attempted briefly to notice this evening, were deposited, we
perceive, that as in the present time, so in the long past periods of
the history of the earth, the same adaptation of animal and
vegetable life to the varying inorganic conditions existed at each
great geological period, the same balance of power, the same order,
harmony, and design; affording cumulative evidence of Creative
intelligence and foresight, which he only can fully appreciate and
admire, who seeks and follows out, with no blind or captious spirit,
the true interpretation of the laws of Nature, by which the hills
around you have received their form, and through which the ground
beneath you has become the mausoleum of successive races of
animated beings.

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APPENDIX.

THE CROYDON BOURNE.*

The ‘‘ Nailbournes”’ or intermittent springs of the Chalk-tracts
are of some interest, and their origin has been ascribed to various
causes, siphons in the chalk and what not; but they are easily
explained in a very simple way, and without calling in the aid of
any wonderful agency, as being the simple overflow of the chalk
after seasons of heavy rain. The question has been well worked
out by Mr. C. W. Johnson in a short essay on the Bourne of
Croydon,+ from which I quote :—

All the rainfall upon the chalk either evaporates or sinks into the earth,
—there is litile or no surface drainage. In the swmmer months the rain
which it receives is almost entirely evaporated ; there is little or no overplus
to feed its springs. But in the autumn and winter months the case is
reversed ; the smaller portion of the rainfall then evaporates ; the larger por-
tion descends beneath it.

Whenever the rainfall considerably exceeds the average annual amount,
the old streams or bournes are unable to discharge the unusual amount of
water with which the chalk hills are saturated ; and this surface water, in
obedience to the law of gravitation, makes for itself a new channel. A large
portion of the water which flows from the Godstone and Merstham hills
usually percolates through the thick beds of porous gravel and sand upon
which the town of Croydon is built, and thus finds its way by slow degrees
and through various springs into the Wandle..... When, however, these
beds of sand and gravel, after a very rainy season, are so saturated with this
water that they can take no mode, that which they cannot receive overflows
the usual subterranean channel, and appears on the surface:.....: the
subterranean watercourse is choked and filled up with water, and that as
effectually as if it were filled in with pitch or metal, or any impermeable
material.

My colleague Mr. Topley has favoured me with the following
extract from an old book which shows that this view was held long
ago, but like many others was hardly grand enough for those more
modern philosophers who could not see the efficacy of existing
causes :—

The rising of a bourn or stream near Croydon (as the common people
hold) presageth death or the plague and it hath been observed to fall out so.
The rising of bourns in places where they run not always, we have before
proved to be caused by great wet years, which (according to Hippocrates’
observation) are generally the most sickly ; and if they prove hot as well as

* Extracted from Mr. Whitaker's ‘‘Geology of the London Basin.”—Mem. Geol,
Surv., vol. iv. p. 391.

+ Dr. Westall’s, “‘ Advantages to be derived from the Adoption of the Local Govern-
ment Acts, as exemplified in Croydon,” pp. 39, 40.

-

25

“

wet (because heat and moisture are the greater disposers to putrefaction) they
prove also malignant, and for the most part pestilential. And the reason why
the using [? rising] of this bourn doth not always presage the plague, is
because all wet years do not presage hot.*

The greater part of the valleys of the Chalk country are now
quite dry, and water is got by sinking wells through the gravels at
the bottoms of their valleys. In the extreme west of Sussex there
are some valleys in which, after wet seasons, water now runs; such
are in that neighbourhood called ‘* Levants.’’ Similar intermittent
streams are frequently found in other chalk districts. One of the
best known is that which occasionally runs, in the valley between
Merstham and Croydon; this is called the ‘‘Bourn.’. In Kent
such streams are called ‘“‘ Bourns”’ or ** Nailbourns;” in Wiltshire
and Dorsetshire they are generally called ‘*‘ Winterbourns;” in
Yorkshire they are known as “‘ Gypsies” or ‘ Gipsies.” These
streams now only run after very wet weather. |

The Croydon Bourne only flows as a surface stream after the
rain of the preceding twelve months has exceeded thirty inches.

CROYDON’ WELLS.
WELL FoR THE LocaL Boarp or HEALTH.

Sunk and communicated by Messrs, T. Doewra (some particulars added
from a MS. section in the Engineer's Office, Metropolitan Board of Works).
Yields 1,500,000 gallons a day.

FEET.

Made ground sie i xh a ee
Rough loamy gravel ... af same

[Valley Drift, Sand set Le = oe 3

11 ft.] Finer loamy gravel ... sha wo OF
Coarse gravel as ae oat el
( Hard chalk witn large flints ... fore Ag,
Chalk a 24

Chalk, 62 feet. + Hard crust (the greatest supply of water
comes from this ae

\Chalk UI e Ra
Total’ ..: ene f/

New WE tt For tHe Locat Boarp or HEALTH, 1864.
56 fect from the older well.

Sunk and communicated by Messrs. T. Doewra and Son.
Water rose to a height of 113 feet below the surface.

Made ground a de —- 5h
Black gravel aes ee me 3

rit cee
Yellow... os ix es

* J. Childrey, “ Britannia Baconica, or the Natural Rarities of England, Scotland,
and Ireland, p. 55. 1660.

+ W. Topley, ‘‘On the Relation of Parish Boundaries, &c., &c.” Journ. Anthro-
pological Institute, vol. iii., p. 45.

26

FEET.
(Chalk (with rough gravel 7 feet down on

one side of the well) ve 28
Chalk, layers of flints every 6 ‘inches ... 10
Flints and chalk Ba vot HG
Flints and rock chalk ee wed ee

Hard chalk... : mat SS ae lle
Colle Baaeae SET | wot oa ae
Chalk and flints vi “ fae ip
Blue clay... 4
Chalk and flints 12
Grey chalk .. 1
Chak and scattered flints 8
Soft chalk . 7
Total. ; 152

NOTE.—I am indebted to Mr. W. Topley, F.G.S., of the Geological Survey, for the
Coloured Map and Section ; to Mr. J. L. Lobley, F.G. sy for the Wood-cuts (figs. 1 and 4)
used in his Lecture on the Cretaceous Rocks, printed in the Proceedings of the Watford
Natural History Society; to Mr. A. Smee, ER. 8., for the Figures 2 and 3, used in his
work, ‘“‘My Garden;” and to Mr. W. Whitaker, F.G.S., for permission to insert the
paragraphs from the memoirs of the Geological Survey, vol. iv., and to Prof, T. R, Jones,
F.R.S., for the netes on the Foraminifera.

27

Fic. 4.—Section showing the approximate relative thickness of the British
Sedimentary Rocks.

Tertiary or Cainozoic .

Secondary or Mesozoic jeer

Triassic.
Permian.

Carboniferous.

Devonian.

Silurian.

Primary or Paleozoic .

“Cambrian

:
-
;
’ '

- , ¢ -
a ‘
%

SIXTH REPORT

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD

JANUARY 19, 18°76.

CROYDON :

PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘“‘CHRONICLE” OFFICE, HIGH STREET,

1877.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

FOR THE YEAR 1875.
President :
HENRY LEE, F.LS., F.GS., F.R.M.S., &c.

Trensurer :

ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D., J.P.

Gonrmittee :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. J. S. JOHNSON, M.R.C.S.
WILLIAM REEVE COOPER. GEORGE F. LINNEY.
PHILIP CROWLEY. GEO. MANNERS, F.L.S., F.9.A.

JOHN FLOWER, M.A., F.Z.S. GEORGE PERRY.
HENRY J. STRONG, M.D.

Honorary Secretary :
KENNETH Mc KEAN,

Summerfield, Warham Road, Croydon.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

>.

The Si1xta Annuat Meertine of the Club was held on Wednes-
day, 19th January, 1876, Henry Lee, Esgq., President, in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed,

The Presipent said—It is impossible that I can open the pro-
ceedings this evening, without making allusion to the loss which we
have recently sustained by the death of our friend Mr. Alfred
Crowley. We, in this narrow circle, will remember him as a good
naturalist, a kind and genial friend, and an associate who was always
ready to assist us in every possible way at our ordinary meetings,
and especially at our soirées. He derived, as he has frequently
told me, the greatest pleasure and gratification from his association
with the club. The town of Croydon has lost a most able admin- ©
istrator—a man distinguished by unswerving probity, sound good
sense and practical knowledge, and one who, as a resident of the
town, was always willing to contribute by his means and personal
assistance to every good cause and undertaking in the parish and
neighbourhood. ‘Those whom he has left behind, his wife and a
numerous young family, will especially feel his loss. I think, as
this is our general meeting, that you will be glad to join with me in
expressing the regret which we all feel, and our sympathy with his
bereaved relatives and friends. I will therefore ask our Honorary
Secretary to send, on behalf of the Club, a letter of condolence to
Mrs. Crowley.

The following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected
members, viz., Mr. James Buck, Mr. Edmund Gill, and Mr. F. W.
Nash.

Six botanical slides were presented to the cabinet by Mr. John

Gregory, who received the thanks of the Club.

6

The Srcretary then read the
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

In presenting their Sixth Annual Report, your Committee have again the
satisfaction of recording the steady progress of the Club.

During the year just closed thirty-four new members have been elected.
In the same time the Club has lost two of its members by death, and fifteen
by removal from the neighbourhood and other causes. On the 31st December
the number of members was one hundred and eighty-eight.

On the 21st of April, Dr. R. Beverley Cole, of San Francisco, was elected
the first honorary and corresponding member. :

Your Committee refer with pleasure to the special lecture by Professor
Morris, on the ‘‘ Geology of Croydon,”’ the interest in which was evidenced by
the large audience on that occasion, composed of members and their friends to
the number of seven hundred and ten. The lecture has been printed, and is
in the hands of each member.

The following papers have been read during the year :—

March 17th.—‘‘ On the Aquarium as a field for Microscopical Research,”’
T. Cuarters WuirE, Esq.

May 19th.—‘‘ On Carnivorous Plants,’’ ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D.
October 20th.—‘‘ On the Anatomy of the Marine Mussel,” J. S. JoHNsoN,

sq.
November 17th. — On the Scales of Male Butterflies,” T. W. Wonror,
Esq

Esq,

E

" December 15th.—‘‘ Introductory Lecture on Geology,” GroRGE PERRY,

’ December 15th.— On Staining Leaves,” N. BociE-FrENncuH, Esq.

Excursions to Merstham, Addington Park, Reigate Heath, Orpington,
and Caterham were arranged for the summer months, but were greatly marred
by the bad weather. The last-named excursion, however, was well attended.

The Sixth Annual Soirée was held on Wednesday, 10th of November, and
was attended even more numerously than the previous one. The usual kind
assistance of kindred societies was given, and the Club itself was fairly repre-
sented. One hundred and fifty-three microscopes were exhibited altogether ;
the number of visitors and members present was six hundred and thirty-four.

In the past twelve months, various donations have been made to the
cabinet, which now contains sixty-eight slides. The Committee are glad to
observe that the Club’s books have been more in request than hitherto.

The average attendance has been rather higher than in the previous year.

Rumex Rupestris, a plant of the dock tribe, and new to the British Flora,
has been discovered by Mr. W. H. Beeby.

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8

Mr. J. Fuower moved, and Mr. A. D. Taytor seconded, the
adoption of the report, which was agreed to unanimously.

The balance sheet was taken as read.

The Presipent then stated that the Committee had complied
with a great deal of readiness with the request of some of the mem-
bers, that the Club should have a bi-monthly meeting, which would
be devoted to conversation and the exhibition of microscopical
objects and natural history specimens.

It was resolved that the new arrangement be incorporated with
the rules of the Club. A slight addition was also made to the rules
with regard to membership, viz., that the annual subscription of
10s. be payable in advance on 1st January, or on election if previous
to November.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Dr. Carpenter said—I rise with very great pleasure for the
purpose of proposing the re-election of our President for the seventh
time. (Cheers.) I take that response as a sufficient answer to the
statement made to myself by the worthy President, when he said
he thought he had occupied the chair long enough. I do not think
he has. So long as he is willing to oceupy the chair so long shall
I be pleased to nominate him. There are several requisites which
are necessary for the presidentship of the Club. The first is that
the name of the President shall be a name outside the Club as well
as within it. That certainly we have in our President. He isa
man of science, acquainted with scientifie men, and recognised by
them as a man of science. In filling the chair of this Club he does
honour to the Club. We feel, that in his acceptance of that office,
we have secured that which certainly ought to exist in our Presi-
dent. Second, it is requisite that the President should be able to
command the attention of the members, and hold his own. Thirdly,
it is requisite that he should have the esteem, regard, and friendship
of every member of the Club. That I know he has; and, therefore,
in proposing the re-election of our President for the seventh time,
I know I propose that which is acceptable to every member of the
Club in this room, and to every member not present. (Applause.)

:

9

Mr. Liyvyey, in seconding the motion, said there were some
formal matters to be transacted at that meeting, but it was no
formal matter to propose the re-election of their President. He
could re-echo all that Dr. Carpenter had said with regard to the
President, and he was sure they all felt that not only was Mr. Lee
‘a good President, but a warm personal friend. (Cheers.)

The motion was carried nem con.

The Presipent said—lI really assure you I hardly know how to
express my feelings. The Committee will tell you that I sincerely
and earnestly placed my resignation in their hands, and I had the
full intention of resigning this chair. It struck me that the time
had come when it would not be injurious, and might be beneficial
that new blood should be infused into the Club. I thought so, and
Ihave not altered my opinion. You knowI am nota vacillating
man, but since I sent in my resignation remonstrances and requi-
sitions have been made to me, some at personal interviews and
some by letter, in which it was pointed out that circumstances ren-
dered it advisable in the interests of the Club I should hold the
presidency another year. I consented, and it is a great gratification
to me to do all I can for the Club, and to know that I have your
affections. I have to thank Dr, Carpenter for his kindly remarks.
I look forward to see him among my successors, and I can only say
that whenever the time does come for me to vacate this chair—and
I think I ought to be allowed to do so when I have served a seven
years’ apprenticeship—you will find me ready to act m a subordi-
nate capacity, and cheerfully render to my successor all the
assistance in my power as long as I have good health and strength.
I thank you for this renewal of your confidence, and I hope you will
join with me in endeavouring to make this, the last year of my
presidency, a very brilliant one for the Club. (Cheers.)

Mr. J. Berney proposed the re-election of Dr. Carpenter as
Treasurer for the ensuing year.

Mr. Fiower seconded the motion.

The Prestwent remarked that Dr. Carpenter had been justly
praised for the performance of his duty as Treasurer. When he
(Mr. Lee) once became treasurer of a certain society he had no funds
to hold, and he was told that it was his duty to advance them.

10

(Langhter.) Thank goodness Dr. Carpenter had nevef had that
duty to perform; but whether as Treasurer or in any other capacity
he had acted most ably, and he was a gentleman whom they would
always like to see at the head of affairs. He was glad if they
could retain his kind assistance and support, for which they were
all grateful.

The motion having been earried unanimously,

Dr. Carpenter said he was much obliged to the members for
the expression of their confidence. His duties were light, he had
very little trouble except to hold the money and dole it out as it
was required. He could assure them that he would take care of it.

M. W. H. Rowzanp proposed the re-election of Mr. K. McKean
as Honorary Secretary, extolling that gentleman for the manner in
which he performed the duties of that position, and for the careful
manner in which the accounts were kept.

“Dr. Stone seconded the motion,which was carried unanimously.

Mr. McKean said he was very glad to find that his work had
given satisfaction, for there was no one who had the interests of the
Club more at heart than himself.

On the motion of the Presmpent, seconded by Mr. A. D.
Taytor, Mr. Beeby and Mr. Sturge were elected members of the
Committee, in the room of Mr. W. R. Cooper (resigned), and Mr.
John Flower, who retired by rotation. The remainder of the
Committee were re-elected.

A vote of thanks to the members of the local Press for reporting
the proceedings of the Club, and to the committee for their services
during the past year, terminated the proceedings.

The President and the following members exhibited microscopes:
W. H. Beeby, J. Berney, John Corry, Frederick E. Fletcher, J. 8.
Johnson, G. Perry, and A. D. Taylor.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.

18'75-

February 17th, 1875.—This meeting was held in the Large Hall, Henry
Lee, Esq., in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read
and confirmed. The following gentlemen were ballotted for and
duly elected members:—Captain Colin Mackenzie, Mr. J. Lacy
Morley, M.R.C.S., and Mr. John G. Turney; and the following were
proposed for membership, viz. :—Mr. F. 8. Morgan, F.R.C.S., Mr.
Geo. Anson Whealler, Mr. Edward R. Moules, Mr. William Smith,
and the Rev. W. Wilks.

Professor Morris then delivered a lecture on ‘‘ Tae GroLocy or
CroyDon AND THE NeIGHBOURHOOD,” and illustrated it with numerous
diagrams and maps. At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote
of thanks was passed to him. The admission to the meeting was by
ticket only, each member being provided with tickets for himself and
six friends. Number present—members 89, visitors 621; total 710.

The Club is much indebted to Professor Morris for his kindness
in allowing the lecture to be printed, and for the trouble he has
taken in revising and annotating it. A geological map of the neigh-
bourhood of Croydon was added to the pamphlet, a copy of which is
in the possession of each member.

March 17th, 1875.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The
minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The
following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members :
Mr. F. 8. Moyer, Mr. G. Anson Whealler, Mr. Edward R. Moules,
Mr. William Smith, and the Rev. W. Wilks; and the following were
proposed for membership :—Messrs. H. H. Dean, C. H. Downes,
Mark Fothergilt, Litchfield C. Moseley, Herbert Shattock, and
Thomas Yuille Wardrop.

The Present said he had much pleasure in proposing for
| election, as an honorary member, R. Beverley Cole, Esq., M.D.,
: &c., of San Francisco.

| The nomination was seconded by Dr. Carpenter.

T. Cuarters Wuire, Esq., read the following paper on ‘‘ THE
Aquarium as A Fretp ror MicroscopicaL Reszaron”’:—It is now
25 years since the Aquarium, as it exists in its present form, elabo-
rated by the observations of Dalyell, Warrington, Gosse, &c.,
became un fait accompli; and although it has been largely employed

12

and productive of much good work by many observers, it is to be
regretted that it has not been more freely used as an aid to micro-
scopical research. While the last quarter of a century has seen
much progress in other departments of natural science, compara-
tively little has been added to our knowledge of the development of
the many forms of animal and vegetable life with which the aquatic
kingdom abounds, and two causes exist which may account for this.
First, microscopists as a rule are too much satisfied with a collection
of pretty objects for their cabinets, and not sufficiently alive to the
interest and importance of observing and recording the various
stages through which those much admired objects attain their ulti-
mate condition; and secondly, an idea seems prevalent that the
maintenance of an aquarium in such a state as would conduce to
the growth and devolopment of microscopic life is a matter of im-
mense difficulty, and only to be undertaken by a few especially
gifted individuals. No greater mistake can interpose itself in the
way of your intellectual enjoyment than this, for the maintenance
of an aquarium is a much more easily managed affair than the
keeping of a birdcage, and should offer no obstacle even to a child.
As I feel, from the questions put to me by members of the Quekett
Microscopical Club and other friends, that many would willingly
adopt this means of adding additional observations to those already
made in this.department of natural history if they could be put in
the way of aquarium research, I propose this evening to lay before
you such directions as an experience of ten or twelve years’ suc-
cessful management of a small marine aquarium may enable me to
offer towards the attainment of a similar success by any member
who may feel inclined to take up this particular study. If in carry-
ing out my proposal I may seem to dwell too much upon details, I
must crave your indulgence, asking you to believe that they are not
trivial, and that while their faithful observance will ensure success,
their negleet will result in failure. The treatment of this subject
will naturally resolve itself into three divisions—first, the vessel
employed to hold the water; secondly, the water employed; and
thirdly, the most suitable oceupants of the aquarium. The vessel
employed may be anything that will hold water, and at the same
time keep its natural character unaltered. Successful observations
have been made in vessels of every size and shape, from earthen
pans and pie dishes through the entire range of glass jars and
propagating bell glasses up to the regularly constructed tank, and
therefore the vessel employed should present no difficulty to those
who wish to commence this method of microscopical research. In
these days of amateur ingenuity a tank could be constructed with
much facility by anyone wishing to possess one, or, if money be no
object, tanks can be bought ready for the reception of the inhabi-
tants intended to be observed. These tanks are formed of slate and
glass—materials which are not affected by sea water. No metal

13

entering into its construction should be allowed to come in contact with
the sea water. The form of tank I have found so successful is of an
oblong shape, three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and nine inches
deep, and capable of containing sixteen gallons; its bottom, back,
and two ends are of slate, and the front of stout plate glass; these
are all firmly bolted and cemented together, and all the joints are
perfectly water-tight. Inclining from before, upwards and back-
wards, at an angle of about fifteen, with the glass in front, is a slate
false bottom placed. This should not fit too accurately round its
edges, so that if necessity requires its removal, no difficulty may be
experienced in doing so. The object of this inclining false bottom
is worthy of being borne in mind, as it is of some importance. It
affords, in the first place, a varying depth of water, enabling your
animals to select the depth most suited to them, and secondly, it
divides the tank into two compartments, that under it being filled with
water which is always cool and in a state of rest, while that above
it is exposed to the light, and actively engaged in ministering to the
animal and vegetable life growing in it, and a compensating action
always takes place within these two compartments which very
materially aids in keeping the water in a wholesome and healthy
condition. The great object to be kept in mind in working an
aquarium is to assimilate its conditions as much as possible to those
of natural rock pools. All attempts to construct grottoes, arches,
or temples, or, in short, any such like ornamentation, are to be
strongly deprecated ; but. sandstone rock-work, roughly disposed, is
of much use, affording shelter for your stock, and,-by extending the
superficial area of the bottom, increasing the aérating capacity of
the vegetation which will ultimately clothe it. This rock may be
cemented on the sloping bottom with Portland cement, but none
must be placed on the sides of the tank, as that would interfere
with the removal of the false bottom, should that be required.
: Care must then be taken to thoroughly soak the rock-work and
: cement for a fortnight, or even longer, frequently changing the
} water, that all soluble matters may be removed from them. When
you feel sure that these are sufficiently soaked, and that no more
lime will be eliminated from the cement, you may move on a step
further. While some forms of animal life cling to the rocks, others
will burrow in the sand, therefore a supply of this must be added.
If you are not in a position to get sea sand, an excellent substitute
may be found in the silver sand sold at any of the oil shops, and for
an aquarium the size of mine, two gallons will not be too great a
quantity. This must be repeatedly washed till the water is quite
clear when the sand is stirred up in it, and then it may be placed
in the tank. Everything being now ready for the sea water, this
brings me to the second division of my subject. The water em-
ployed may be artificial or natural sea water. Of course, where
attainable, the preference ig given to real sea water, because how-

14

ever closely its composition may be imitated in these days of
accurate analysis, there are principles in it which no chemist can
supply. There are, however, many difficulties in obtaining real sea
water in London, and in some inland localities these would con-
stitute an almost insuperable barrier to the establishment of an
aquarium had we not the artificial substitute to fall back upon.
But since science has furnished us with the constituents of sea
water, this may be concocted in any place where the necessary
chemical salts can be obtained, and we may feel great confidence in
employing it, since most of Mr. W. Alfred Lloyd’s first observations
were made while using it, and in his hands it was productive of
very satisfactory results. As the cost of its production is about
8id. a gallon, I shall introduce to your notice the formula for
making it, as given by Mr. Gosse in his ‘‘Handbook to the Marine
Aquarium : ’’—

raeanir otet H yal io ane Avoirdupois.

Chloride of Magnesium, 200 grains Troy.

Chloride of Potassium, 40
These salts are dissolved in little less than four quarts of fresh
water, so that a specific gravity bubble of 1.026 would just sink in
it. Having made sufficient of this solution to fill your tank, wash
several handfuls of freshly-gathered sea-weeds in it, especially
‘‘ Ulva latissima,” but do not leave them permanently in; also add
any pieces of rock that may have Marine Alge growing on them,
and let the water be exposed to the sunlight for about a fortnight.
At the end of that period it will be fit for the reception and healthful
preservation of your animal life, the rockwork will have become
fairly covered with the growing Diatoms, and the germs of marine
vegetation will be giving off a plentiful supply of bubbles of oxygen.
Now, all these preliminaries may seem very tedious to those who
are anxious to see their tank blossoming with all its animal beauty,
but the great error into which so many fall who start an aquarium,
is that of being in a hurry to see the occupants placed in it before
its vegetation has sufficiently advanced to supply the atmosphere
necessary to their existence, and thus too many begin in haste and
leave off in disgust; but follow minutely these details, and I promise
you success and satisfaction. There are one or two pieces of
accessory apparatus which, while not of absolute importance, yet
will be of great service—a specific gravity bubble, that will just sink
in sea water of the right density, may be kept in your tank ; if it
floats to the top of the water you may know that the water has
evaporated and become too salt, when it will require diluting with
fresh water till the bubble slowly sinks again. Many mark the side
of the tank by gumming a piece of paper at the level of the water, —
but this method is not sufficiently delicate. I have recently added
a means of injecting atmospheric air into my aquarium, which serves

99

15

the double purpose of aérating the water and creating a current in it,
which seems to be appreciated by my anemones, and it may be of
service to describe it. At one end of my aquarium, and just above
high water mark, a hole has been drilled through the slate and a tin
gas pipe cemented in; it is left projecting about one inch on the
outside, and on the inside just sufficient to carry a length of glass
tubing about the diameter of an ordinary quill; this is bent at
several angles to enable it to lie safely along the sides and bottom
of the tank, and at its extremity is bent, so that its end, drawn in a
gas flame to a capillary point, projects into the middle of the water.
To the metal tube on the outside of the aquarium a piece of elastic
tube, attached to an india-rubber bellows is fixed, and by this means
I am enabled to drive a stream of air into the water till it appears
effervescing ; the fine bubbles from the spray remain in suspension
for hours, and become ultimately absorbed. This apparatus, al-
though not absolutely necessary, is attended by such good results,
that I recommend its adoption; but a great deal of benefit arises
from syringing the water with a glass syringe. And now for a few
words on the third division of my subject—the occupants of the
tank. Ifyou add nothing more to your aquarium than what will
be found growing and multiplying as it were spontaneously, you
will have abundant material for microscopical observation. I have
been enabled in mine to watch the conjugation and multiplication of
some of the Diatomacez, the development of the Foraminifera, the
growth of the germs of the Marine Algz, the development of the
Polyzoa, and the various transitional stages through which all these
forms of marine life pass; these, and many other subjects of study,
a successfully-established aquarium would afford, and if, after the
example of Drs. Drysdale and Dallinger, these researches were re-
corded, and every change faithfully drawn and preserved for future
reference, abundant light would be thrown upon many obscure
points in the developmental history of these objects. Every fact
impartially obsérved and faithfully recorded, although per se but of
small value, in the aggregate will prove that no more enticing path
for the student of microscopic life can be offered than that which
leads him through the comparatively untrodden and, therefore un-
reaped fields of aquarium research. But I know that an apparently
empty aquarium looks a joyless wilderness, and you will be anxious
to see it tenanted by more visible objects of interest; and here let
me give you a word of caution—Be content with still life. The
student must be guided by his subject of study in stocking his tank.
No harm will arise from putting in a few of the hardier varieties of
the Actinide, some serpule or sabelle, and such like objects, bnt
my experience is decidedly against over-crowding with anything; the
atmospheric condition of your aquarium, if I may use the term,
must not be abused any more than that of our own. We may now
consider your aquarium in healthy working condition, and the

16

probable objects of interest that may soon present themselves. One
of the first may probably be the multiplication of the Actinide.
This process takes place in three ways, by gemmation most com-
monly, especially in Actinia mesembryanthemum, sometimes as many
as thirty tiny well-formed anemones being ejected from the oral
opening of the parent at atime. Again, buds may be given off
from the sides, as in Sargartia bellis. Multiplication takes place by
fission, as may be observed in the plumose anemone (Actinolobus
dianthui), which often slides, like a snail, along the glass front of
your aquarium, leaving in its trail little pieces of its basal dise,
which ultimately become young anemones; or /ission may take place
bodily, as in Anthea cereus, which often divides into two or more
parts by a gradually depending sulcus, which, forming from crown
to base, results in the establishment of two or more of these ane-
mones where only one existed. But the third and rarest form of
multiplication consists in the ejection of ova, and this I was
fortunate enough to witness in my aquarium. It occurred in a
specimen of Bunodes gemmacea, which had taken up a favourable
position close to the glass. I was attracted to it by observing a
drab-coloured stream of ova pouring from its mouth and falling in a
heap at its feet; upon more elosely examining the creature with a
pocket lens I found it distended with water, and the tentacles
especially so, while globular bodies were circulating up and down
the interior of them, but did not pass out of their extremities. I
examined some of these bodies under the microscope and found
them opaque and non-ciliated spheres filled with granular contents.
I had hoped to have seen the development of these ova into the
adult form, but, as in Mr. Gosse’s experience of similar ova, decom-
position set in. Dr. Spencer Cobbold was more fortunate, and in
Annals of Natural History for February, 1853, he describes the
various changes through which these ova at last arrive at their final
shape. A depression takes place in the surface of the globose
embryo, which becomes the general cavity, the edges become in-
curved and descend into the cavity, forming the stomach; septa
spring from the inner wall beginning from the summit and extend-
ing downwards, and tentacles bud from around the mouth. He
made these observations at a continuous sitting, occupying the
whole of one night, before decomposition had commenced its attack
upon them. I once saw the ejection of ova by a serpula; noticing
occasional bursts of cloudy matter from the centre of its plumose
branchie, I collected some of it by the dipping tube, and found it
consisted of an immense number of minute orange-coloured globules,
each enveloped in a clear sac of a probably albuminous nature. I
was not fortunate enough to trace out the development of these ova,
but I shall hope to do so at'some future time by means of a method
I have the last few months adopted. I place ordinary microscopical
slips of glass in various parts of my aquarium, and especially near

a

17

such objects as are likely to eject ova or to develop a stem like the
Polyzoa, and then they can be taken out and examined under the
microscope, a drawing made of any developing form, and replaced
to undergo further examination as change advances. In this
manner I have been much interested in watching the growth of
foraminifera, which have attached themselves to these slips, and
which, apparently, have not suftered from the trip they took out of
the aquarium. Ina short practical paper like this, I cannot do
more than suggest various objects of interest to be taken up and
followed by yourselves; therefore I can only briefly describe such
as have presented themselves to me at various times, and afforded
me the pleasure I hope you may derive from similar observations.
I have been much pleased by the hatching of the zoe of the crab
and prawn, and can recommend this to your notice. Crabs and
prawns bearing ova can be safely transferred from the coast packed
in sea-weed. I once brought a pint of live prawns, most of them
bearing ova, from Dawlish, merely packing them together in a
basket in their wet state. They endured a twelve hours’ journey
without apparently suffering, and I placed a dozen of them in the
aquarium ; in about six weeks the young ones hatched out, and
could be distinguished in the sunlight as clouds of tiny specks
swimming together in shoals. They, like the crabs, are entirely
unlike the adult form at first, and it would have been interesting to
have observed the number of moults they underwent before arriving
at that condition; but, unfortunately for my observations, the ane-
mones and the parent prawns admired the young fledglings as much
as I did, but after a different manner, and they gradually disap-
peared. It would be better in this case to establish a separate tank
for the study of these crustacea, removing the parents when the
hatching was complete, for I can promise you a rich store of
interest in observing the changes which are effected in these
creatures in passing from the strangely-shaped zoe to the final stage
of development. I would also suggest the study of foraminifera as
likely to interest you. The stock may be procured from many
sources, but the most abundant is the ooze of the oyster beds,
where living specimens of many varieties may be found. They may
also be found attached to sea-weeds and to old shells dredged up
from the sea bottom, and in your tank they will soon multiply, and
present themselves in every stage of development. In my aquarium
various stages of the miliolide may be seen in the summer time,
anchored up by their pseudopodia to the front glass. I have had
also an abundant supply of textularia and rotalina. I do not point
to these as rarities, but only to show that once get your aquarium
fairly started, and it will form an inexhaustible store of interesting
study. The chitonidz live well in confinement, and a study of their
developmental changes. will repay you. The eggs are exceedingly
_ interesting objects. The chitons deposit their eggs closely united

18

in clusters, each egg presenting a curious appearance from the
folds of transparent membrane, which, gathered up in branches
at different points on its exterior, give it the appearance of a stato-
blast. The young have no shell when first hatched, but their backs
are marked with seven furrows, between which close granuies indi-
cate the future shelly structure. I have placed upon the table,
among other microscopical slides illustrating the minute life of my
aquarium, some of these eggs mounted in sea water. The shells
that are sometimes dredged up from a good depth at sea will be
found most prolific in developing forms of animal life, and some
kindly sent me from Weymouth bore several specimens of Grantia
compressa in a living state, but unfortunately sponges do not live
long in a tank, nor are they desirable tenants, they exhaust the
water very quickly, and then dying, poison it. This is to be re-
gretted, for much is yet to be learned in reference to them, especially
about their reproduction. Various forms of tunicata are found
attached to these shells, and to sea-weed. Perophora I have ex-
hibited in our gossip nights, which were brought from my aquarium
where it grew and blossomed for months, The growth of Bower-
bankia, Syncoryna, and other Polyzoa, may be readily observed and
noted by this additional aid to microscopical research, and I should,
I, fear sadly try your patience if I detained you while I enumerated
the many forms of marine life I have had thus brought before me,
but which, alas, I have been too busy or too unsystematic to
profitably use as I ought; but if I can by these few suggestions
stimulate any amongst yon to adopt this line of observation, I can
promise you that your pleasure shall not be satiated, but that fresh
stores of interest will be continually opening to your gaze.

At the termination of the paper, a cordial vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. White.

The following members exhibited their microscopes :—J. Berney,
P. Crowley, J. Gregory, J. 8. Johnson, E. Lovett, K. McKean,
G. N. Price, and the President.

April 21st, 1875.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The-
minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The follow-
ing gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members:—
Messrs. H. H. Dean, C. H. Downes, Mark Fothergill, L. C.
Moselely, H. Shattock, and T. Yuille Wardrop; Mr. George Roper
was nominated for election. R. Beverly Cole, Esq., M.D.,
M.R.C.S.E., was ballotted for and duly eleected an honorary and
corresponding member.

The PrusipEnt alluded, in feeling terms, to the loss the Club
had sustained in the death of Mr. Edward Berry and Mr. John G.
Price.

May

19

A proposed alteration in Rule III. (for the circulation of books),
notice of which had been duly given at the previous meeting, was
then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The rule to
stand thus :—

3.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written epee
for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall be held by the
Librarian until the book is returned. No Member shall have more than one
work at atime, nor shall he keep any work for a longer period than one
month ; but it may be returned for exchange any time within that period
when the Library may be open.

Dr. R. Bevertry Coxe then gave a short account of the ‘‘ Pro-
gress of Microscopical Science in Western America,” and at its
termination a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to him.

Dr. Adams exhibited a valve of Myra Margaritifera, containing
artificial pearls.

The following members exhibited microscopes :—J. Berney, E.
Lovett, J. Gregory, K. McKean, and A. D. Taylor.

19th, 1875.--Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and confimed. Mr. George
Roper was ballotted for and duly elected a member. Mr. J. 8.
Wright and Mr. W. Dickinson, M.A., were nominated for election.

The Presipent then called upon Dr. Alfred Carpenter to give his
lecture on ‘‘ Carnivorous plants.”

After some prefatory remarks, Dr. Carpenter said—I had been
taught—as had all the members of my profession—that plant growth
could only be nourished by the decomposition of manure and its
resolution into its ultimate elements—that manure must putrify
before it could be absorbed by plant life. That was laid down as
a canon law by Liebig, the great German chemist, also by the
author of ‘‘ Agricultural Chemistry ;” it was adopted as an axiom
by physiologists ; it was accepted by Dr. W. B. Carpenter, the most
noted physiologist of the day; and Dr. Anderson endorsed it as a
fact, holding that all plants, before they could be nourished, must
have the material which was offered to them reduced to such a state
as to be soluble in water, otherwise it could not be absorbed. Dr.
Anderson stated that was so, because the rootlets of plants had
been carefully looked into; and that examination showed no opening
by which anything in a solid state could possibly find admission into
the plant itself. The matter absorbed must, therefore, be in solu-
tion, and to become dissolved the matter, whether animal or
vegetable, must first be resolved into its original elements, and form
chemical salts, as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates or phosphates.

20

But there were certain circumstances which took place on the Bed-
dington farm which satisfied me that this theory was wrong in its
premises, and a close examination of the subject convinced me that
animal matter need not be so resolved before it became assimilated
into plant life; that as far as rye grass was concerned it might be
considered carnivorous in its tastes, and that it digested animal
matter in a manner not unlike to the amceba and other animals in
the lowest grade of the animal kingdom. I published this idea in
1868, but it was thought to be Utopian, and I could not put my
opinion against those of the distinguished physiologists I have men-
tioned with any chance of a hearing. But at the meeting of the
-British Asssociation, held in Belfast last year, some statements were
made by eminent men which have emboldened me to bring forward
my idea again as to the carnivorous nature of rye grass, and to
submit some of the points raised to your notice. At that meeting
Dr. Burdon Sanderson stated that if the leaf of the Drosera Dionwa
(Venus’s fly trap, of which there are several specimens on the table)
was examined at the moment when it contracted on an unfortunate
fly, a galvanic action was developed similar to that which was
exhibited when a muscle contracted, showing a state of vitality
somewhat different from that of contractility alone. Then Dr.
Hooker, of the Royal Gardens at Kew, followed with observations
upon the digestion of animal matter, which sometimes was observed
to take place in some of the Nepenthes or Pitcher plants, as well as
in the Saraceniacee or Side-saddle plants. (Specimens were here
shown.) That eminent naturalist, Mr. Darwin, then stated that
the digestion which took place when the Drosera digested the fly
whieh happened to be caught between the leaflets of the plant, was
precisely similar to that which takes place in the human stomach
when food is dissolved by gastric juice. The agreement of these
great savans to the principle that it was not requisite for animal
matter to putrify before it was absorbed into plant tissue, seemed so
fully to support my original idea regarding rye grass, that I sub-
mitted my view to the Medieal Officers of Health in London about
a month since, and I now wish to interest you in the same direction.
There are several plants of rye grass in the room, and some rootlets
in some of the microscopes, and an examination of these cbjects
will enable you to see how it may be as easy for the minute fibres
there visible to digest animal matter as it is for the leaflet of the
Drosera. If anyone will examine a field of rye grass, he will find it
in several distinct states, according to the time the individual plant
has been growing. If it has been cut for two or three years, there
will be a tangled mass of rootlets around the plants which are above,
the ground, which are comparatively absent in a younger set. If
these rootlets are examined as the sewage passes on to the field, it
will be seen that they take up an active movement immediately the
sewage comes near them, and if at that moment the fibrillz of the

21

rootlet be taken up and examined under a quarter-inch power, the
minute hair-like processes which surround the fibrille will be seen
to be coated with the organic matters contained in the sewage which
have been arrested in their course and abstracted from the sewage,
leaving the water to pass off minus the organic matter contained in
it. These organic matters are not to be found on the unsewaged
grass. If the plant is examined still further, and a root is abstracted
from the soil by most gentle washing with a jet of water, it may be
seen that these minute fibrille extend for a very long distance into
the soil, and that they evidently perform other duties than simply
fixing the plant in its place. They are seen to be bundles of
parenchymateous tissue surrounding prosenchyma, and from the
parenchyma, processes are given out which are elongated cells some-
thing like the mycelium of fungi. This mycelium-like matter forms
apparently a tangled mass which surrounds every bit of organic
matter in the soil or in the sewage, and rapidly extracts all the
nitrogenous matter which is contained in it. Carbonic acid is set
free, whilst the ammonia, or other nitrogenous compounds are
absorbed. Freed carbonic acid is dissolved by the water, and may
be seen as bubbles on the root. It is shewn to be in excess in the
effluent water by treating the latter with lime water; carbonate of
lime is deposited in a manner which shows excess of carbonic acid
in the effluent, or if retained for some time crystals of bicarbonate
of lime become deposited as in the specimen on the table. That
specimen is effluent taken at Beddington Farm some years since,
and crystals have been slowly deposited in it. The action of the
minute fibrille seem to be something similar to the action of certain
fibres in extracting dyes when colourings are discharged by the
effect of certain salts. There is either a chemical attraction for the
nitrogenous matter, or else a vital affinity for it, by which all the
granules containing nitrogen are seized upon by the roots, and a
change instantly commences in them, by which they are deprived
of their dangerous qualities and made harmless. It is a disputed
point as to whether fungi are the causes or the consequences of
decay in organic bodies, but there can be no doubt in this case that
the fibrille which are developed on the rootlets of rye grass are the
cause of the change which takes place in the organic matters sub-
mitted to the action. Ihave submitted these points to the test of
experiment by growing rye grass in silver sand and feeding it with
various substances. I have found that if the grass is fed with some
things, such as phosphate of ammonia, and more especially with
non-nitrogenous matters, it has dwindled and after a time died
away. It has not grown for some time, even if fed with artificial
manure, but if fed with milk and beef tea it grew rapidly imme-
diately, those ingredients being assimilated at once. Plants which
_ existed under similar conditions and which were not so fed,
_ dwindled away, whilst pans in which milk and beef tea were added

B

22

to the sand without vegetable growth soon gave evidence of putre-
faction. On the other hand, no signs of putrefaction showed
themselves in the pans in which the rye grass was growing. It thus
appears that the fibrille of rye grass assimilate nitrogenous matter,
without that matter first undergoing decomposition into its ultimate
elements, unless it be contended that decomposition is set up by
contact with the fibrille of the rootlet itself. If this argument is
used, then I contend that even in that case the nitrogenous com-
pounds are seized upon in a nascent state, and do not lose their
vitality by the process. This vitality would be entirely lost if
actual decomposition did take place, and chemical matter was
formed. It is this action which makes the difference between car-
nivorous plants and graminivorous or chemical salt feeders. The
ordinary run of plants require the decomposition of vegetable matter
into certain elements, such as ulmic, humic, geic, aprocenic, and
crenic acids, before they can assimilate it in a proper manner. It
is in this very decomposition that we have one of the most won-
derful provisions of nature. It is the presence of these acids which
enables garden mould to deodorize decomposing excretia so effec-
tually, in a way that nothing else in nature will do. It is this class
of acids which result from vegetable decay which enables soils to
retain animal débris, and present it ready for the formation of plant
life ; and nothing has ever been discovered which will remove the
ammonia from sewage except earth acids and carnivorous
plants. The latter will remove matters which manufacture
ammonia without the intervention of earth acids; for rye grass
will grow in silver sand if fed with beef tea or ordinary dish
washings; but vegetable feeders will not do so. For them time
is requisite for the decomposition of animal matter into its
original elements, and the stage which has been called previous
sewage decomposition must be reached before plant growth will
take place. It has been supposed by eminent physiologists that
carbonic acid is mainly absorbed by the leaves of plants from the
atmosphere, and decomposed by the agency of light, oxygen being
given out in the process. ‘This is true in regard to a large part of
the vegetable kingdom, but it is not so at all times. It does not
follow that it is absolutely necessary for carbon to be absorbed as
carbonic acid; take the instance of a seedling potato grown under
glass in a way by means of which the access of carbonic acid shall
be denied. It will grow and produce green haulms, assimilating
and forming woody fibre out of the potato, without the material in
the potato undergoing previous decomposition, and being resolved
into its elements. Carnivorous plants are able to assimilate food in
a similar manner; they seize upon the living matter which exists in
sewage, and build up their structures from it, sending out oxygen
into the atmosphere, but, like fungi, producing carbonic acid at
their extremities in the soil or water. Dr. W. B. Carpenter says

TR ee ee ed Leese. hr? ee
. . -

ee Se,
Se .

25

the only class of plants dependent upon matters already organised
are fungi; that they require a large, ready, and constant supply of
carbonic acid and ammonia. To these I would add rye grass and
other of the carnivorous tribe of plants, such as nettles, and others
which follow in the wake of civilisation and haunt the steps of man.
The absorption of carbonic acid takes place through the pro-
senchyma of the root, not by the hair-like processes which I havo
previously described ; it, finding its way into the tissues of the plant,
is then decomposed by the action of light, the carbon being assimi-
lated into wood fibre, and the oxygen given out. This is in
antagonism to the generally received idea regarding plant respi-
ration, which is that the carbonic acid is absorbed by the stomata
which exist in the plant. In support of this view, I may mention
fungi and cascuta do not obtain carbonic acid from the atmosphere,
but from the nidus upon which they feed. Again, we have another
analogy between fungi and carnivorous plants. Fungi grow in the
dark, and, curiously enough, the effect of the light is not so im-
portant in the growth of Italian rye-grass and other carnivorous
plants; they grow faster in the night. Carbonic acid is supplied at
their roots when fed by Sewage, and it is found that the sewage
which passes on to the fields at midnight, and is collected before
sunrise at the outfall, is as effectually purified as that which passes
on at mid-day and is collected at sunset,

A short discussion followed, and the proceedings terminated in
a hearty vote of thanks to Dr. Carpenter.

Mr. J. H. Ley exhibited plants of Dione Muscipula, and My.
W. H. Rowland a pair of Hybrid Pheasants, male and female.
The following members put their microscopes at the service of the

lecturer:—J. Gregory, J. 8. J ohnson, E. Lovett, K. McKean, A. D.
Taylor and the President.

September 15th, 1875.-~-Alfred Carpenter, Esq., M.D., in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr.
J. 8. Wright, and Mr. William Dickinson, M.A., were ballotted for
and duly elected members,

The business haying been concluded, the meeting resolved itself
into a conversazione, at which the following articles were exhibited
under microscopes :—

Petal of Geranium (stained)

N. Bogle-French, jun.
Section of Mole’s Jaw

res Fox’s,, she iat re Philip Crowley.

»» Foraminifera

ie Whalebone wy Lee aa Edward Lovett.
Rose Aphides ae at as ee George Manners,
Fibres of Muscle (Anodon Cygneus) ... K. MeKean.
Pond Life ... an x a oe E. B, Sturge.

24

There were also exhibited Fossil Oysters from Croydon by Dr.
Carpenter, Plants of Drosera Rotundifolia from Keston, by H. M.
Klassen, and Nest of Tree Wasp by E. Lovett.

October 20th 1875.—Alfred Carpenter, Esq., M.D., in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed,
and the Chairman having alluded to the unavoidable absence of the
President, who was in Paris, the following gentlemen were nomi-
nated for election at the next meeting, viz.:—Messrs. Arthur
Birkitt, J. B. Fawcett, John Jaques, and Michael Pope.

At the request of the Chairman, Mr. J. 8. Jonnson, M.R.C.S.,
then read the following paper ‘‘ On tHe Anatomy oF THE Marine
Musseu.”—The common mussel (Mytilus Edulis) belongs to the
class Lamellibranchiata, and division Anodontophora, indicating that
it is devoid of any tongue. It frequents mud banks which are un-
covered at low water. The fry abound in water a few fathoms deep;
they attain their full size in a year. The mussel is much used as
food, but at times, from some unknown cause, it is extremely dele-
terious ; they are largely used as bait in fishing for cod. The shell
is wedge-shaped, equi-valve, but slightly inequilateral, pointed
anteriorly, rounded behind, it is secreted by the thick edge of the
mantle, the thin edge of which secretes the nacre, lining the interior.
Hither between the mantle and the shell, or in the substance of the
mantle itself, small pearls are frequently formed of an inferior
quality (specimens were exhibited). Any foreign body of moderate
size which is insoluble, and cannot be got rid of by the animal, is
coated with nacre so as to isolate it. The outer surface of the shell
is coated by a horny or chitinous membrane, called the periostracum,
which is secreted by the thick margin of the mantle and organically
connected with it. If rubbed off with emery powder, the shell is
semi-transparent, and of a rich violet colour, Mya Arenaria, Trun-
cata, and some others called Gapore, being the exceptions. The
shell is a close one. As in most bivalves, it is coated on the inside
with nacre, the iridescence of which is caused by light impinging on
an undulating surface, called diffraction. On the outer surface are
the lines of growth, that nearest the umbo being the youngest.
Mr. Johnson having, by means of diagrams, shown the positions of
the various organs, the courses of the nerves, and the attachment
of the mussels, continued,—The foot is of a muscular mass,
hollowed out for the lodgment of the digestive and reproductive
organs. It is retracted by two pairs of muscles, which give firm
points of support, resisting the strain frequently put on the byssus;
the anterior pair diverge on either side from the edge and anterior
part of the foot to the dorsal position of the side of the anterior
adductor, and pass between the tentacles and by the side of the
mouth, supporting the esophagus; the posterior are fan-shaped, and

25

pass upwards and outwards in a slanting direction, to be inserted
in the valve at the anterior and more dorsal portion of the im-
pression of the posterior adductors. The divergence of these two
large muscles forms a furrow in which a great part of the body, the
heart, and large vessels, are lodged. A difference of opinion seems
to exist as to whether a mussel can move. It may have the power
to do so the fraction of an inch by the help of its byssus; but from
the firm manner in which they are matted together by hundreds,
and attached to sea-weed, gravel, and broken shell, it is more
probable that they are firmly fixed, or rather permanently fixed, but
not to the same extent as the oyster. Mr. Buckland says that if a
mussel be packed close to the glass of an aquarium, a large, finger-
like organ, the foot, will soon be observed protruding from the
gaping shell, and applied to the surface of the glass. A small slit
near the tip of the foot is then opened, and the end of the thread
attached. The foot being withdrawn, the byssus will be seen lead-
ing from it to the glass. At first this is apparently soft, but it
hardens by contact with the water. The byssus is secreted by a
gland at the base of the foot, and moulded in a groove which runs
along the posterior side of the foot. At the tip is a fossa, capable
of holding a certain quantity of the plastic material which forms the
thread ; behind the gland of the byssus the muscular structure of
the foot passes backwards in a falciform shape, the point of which is
attached to the under surface of the adductor, between the ganglions
of the branchial nerves. Behind the byssus, from this portion of
tho foot, the generative orifice opens and discharges the ova into the
branchial chamber. The mantle or cloak covers all the organs, ex-
cept the adductor muscles which run through it from one shell to
the other ; it is open the whole length of the ventral and posterior
inferior border of the shell, as far as the back part of the posterior
adductor. With reference to the digestive system, the mouth termi-
nates in a short esophagus, soon leading into a stomach. This is
simply a dilation, irregular in shape and surrounded by a liver of a
pale green colour and spongy texture. The liver discharges its
secretions into the stomach by several ducts. The intestine
describes several turns throughout the substance of the liver. The
first turn is to the left. It then curves downwards, the concavity of
the turn looking towards the foot, called the ‘neural flexure” by
Huxley. After crossing and recrossing itself, it terminates in the
straight portion or rectum, which emerges from the liver, and pass-
ing through the heart, covered by the pericardium and ventricle,
terminates in the upper of the two pallial chambers at the back of
the posterior adductor. The stomach and alimentary canal contain
the skeletons of animaleules and diatomacee, also the larve of a spe-
cies of entozoa. The relation of these larve to the mussel and cockle
has lately been discussed by the Quekett Microscopical Club, (see
papers by D. Moore, M.D., and W. Fells Wood, in the Journal of

26

that club of August last.) These gentlemen are of opinion that the
larve spoken of are the ‘larve of the mussel and cockle respectively,
and not parasitic. They form their opinion from finding fertilized ova
and Bucephalus Haimeanus in all stages of growth within the same
tubular structure, of which the generative gland consists. A dif-
ference of opinion exists as to whether the sexes are distinct.
Professor Huxley is of opinion mussels are usually dicecious; and
the fact that sometimes spermatozoa and ova are found in the same
individual is no proof of their self-fertilizing power. The same
gentleman, in his account of the embryo, says that it is a ciliated
neligerous larva. I haye examined the ova of fresh-water snails, and
have seen the embryo rotating within the ovum by means of cilia.
The surface of the body of these snails, when full grown, is covered
with these organs, and as the adult mussel is richly ciliated, the
inference is that the embryo would be so too. The circulation of
the mussel is exceedlngly difficult to illustrate. The blood is
colourless, and mixed with water from the aquiferous and water
vascular system. A communicating vessel can be seen coming from
the heart to the organ of bojanus on either side; the blood vessels
from the aorta can also be seen distributed over the mantle. The
course of the blood is therefore through the aorta into the capillaries,
to be returned by the veins through the organ of bojanus; from thence
to the gills, there to be Aerated, whence it returns to the heart by
way of the branchial veins, and auricle of either side. Respiration
is effected by two pairs of light brown branchia, floating freely in
the lower of the two pallial chambers. They are modified inner
folds of the mantle, connected with each other posteriorly behind
the foot, and form a sort of partition between the anal and branchial
chambers: that is to say, the communication between the two is not
quite shut off. They consist of parallel tubes opening into longitu-
tudinal canals at the base of the gills, which unite behind the
posterior adductor at the siphonal opening. Anteriorly they are
connected with each other at the base of the tentacles; their dorsal
edges or bases are free. Each gill consists of two membranous
plates, cemented together by transverse septa running across each
tube in a slanting direction ; these form the transverse canals which
run horizontally from before backwards. The interlaminar canal
between the lamine of the parallel tubes, and run from above
downwards. ‘The interlaminar and transverse canals communicate
with each other; the canals and the outside of each bar are richly
fringed with more than one row of cilia. The branchial currents
carry minute particles towards the mouth, and the water is filtered
through the interlaminar canals before it escapes. The cilia compel
the requisite moyements of the water in the branchial chambers
when the mussel is above water, and enable the animal to livea
considerable time without a fresh supply. Respiration is carried on
by the ceaseless action of these cilia, and the nutrient particles are

27

hurried along the marginal grooves of the branchial plates. These
are formed by the extremities of each bar in close apposition, which
terminate in two finger-like processes. The nervous system is more
easy to make out. The labial ganglions may be distinguished in the
fresh_mussel by their yellow colour, at the base of the labial pro-
cesses lying on the tendons of the anterior pedal muscles. They
are connected by a transverse chord passing above or in front of the
mouth. From each ganglion two principal nerves are given off;
one passes downwards and forwards to the anterior adductor, send-
ing branches to the mouth and tentacles; the other backwards along
the base of the foot to the posterior adductor, where it joins its
fellow by means of a bilobed ganglion, which distributes nerves to
the retractors, the base of the foot and the acoustic sac. The
branchial ganglions send off branches, which diverge and supply the
base of their respective gills; then each gives off a large nerve which
passes over the adductor muscle to the hinder part of the pallial
lobe, along which it curves, and is continued forwards near the
border of the mouth until it meets the nerve which passes forward
to the anterior adductor from the labial ganglion. These cireum-
pallial nerves give off branches to the tentacles and the border of
the mantle, forming a plexus. The nerves and ganglions are soft
and pellucid, as common to the aquatic invertebrata. In the
Lamellibranchiate Mollusca, which are acephalous, the nervous
system only gives to the animal general sensibility to impressions.
- Whether the labial ganglia which supply the mouth and tentacles
enable it to select food is questionable. I rather think they do:
still, during my search for diatoms, by boiling about a dozen
mussels in nitric acid and carefully washing the deposit, I was only
so far successful as to find about half-a-dozen, one of which (Trice-
ratium favus) I haye mounted. The remaining portion of the
deposit, with the exception of two or three Coscinodisci, consisted
entirely of sand. Perhaps it will be safest to say that they take
whatever comes in their way, and make the best use they can of it.

Mr. Johnson illustrated his paper by means of numerous dia-
grams, mounted specimens, and beautiful dissections.

In the course of the discussion which followed the paper, Mr.
Perry asked whether in the study of Mollusca there was any plan
by which the parts to be dissected might be hardened? His expe-
rience had taught him, that unless the object was hardened it was
next to impossible to separate the tissues.

Mr. Jounson said he had tried chromic acid, but possibly he
applied it too strong, for it dried up the parts and rendered them
brittle. The specimens before him were prepared in methylated
spirits of wine, and they were tolerably firm. Perhaps the chromic
acid might do if it was more diluted, and it was probable that spirits
of wine alone would be effectual.

28

Dr. Srrone expressed an opinion that Mr. Perry would get al
the hardness he required from spirits of wine. He had seen sec-
tions which had been soaked in chromic acid, and they appeared to
answer the purpose, therefore it was probable that Mr. Johnson’s
preparation was too strong.

An unanimous yote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Johnson for
his interesting paper.
The following microscopic objects were exhibited :—

Organ of Generation (Mytilus) ... oie ay W. H. Beeby.
Tentacle, stained G7 | pene see .. ° P. Crowley.
Brandial Bars re ec ee 540 wie E. Lovett.
Section of Pearl Aa es ae ies G. Manners.
Action of Cilia in Gills Spates eS vs K. McKean.
Triceratium, fromstomachof,, ... wee bes J. S. Johnson.
Unfertilized Human Ovum* ,,_.... ae use Dr. Strong.

November 10th, 1875.—The Sixth Annual Soirée was held at the Public
Hall, and proved very successful. Forty-five microscopes were
exhibited by members of the Club, and valuable assistance was, as
hitherto, rendered by kindred societies, as follows :—

Royal Microscopical Society exhibited... ... 12 Microscopes
Quekett aS ar 5 we been Cee Ag
Tower Hill ,, ss ‘; ee o; 9 a
South London,, - an Wet ep 20 ae
Margate 5 ee ¥3 es oe 1 “A
New Cross ., “A s bes a 2 7
West Kent ,, a Ah vee 6 1 Fr
Forest Hill ,, Ap % aot eee A =
Private Exhibitors “5 ae ga? 3 an
Six Opticians 27 “

Altogether 153 microscopes.
The Large Hall was retained exclusively for microscopes, while
in the smaller Hall a variety of objects of interest was exhibited,
among which may be named, a fine collection of swords, Capt.
Mackenzie; Icthyosaurus, from Lyme Regis, Mr. Lee; Japanese
castings in bronze, Mr. C. M. Major; collection of skulls, Mr. A.
Crowley; machine for exploding torpedoes, Mr. Thomas Cushing ;
collection of fungi, from Addington Hills, Mr. E. B. Sturge; pen-
and-ink sketches, Mr. John Chumley; and a specimen of Rumex
Rupestris, a plant new to the British Flora, Mr. W. H. Beeby.

November 17th, 1875.—Henry Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following
gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected members :—Mr,
Arthur Birkitt, Mr. J. B. Fawcett, Mr. John Jaques, and Mr.
Michael Pope; and the following were proposed for membership :—
Mr. P. T. Duncan, M.D., Mr. Maitland Gardner, Mr. Henry Kemp-
Welch, Mr. C. H. Maltby, and Mr. Edwin Williams.

* Showing resemblance between vertebrate and invertebrate ova.

29

One dozen slides were presented to the Club’s cabinet by Mr. E.
Lovett, and one dozen by Mr. K. McKean. Thanks were voted to
the donors.

T. W. Wonrer, Esq., Curator of the Brighton Museum, and
Honorary Secretary of the Brighton Natural History Society, then
read the following paper ‘“‘On ScaLES CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MALE
Sex 1n Burrerrcizs.’’—Among insects, scales are not confined to
any one group, though they are found on every member of the
division Lepidoptera, the scale-winged as their name implies, but, in
connection with microscopical work, the scales obtained from certain
insects have been, and still are, favourites with microscopists very
deservedly, because, through differences of opinion as to the mark-
ings on sundry scales, together with an attempt to resolve their
markings, we owe the great improvements made in objectives since
the achromatic microscope has been an instrument of research and
not a mere optical toy. As all know, certain scales, such as those
from the gnat, (Lepirma, Podura, or Lepidocyrtes), and three or
four butterflies, viz., a blue and a white of English origin, and a
gorgeously coloured foreigner, have been employed along with
sundry silecious valves of plants, named Diatoms, as test objects,
and the objectives have been considered up to or below the mark,
accordingly as they are able or not to resolve certain feigned mark-
ings seen by objectives of particular aperture and magnifying power.
Again, to enable these objectives or others of different aperture and
power, to resolve the same or other markings, various adjuncts to
the microscope have been devised, such as condensers, prisms, &c.
And though many, alas, too many microscopists in this country
have spent nearly all their time in trying to see exactly the same
things that other men have, or say they have seen, yet within the
last few years a very considerable addition has been made to our
knowledge of many physiological facts, as well as the resolutions of
diatoms and scale makings, and though we may not accept Dr.
Royston Piggott’s conclusions, yet had he not ventilated the subject
through his ‘‘ Rouleaux of Beads,’”’ we might have gone on plodding
in the same steps as those before us, and accepted our view of an
object as a sufficient test of the power of an objective. Whatever view
we may take of the markings of scales, there seems to us no manner
of doubt that the scales of insects are nothing more nor less than
modified hairs of greater or less thickness, more or less flattened or
cylindrical according to circumstances and the position on the body,
legs, or wings of the animal on which they are found. If, then,
we regard all scales as modified hairs, and consider that hairs are
composed of cells, we may see our way out of some of the difficulties
into which the learned among microscopists have led us, and we may
also understand how an under and an upper surface, two lamine,
striated surfaces, ribs, and sundry other puzzling terms, have come
into existence when speaking of scales. Those who have written or

30

spoken about scales and their markings within the last few years,
are Royston Piggott, and those who incline to his ‘‘ beaded” theo-
ries on the one hand, among whom must be included Mr. Slack,
one of the Secretaries of the Royal Microsopical Society, and on
the other, Col. Woodward, Dr. Maddox, Dr. Anthony, and Mr.
McIntyre ; it is with the Jatter group I feel I must ally myself,
because much if not all of the so-called structure described by Dr.
Piggott, I believe is purely optical and not structure. Primarily,
the scales of insects, and especially the Lepidoptera, are more or
less flattened hairs of a cylindrical or tube-like shape, inserted by a
pedicle, differing in character according to circumstances, into the
wing membrane, on both sides of which they are arranged in sym-
metrical rows like the tiles on the roof of a house. The majority of
those on the wing, or rather the flat part of the wing, are flat or
nearly so; interspersed among these are others quite hair-like in
their character, and in some cases, to be alluded to presently, are
some which are balloon-like in shape, and, we believe, are capable
of being inflated like a balloon. We shall mention that from six to
eight different kinds, or rather shapes, of scales, are found on each
butterfly or moth, and when it is borne in mind how many thousand
kinds of moths and butterflies are known to science, it may be
imagined that though the varieties are not commensurate in num-
bers with the varieties of the insects themselves, yet the varieties in
shape and markings are very numerous. Anyone devoting a little
time and attention to scales will be well rewarded for his pains, and
will learn far more by comparison than he can possibly glean by
studying one or two special scales. Among other points, he will
find that the colour of insects is not always due to what to the eye
appears as colour on the wings. A striking illustration of this is seen
in the case of the common ‘‘Orange-tip,”’ the green colour on the
back of the wings proves, on examination, to be produced by an
intermingling of the black and yellow scales. Some certainly owe
this colour to pigment, but in a great many it is due to the inci-
dence of light, for if while under examination under the microscope
the stage be rotated, as great a change will be seen in colour as
with some objects under polarized light. Seen as transparent
objects, brown seems the prevailing hue. Again, if scales are taken
from living insects, or from those recently killed, and gently
squeezed by pressure with a thin covering glass, greenish oily parti-
cles will be seen to ooze from the pedicle, leading to the idea, that
in the living insect there is something like the circulation of a fluid
from the wing mentioned. It is certain they cannot require any
fluid to repair waste or to accelerate growth, because they are of
full size the instant the insect escapes from the chrysalis. There
is no growth in the scales, any more than in the wings. The
instant the moth or butterfly emerges from the pupa-case, it comes
forth full grown, the wing membranes expand laterally and longitu-

s

31

dinally, and by so doing the scales of full-size and in situ are
simply drawn wider and further apart, but of growth there is none.
This can be seen by cutting open the pupa-case just before the
emergence or taking the wing of a recently emerged insect; this
must be done at once, because in some cases within ten minutes of
emergence the wings are of full-size. There is, therefore, no re-
plenishing of waste, nor reparation of parts in the scales of Lepi-
doptera as in the hairs of the Mammalia. Nor can we trace in all
scales the cuticular layer, cortical and medullary substance of such
hairs; we seem to obtain a cortical substance with or without a
cuticular layer and sundry rib-like strengtheners, which have given
rise to the diversities of opinion as regards structural markings.
There is another curious fact sometimes noticed, viz., that there
appears to be a power on the part of the insect to raise the rows of
the scales, as well as to inflate some scales. We have often found
the scales on the wing of a butterfly, caught or killed in flight, not
lying flat on the wing membrane, but raised on it at a more or less
acute angle, as though in flight the insect possessed the power of
raising the rows of scales; this may, if we imagine the power of
inflation of the scales, as well give greater buoyancy to a butterfly
or moth in flight. We have every reason to believe this holds true
of some scales, if so it would give to the wing membrane with its
resources a power not accorded to it in the manuals of Entomology.
It is time we passed on to what is after all the especial point your
worthy President wished me to talk about, viz., those scales which
are characteristic of sex, and by this we mean are found only on
male insects. Itis now twelve years ago, I started one afternoon
with a medical friend to look for a certain fern, said to grow about
twelve miles from Brighton. We got out of the train at Hassock’s
Gate Station, and diverged a little from our course to see whether
Neottia Spiralis, the orchis which Darwin watched the bees fertilizing
by carrying the pollen masses from one flower to another, was in
flower. While searching for this plant several blue butterflies got
up. My friend and I managed to catch several; this fact is strongly
impressed on my mim, because after walking nearly a mile, we
retraced our steps to search for a stethoscope which, in his eager-
ness of the chase, had dropped from my friend’s hat when catching
a “blue.” On our way we both talked over the question of why
we had not been able to find ‘‘battledore” scales on blue butterflies ;
was it because they were only on one kind? for though we had both
searched for them on the part described in the Micrographic Dic-
tionary, p. 564, under ‘‘ Polyomanatus,” and we had neither been
able to find them. The words there run :—‘ The scales upon the
under surface of the wings of P. argiolus and P. argus have been
proposed as test objects. They are of two kinds—one resembling
in structure the ordinary scales of insects, the other of a battledore
form.’’ What my friend did with his “blues” I do not know; I

32

carefully removed the scales from the under surface of my “‘ blues,”
and found not a single battledore. Having placed a wing upper
side downwards on a glass side, to enable me to search over the
wing, I found after a long-continued search, that a considerable
number of scales detached from the upper surface of the wing, were
upon my glass slide; focussing down to these I found battledores in
plenty, but not exactly like those figured in the books. I then
realized this fact, that battledores were to be found on the upper
surface of the wings of Polyomanatus, or as it is now called
Lycena alewxis, differing in form from those figured as obtained
from L. argiolus. This led me to try whether I could find battle-
dore scales on other blues than L. alevis the common blue, or
L. argiolus the azure blue; for to those unacquainted with such
differences among blues, I should mention that we have in England
nine different species of blues, such as the common, azure, clifden
mazarine, chalk-hill, silver-studded, large blue, little blue, and long-
tailed blue. Through the kindness of an Entomological friend, I
secured examples of nearly all, and found, strangely enough, battle-
dore scales on the upper surface of both wings in some cases, and
not in others. It turned out that the insects on which I had been
unable to find battledores were females, while those on which I had
found them were males. ‘This caused me to make a critical exami-
nation of the blue family generally, and I then found the two facts,
the battledores were found on the upper sides of the wings of the
males only and in rows beneath the ordinary scales, and at their
intervals of overlapping. I should mention that among the blues,
the males only are of a deep blue colour, the females generally are
of a brownish blue and a few blue scales, and this may have led to
the assertion that battledore scales were found on the blues. It is
true some females adorn themselves with so great a profusion that
they simulate the garb of the males, much in the same way as-the
erstwhile ‘‘ weaker sex’ among humanity, since the ery of woman’s
rights has been raised, assume the get up and garments of the lords
of creation; but on no female, however highly coloured, have I
been able to find battledores. Since then I have had the opportu-
nity of examining many foreign and tropical blues, and in each ease,
even where the female assimilated closely in colour to the male, only
on the male, and invariably on the upper surface and in rows be-
neath the ordinary scales, have I found battledores. As might be
expected, these battledores differ in size and shape, the blade is
longer or broader in some than others relatively, the top is more or
less rounded or squared, while the length of the pedicle also varies,
so that when two species of blues resemble each other very closely
in their markings, the shape and size of the battledores might be
used as a ready means of settling species. There are species among
the Lycenide in which neither males nor females are blue or bluish
in colour, and, curiously, among these, no single example of a male

83

with battledores has been discovered. Mr. Watson who was
working on plumules, at the same time I was carrying on my
investigations, has had opportunities of examining some hundreds
of specimens of blues and browns among the Lycenidew, and
has never met with battledores on any but the blues proper. We
turn now to another characteristic scale, the ‘ tasseled,’’ described
in the Micrographie Dictionary under the head Pontia, p. 571,
thus :—‘ The form and structure of certain scales existing upon the
under side of the male is curious.’”’ Here too, as we shall show,
the writer has made a slight mistake; instead of under we should
read upper, for it is there and there only we shall find scales
similar to those figured in the Micrographie Dictionary. As may
be supposed, having got an inkling from the blues respecting the
situation of the battledores, I was not long before I searched the
whites ; the first to come under examination was the large and
small cabbage white, both of which gave, on the upper side, the
characteristic scales called tasselled, or as some prefer plumules.
These scales differ essentially from the battledores in shape, orna-
mentation, markings, and pedicle; some are long and very slender
throughout and gradually tapering to a point, others seem cut
short, while others, comparatively broad at the basal end, sud-
denly narrow, and terminate either as though cut short or fine off
to a slender point, all, whatever be their comparative breadth and
length, have a cup-like ball and socket termination to the pedicle.
At the apex of each scale is a tasseled fringe of great beauty, from
which circumstance they have heen called tasselled scales. All our
English whites, with the orange tip, possess these peculiar scales,
and if we turn to the great family of Pinide, which includes a vast
number of continental and tropical forms, we shall find the males
invariably possess a tasseled scale, either of the form of the English
white and orange-tip, or a modification of these both as regards the
terminal friuge and the pedicle. We have had opportunities of
examining a good many, but Mr. Watson enumerated upwards of
200 English and foreign Pinide examined by him, in which in
every case the males and the males alone possessed the charac-
teristic scale. As might be supposed, there are great diversities of
size and form from what has been said respecting our English
Pinida, which doubtless might be very useful in determining species.
One curious confirmation of the value of these characteristic scales
Mr. Watson drew my attention to in 1868, viz., that two hitherto

believed different species of Pines turned out to be male and female

of the same, the one having and the other being without the charac-
teristic scales. They are arranged in rows behind the other scales
as in the blues, but many being long and hair-like they appear only
in situ. The next English family to be noticed is that named
Hipparchia, the common meadow brown, H. janira, has a scale
brush-like and tapering like the large white, but differing from it in

34

the markings in the ribbon-like portion, as well as having a pedicle
similar to that possessed by the blues. Investigating this family, I
found the same story told throughout—a distinctive scale, ribbon-
like and tasseled, on every male of the family, but never a scale of
such a character on the females. In each of the families described,
there is generally a difference of wing markings between the males
and females, occasionally they resemble each other, and some few
insects have been found with the wings on one side with the male
markings and on the other with the female markings. It would be
very curious to find out if, with this assumption of marking, they
also on the male-marked wings had this undoubted sex distinction.
There is only one other family of English butterflies possessing, as
far as I have been able to make out, a characteristic scale, and that
is the Argynnide or Fritillaries, or at least these among them the
underside of whose wing is marked by mettallic spots. The male
scales are of a very decided character, differing essentially from
those of the Pieride on the one hand, and from the Hipparchie,
which they somewhat resemble, on the other. Some are of a very
long, narrow, and ribbon-like form, with the tassel at the apex,
while others are shorter and broader. Some too, like the Hippar-
chice, are nearly opaque, except at the apex, while others have the
ribbon-like portion opaque for one-half its length. The position of
these scales on the wings differs from that of any others we have
described, for instead of being placed in rows beneath the ordinary
scales, they are situated on the black veins of the upper surface,
and have mingled with them in some species very peculiar Indian-
club-shaped scales or hairs. Mr. Watson, whose opportunities of
examination have been far greater and more extensive than my own,
has found plumules, as he calls them. on 80 genera of butterflies, or
nearly 600 species. In every case they were found on the male
species alone. We consequently draw the inference, a very rea-
sonable one, that battledores, tasseled scales, or plumules, wherever
found, are characteristic of sex. What purpose they serve in the
animal economy is not yet clear, their paucity or abundance on
individuals cannot be, as some have suggested, marks of greater or
less virility, because as we have seen scales do not grow with the
age of the individual, nor do you find more scales on one freshly
emerged butterfly than another of the same species: they may
render the males more buoyant on the wing, but here we are met
by this difficulty well known to field entomologists, the females are
more rapid in most cases than the males. They seem rather to be
the type of the beard in man, the mane in the lion, the comb in the
cock, or the more brilliant plumage of some birds, and possibly to
insect eyes, render their possessors more attractive than the duller
coloured and non-plumuled sisters of their species. There are many
debated points of structure we scarcely feel justified in touching on,
because we have rather dealt with the scales as a means of differen-

85

tiating species or determining sex, and not as a test for objectives.
Tn obtaining the scales for examination, I have found the best way
to examine a wing is to lay it on a clean slide, then place a covering
glass upon it and gently press. Upon removing the upper slide,
plenty of scales will be obtained in their relative positions. The
covering glass can be mounted, a ring of cement run round the
slide, a cover added, and when dry, a finishing coat be put on and
the slide is ready for the cabinet. We fear we have been too
prolix in our remarks, and not added any new fact to the store of
the members of this Society, but if we have been able to enlist one
to pursue the study of scales of insects, we shall have done our
quota towards the use of the microscope as a means of research, for
there are many paths open besides the beaten tracks, by which not
only (if that be needed as a spur) fame may be won by the discovery
of new facts in physiology, but much pleasure and interest may be
derived from prying into the secrets of nature hidden from the un-
aided eye.

A short discussion followed the above paper, and a cordial vote
of thanks was passed to Mr. Wonfer.

Dr. Carpenter exhibited and described the American Poke
Weed (Piytolacca decandria), with spikes of ripe fruit; and Mr.
W. H. Beeby described the new plant (Rumea rupestris), discovered
by him in Scilly.

The following exhibited their microscopes:—Mr. J. 8. J ohnson,
Mr. E. Lovett, Dr. Strong, and Mr. A. D. Taylor.

December 15th, 1875.—Henry Lee, Esq., President in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The follow-
ing gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected :—Dr. Duncan,
Mr. Maitland Gardner, Mr. H. Kemp-Welch, Mr. C. H, Maltby,
and Mr. Edwin Williams; and the following were nominated for
election :—Mr. James Buck, Mr. Edmund Gill, and Mr. F. A. Nash,

_ The Presrpent announced that two members of the Committee,
Mr. W. R. Cooper and Mr. John Flower, would retire at the close
of the year.

Tt was proposed by Mr. J. 8. Jonnson and seconded by Mr.
H. M. Kuaassen, that Mr. W. H. Beeby and Mr. E. B. Sturge be
nominated for election at the General Meeting as members of the
Committee. It was further agreed that Mr. Beeby and Mr. Sturge,
be appointed auditors for the present year’s accounts.

Mr. Grorce Perry gave an ‘‘Inrropucrory Leorure on
Gxotoey,”’ which he illustrated with numerous diagrams and speei-
mens.-—The study of Geology, he said, is that which leads us to inyesti-

86

gate and distinguish the separate layers and rocks which form the rind
or crust of our globe. I say rind or crust, because, if all the sepa-
rate layers, from the newest or most recently formed, down to that
which appears to be the oldest, were placed one over the other in
complete order, their total thickness would not exceed twenty miles,
and as our globe is roughly calculated as being eight thousand miles
in diameter, we are left in complete ignorance of the nature of
the intervening space of seven thousand nine hundred and sixty
miles. But it may be naturally asked, how is it that we get this
knowledge of nearly twenty miles, when our means of penetra-
tion by boring or mining, has in no instance been so much as one
mile. Fortunately for the student, internal disturbances have
caused the separate layers to be tilted up, so as to bring the oldest
beds within reach of study, and to form, in many instances, our
highest mountains; and though the separate layers may not be
found lying in regular order, one over the other, the newer often
being found resting on beds of much older date, the interveniug
beds being absent, the missing beds are found in other places rest-
ing conformably on those immediately below them, and thus supply
the missing links and enable the geologist to obtain a considerable
insight of the disposition of land and water in former times. It is
therefore the duty of the student in geology, to learn to distinguish
the several layers by their lithological and mineralogical characters,
and especially by the fossil remains found therein. Apart from the
interesting nature of the study, little need be said of its great im-
portance and value, as enabling the geologist to state with some
degree of precision, the probabilities of obtaining coal and other
minerals, and thus preventing the waste of money in futile search.
The various characters exhibited by the different rocks and layers
of earth which formed the hills and valleys, the cliffs and rocks of
the river margin and the sea shore, could not fail to attract the
ancient philosopher, and the occurrence of shells and other marine
remains in places far removed and elevated above existing rivers
and seas, must have still further formed subjects for speculation
and thought, and hence from tne earliest time various theories have
been propounded to account for such peculiarities and anomalies.
Tradition, from a very early period, has handed down a reference to
some great cataclysm in form of a great irruption of water over a
large inhabited district, which from the limited knowledge of the
people, who in all probability emigrated, and the natural distortion
of tradition or oral communication became exaggerated into a uni-
versal deluge. We find the Hindoos, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and
Egyptians, make reference to a deluge; and it was but natural that
Moses, who passed the early part of his life among the Egyptians,
should in writing his account of the creation and the early history
of the Jews, introduce the account of the deluge. This Mosaic
account of the creation and the after deluge, has been a sad

————

37

stumbling block in the path of the geological student, and, even at
the present time, there are many who still be'ieve in the universality
of the deluge. The natural consequence of the great difficulty of
reconciling the Mosaic account with what was clearly visible in
opposition, led to the proposal of various theories, some of which
were more singular than philosophical, for we find one suggesting
“that the globe is a hollow shell with a large loadstone inside,
which being pulled alternately from one pole to the other, caused
one or other half of the globe to be covered with water.”” Another,
after examining a collection contained in the Museum at Verona,
declared his belief that ‘‘the shells, &c., were nothing more than
mere earthy secretions and sports of nature to puzzle us poor
mortals.” Buffon was obliged to publish a recantation of his
theory, because it was supposed by the priesthood to militate
against the Scriptures. But in the latter half of the last century,
men sprang up who determined to collect facts, and we have Werner,
while Professor of the School of Mines at Freyborg, after carefully
studying the district in his immediate neighbourhood, bringing forth
a theory which gained many staunch supporters. It was called the
Neptunian, because he stated his belief that all or almost all the
strata were formed from water containing material chemically dis-
solved or mechanically suspended therein, and that igneous action
had only come into existence in very recent times. Hutton, a
Scotchman, while travelling in pursuit of his favourite study, viz.,
mineralogy, collected many facts connected with geology, and
published a work, ‘‘The Theory of the Earth,” in which he says:—
‘¢ The ruins of an older world are visible in the present structure of
our globe, and the strata which now form our dry land have been
once beneath the sea, and were formed from the materials washed
down from other dry land, and these several strata have been more
or less, and at various times, altered by internal heat and volcanic
action.” He satisfied himself that trap basalt, porphyry, and many
other rocks, were of igneous origin, and had, while in a melted
state, been forced up through cracks in the strata, and in many
cases had flowed over their surface, even while covered by the sea.
He raised a storm by observing, ‘‘In the economy of the world I
can find no traces of a beginning, no prospect of an end.” Hutton’s
theory was called the Vulcanian, and as between fire and water, so
between the Vulcanists and Neptunists, fierce controversy raged.
But there is another name I must not omit, viz., William Smith,
who while carrying on his profession as surveyor, was quietly
collecting facts and studying the various strata in England; and in
1790 published ‘‘A Tabular View of the British Strata,” and
afterwards produced a geological map of England, which remains a
lasting monument of talent, extraordinary patience, and _per-
severance. In the early part of the present century the Geological
Society of London was founded for the collection and recording of

38

facts, and comparing and discussing the results of observation ; and
now we have many earnest students in geology, with its kindred
branches, mineralogy, paleontology, and natural history in general.
Though there may be some who do not see the connection between
geology and microscopy, the connection in reality is very close,
inasmuch as by the aid of the microscope we have been enabled to
discover the Foraminifera, whose remains form so large a portion of
the chalk ; and also to discover by their fructification the nature of
many of the plants living during the period when coal was formed.
To be astudent in geology it is not necessary to travel far and
wide, for we find many most valuable contributions are from those
who, from business or other causes, are prevented from getting far
away from their places of residence, and yet have the inclination
and sufficient leisure to carefully study the strata of their immediate
neighbourhood. The neighbourhood of Croydon is interesting and
well worthy of detailed examination from the circumstance of its
being the outcrop of the London clay, and some beds lying between
that stratum and the chalk formation.”

Reference was made in course of the evening to some sections,
among others, to one showing the strata passed through by the
London and Brighton Railway, also to a map of Kent, Sussex, and
part of Surrey, showing the weald formation and strata adjacent.

The Srorerary read the following paper, contributed by Mr.
N. Boeie-Frencu, ‘‘On Srarnrnc Leaves’’:—The leaf is first to
be put into a chlorinated solution of soda, as purchased at the
chemists, till it becomes perfectly transparent and white, the time
varying according to the thickness of the leaf. Itis now placed for
18 or 20 hours in water to eliminate the soda. The water should
be changed three or four times. After taking it from the water it
is placed in absolute alcohol for about an hour previous to being
put in the dye, which is the next step. In this it remains till the
colour is sufficiently deep. The dye is prepared by mixing ina
mortar one-eighth or one-fourth of a grain of aniline with one
ounce of absolute alcohol, and acidulated with one drop of nitric
acid. The leaf, when dyed of the right colour, is next placed in oil
of cloves for one or two hours in order to set the dye. This only
applies to those stained blue. The red stainings must be placed in
turpentine or benzole for the purpose of setting the colour, as oil of
cloves bleaches it out ; but they must not remain in the turpentine
or benzole too long, as these contract the cells. Experience will
be the best guide as to the time. For my own part I have hitherto
confined myself to blue stainings. The leaf is then mounted in
Cunada balsam in the usual way. I believe gum damar is equally
good, though I have never tried it. In the January and April
numbers of ‘‘ Science Gossip,” 1875, full particulars will be found

89

on this subject in two papers by Dr. Beatty, of Baltimore, U.S.
It was from these articles I originally obtained my information,
though I have not followed them to the letter.

Unanimous votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Perry and to
Mr. N. Bogle-French.

The following members exhibited their microscopes :—Mr.
Phillip Crowley, Mr. Maitland Gard’ner, Mr. J. S.Johnson, and Mr.
K. McKean.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

RULES.
OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.
The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its Members ; for the
discussion of subjects connected with, or dependent upon, Microscopical
research ; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopic Objects and

Preparations; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and nine other Members, who shall
be elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting. Three to form a
quorum.

MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for Membership shall be proposed by two or more
Members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge of him,
and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, according to the
Form appended. The certificate shall be read from the chair, and the
candidate therein recommended ballotted for at the following meeting.
Three black balls to exclude.

2.—The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on the
1st of January (or on election, if previous to November), and no person
shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until his Subscription shal
have been paid. :

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the Club,
provided they do not reside within the district ; such Honorary and Corres-
ponding Members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of the Club,
and shall have no vote in its affairs.

4,—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural History
amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals of that class
ma; be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first communicate some
original information or observation on Microscopy or Natural History, or
exhibit such specimens as shall by their merit satisfy the Committee. Such
Associates shall enjoy the privileges of Honorary Members.

5.—No Member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Club
until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to the
Secretary of his intention to resign.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any Member from the Club,
the same shall be done by a resolution of the Committee, which shall be
read at the next ordinary meeting ; and at the following meeting a ballot
shall take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-thirds of the
Members present shall vote for such Member’s expulsion, he shall no longer
be considered a Member.

7.—Any Member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, who
shall enter his name, with that of the Member by whom he is introduced, in
a book to be kept for that purpose.

ORDINARY MEETINGS.
1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third
Wednesday in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and
August), at seven o’clock in the evening ; the chair to be taken at half-past
eight precisely ; or at such other time as the Committee may appoint.

41

2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—

I.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for approval as
being correct.
II.—The names of candidates for Membership shall be read, and the ballot for the
election of Members shall take place. a
IlI.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after which the chair
shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a conversazione, to
terminate at ten o'clock.
3.—In the absence of the President, the Members present at any ordi-
nary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening.

4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of the
Committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject of the
papers to be read shall be given, by the Secretary, to the Members. No
paper shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by the
especial permission of the Chairman.

5.—In addition to the above ordinary meetings, others, for conversation
and the exhibition of Microscopical objects and Natural History specimens,
shall be held on the first Monday in each month, at eight o’clock in the
evening.

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two Members ap”
pointed at the ordinary meeting in December. No Member of the Com-
mittee shall be eligible a3 an auditor.

2.—At the same meeting notice of the Annual Meeting in January
shall be given from the chair.

3.—An Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-past
eight.o’clock, when the election of officers for the year ensuing shall take
place, and the report of the committee on the atfairs of the Club, and the
balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4.—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at one
of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed alteration
or addition must be given at or before the preceding ordinary meeting.

/

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.
CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Mr.
of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to recommend
him for Election.
(on my personal knowledge ).
This Certificate was read 187
The Ballot will take place 187

Nots.—Original Rules, drawn and adopted at a meeting held on the
16th March, 1870.

Rules, as to Election of Officers, and number of Committeemen, revised
January, 1872.

Rules, as to payment of Subscriptions and establishment of Conversz«
tional Meetings, revised and adopted January, 1876.

THE LIBRARY.
RULES FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.

1.—Books to be lent out to Members at any time when the Library
of the Literary Institution, at the Public Hall, is open, on application
to Mr. Pusgy, the Librarian.

2.—All books and periodicals to be marked with the stamp of the
Club and numbered before being circulated, and kept in such a place as
shall from time to time be determined by the Committee.

8.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written
application for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall
be held by the Librarian until the book is returned. No Member shall
have more than one work at a time, nor shall he keep any work for a
longer period than one month; but it may be returned for exchange any
time within that period when the Library may be open. :

4,—When a book is returned by a Member it may be borrowed by him
again, provided it has not been bespoken by any other Member. Books
which have not been bespoken shall circulate in rotation, according to pri-
ority of application.

5.—Standard works, as shall be named by the Committee, to be kept
for reference, and not to be lent out.

6.—Members retaining books longer than the specified time shall be
subject to a fine of one penny per day. If any book be retained by
a Member for two months, and be not returned after written application
has been made for it, the Committee may order it to be replaced and
charge the Member in default with the amount thus incurred, in addition
to the fine. If any book, when returned by a Member, is found to have
been damaged during the period such Member has had it, a fine equivalent
to the injury shall be paid by the Member.

LIST OF BOOKS BELONGING TO THE CROYDON
MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Achromatic Microscope... abe ay es Beck.

Address before the Royal Microscopical Society ... Rev. J. B. Reade.
British Diatomacee (vol. 1.) bai aes csc Smith.

British Diatomacee (vol. 2)... on ae ee Smith.

British Shells = ve ry, ae 33 Turton.
Collection and Preparation of Algce os ... John Nave.
Cryptogamic Botany a5 eee inet 358 Berkley.
Foraminifera... sae sia “es oe .. Dr. W. B. Carpenter.
Flora (vol. 1) och ee wd a ae Bentham.

Flora (vol. 2)... a a a ar ... Bentham.

How to Work with the Microscope Ss ane Dr. L. Beale.
Human Microscopic Anatomy ae sh ... Kélliker.
Lectures on Histology Quekett.

Marvels of Pond Life ... H. J. Slack.
Microscopical Manipulation Suffolk.

Polarized Light ... ee as ses ate ... Woodward.
Preparation and Mounting of Microscopical Objects Davies.

Spectrum Analysis con Sor 8 ... Suffolk.

The Microscope
The Microscope ...

Opticians’ Catalogues

Dr. W. B. Carpenter.
Quekett.
Beck and others,

Journals of Quekett Club.

THE CABINET.

Slides of various objects, presented to the Club by Members and others.

wae

LIST OF MEMBERS.

(Revised to 6th February, 1877.)

Adams, T. Rutherford, M.D., St. James’s-road.
Anthony, Saml. H., 4, Sydenham-villas, St. James’s-road,
Bailey, Edward, 4, Ripley-place, Dingwall-road.

Baker, Samuel, Lansdowne-road.

Barrett, Dr., Carshalton House, Carshalton.

Baldock, J. H., F.C.S., 3, High-street, South N orwood, S.E.
Baldiston, Frederick, Glastonbury-lodge, Sydenham-road.
Barnes, Thomas H., M.D., Lynton-villa, St. James’s-road.
Baynes, W. W., D.L., J.P., Whitehorse-road.

Beeby, William H., F.R.M.S., 2, Outram-road.

Berney, John, F.R.M.S., 61, North-end.

Berney, Edward, M.R.C.S, 58, North-end.

Bennoch, Rev. A. J., Woodside, S.E.

Bennett, Arthur, 107, High-street.

Berridge, G. W., 2, Outram-villas, Outram-road.
Bindley, Theo., St. Peter’s-road.

Bishop, Howard W., Ringstead-lodge, Whitehorse-road.
Blake, A. G., Dingwall-road.

Blake, W. J., Jun., Duppas-hill-terrace.

Bonus, Charles W., Oakwood-house, Sydenham-road.
Brodie, Robert, M.A. ; George-street.

Buck, James, 63, High-street.

Carpenter, Alfred, M.D., J.P., 113, High-street.
Chambers, W. E., Eversfield, Sutton.

Chumley, John, 3, Park-villas, Alexandra-road.

Clarke, A. H., Crown-hill.

Cleaver, H.A., M.R.C.S., 40, North-end.

Coates, W. N., Fairfield-road.

Cooper, George, M.R.C.S., 4, George-street.

Cooper, W. Reeve, Oakfield-road.

Corry, John, Rosenheim, Park-hill-road.

Corden, George, 53, High-street.

Crisp, Frank, 5, Lansdowne-road, Notting-hill.

Crowley, E. A, 62, High-street.

Crowley, Philip, Waddon House, Waddon.

Crowley, Jonathan S., 3, Park-hill-rise,

Curling, George, Elgin House, Addiscombe-road.

Curling, Jesse, Elgin House, Addiscomberoad.

44

Cushing, Thomas, Woodstock-villa, Alexandra-road.
Dickens, Richard Joseph, Addiscombe-road.
Dickinson, William, M.A., F.G.S., Warham-road.
Dix, T. H., 36, High-street.

Downes, C. H., 88, Church-street.

Drummond, A. W. B., Lynton-house, Oakfield-road.
Drummond, John, 76, North-end.

Drummond, William, 2, Sydenham-road.

Duncan, P. T., M.D., 53, High-street.

Eastty, Alfred, Wellesley House, Wellesley-road.
Eastty, Joseph.M., J.P., Wellesley House, Wellesley-road.
Edridge, T. R., J.P., The Elms, High-street.

Evans, Henry, Bramley-hill.

Fagg, Edward, Clarence-lodge, Canning-road.

Faweett, J. B., North-park.

Fletcher, Fred. E., Howard-road, South Norwood, S.E.
Flower, John, M.A., F.Z.S., Fairfield-road.

Gard’ner, Maitland, Fairfield-lodge, Park-lane.

Gibson, John, Canning-lodge, Addiscombe-road.

Gill, Edmund, Linn-villa, Sutton-hill, Sutton.
Goddard, D. E., Harcourt-road, Wallington, Surrey.
Grundy, Charles, Outram-road, Addiscombe.

Haddock, Roland, 64, High-street.

Hales, Edward, The Waldrons.

Hall, Robert, Garth-villas, Addiscombe.

Harrison, William, 2, St. John’s-villas, Thornton-heath.
Hebb, W. H., Heathfield-road.

Hodges, O. T., Laurel-cottage, Sydenham-road.
Hopgood, James, Clapham-common, 8S. W.

Horsley, Henry, M.R.C.S., London-road.

Hovenden, C. W., 93, City-road, London, E.C.
Hovenden, T., Arbor-end, Selhurst-road, South Norwood, S.E.
Hudson, Robert, F.R.S., J.P., Clapham-common, S. W.
Ingrams, William, Whitgift Schools, Church-road.
James, Robert A., Ravenswood, Oakfield-road.

Jaques, John, Hillside, Duppas-hill.

Jarrett C., St. John’s-grove.

Jecks, Charles, 26, Langham-place, Northampton.
Johnson, Cuthbert W., F.R.S., The Waldrons.
Johnson, J. S., M.R.C.S., 105, High-street.

Jolland, C. J., London-road, Thornton-heath.

Jones, E. F., St. Germain-villa, Forest-hill, S.E.
Kemp-Welch, Henry, 18, Billiter-street, E.C.
Klaassen, H. M., F.G.S., 2, Chepstow-road.

Lambert, A., Jun., High-street.

Lanchester, Henry, M.D., Park-lane.

ot li!

45

Lashmar, Charles, M.D., Wellesley-road.

Latham, Baldwin, C.E., Park-hill-rise.

Lee, Henry, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., The Waldrons.
Lee, Henry, Jun., The Waldrons.

Leeds, C. E., Selhurst-road, South Norwood, S.E.

Ley, J. H., Exotic Nursery, Lansdowne-road.

Linney, George F., Park-lane.

Lister, Charles H., Swindon-lodge, Wellesley-road.
Loftus, T., Lower Addiscombe-road.

Long, Henry, 90, High-street.

Lovett, Edward, Holly Mount, Upper Addiscombe-road.
Mackenzie, Captain Colin, Hareston, Bedford-park.
Mackenzie, David, Beulah-road Schools, Thornton-heath.
Major, Charles M., Duppas-hill-terrace.

Maltby, C. H., Stewart-villas, St. James’s-road West.
Mallett, Edward M., 2, Cromwell-terrace, Clyde-road.
Manners, George, F.L.S., F.S.A., Lansdowne-gardens.
Manners, Charles, Lansdowne-gardens,

Marks, S. G., 78, Church-street.

Marshall, Edward, M.R.C.S., Church-house, Mitcham.
Martin, Howard, Havelock-road.

Miller, William Frederick, Havelock-villas, Havelock-road.
Mitchell, E., Laurel-cottage, St. James’s-road,

Moore, Edward, 2, Stanley-villas, St. James’s-road West.
Moore, John, Oakwood, Park-hill.

Morland, Charles C., Rastrick-lodge, Morland-road.
Moseley, Litchfield C., Chandos House, West-hill, Sydenham, S.E.
Moseley, T. B., Brighton-road.

Moules, Edward Robert, Whitgift-lodge, Wellesley-road.
Muggeridge, T. Benjamin, Upper Addiscombe-road.
Nash, F. A., Rochfort, South Norwood.

Nation, W. J., 1, Clifton-villas, Thornton-heath.
Newton, Charles, Crossland-villa, Broad-green.

Noakes, Henry, Poplar-cottage, St. James’s-road.
Oldfield, John, 16, Tamworth-road.

Oswald, Edward C., Old Palace.

Owens, Henry, M.D., F.R.M.S., Selhurst-road, S.E.
Overton, S., Selsdon-road.

Packham, James, Katherine-street.

Page, Joseph, 4, Derby-houses, Derby-road.

Paget, Peter, Coombe-lane.

Peake, Francis, The Waldrons.

Peek, Sir Henry W., Bart., M.P., Wimbledon.

Pelton, John, Park-lane.

Perry, George, 2, Park-lane.

Petherick, H. W., Maple, Lodge, Havyelock-road.

46

Philpot, Charles W., M.D., Sydenham-road.

Pitt, Sidney, Grove-road, Sutton.

Podmore, H. R. B., Bramley-hill.

Pope, Michael, 1, Park-lane.

Price, George N., St. Peter’s-road.

Purser, George, 3, Wellesley-villas, Sutton.

Puxon, E. W., Wintons, Park-hill-road.

Reid, George, Havelock-road.

Ridge, Byron, 60, North-end.

Rigby, G., Wellesley-road.

Roberts, Rev. Dr., The Limes, High-street.

Roberts, H., Norfolk House, Cheam-road, Sutton.
Robinson, W. M., Kenley, Surrey.

Roby, R. F., Shirley House, Selhurst, S.E.

Roper, Alfred G., F.R.C.S., 57, North-end.

Roper, Edwin, 57, North-end.

Roper, George, 57, North-end.

Rosser, Walter, M.D., George-street.

Rowland, W. H., Tavistock-road, Bedford-park.
Russell, James, M.D., Cambridge-villa, Sydenham-road.
Salmon, H., 8, Warwick-villas, Clyde-road.
Shattock, Herbert, Dingwall-road.

Simons, George, Beddington-lane.

Smith, William F., Belfort, Park-hill-rise.

Snelling, W. H., Selhurst-road, South Norwood, S.E.
Spencer, John, The Grange, Sutton-common, Sutton.
Spencer, J. G., The Grange, Sutton-common, Sutton.
Stanley, W. F., Albert-road, South Norwood, S.E.
Steele, Joseph, L.D.S., M.R.C.S., London-road.
Stevenson, Albert, Brighton-road, Sutton.

Stoneman, W. G., 8, Lee’s-villas, Canning-road.
Strong, Henry J., M.D., North-end.

Sturge, Edward B., The Waldrons.

Suffield, Rev. R. Rodolph, Alfred-villa, Parson’s-mead.
Swaine, Captain J. C., Fairfield-road.

Taylor, A. D., 3, Ripley-place, Dingwall-road.
Thrale, Peter, George-street.

Thrale, Ralph, George-street.

Toms, Alfred, Lychett-villa, Tavistock-road.

Toms, Joseph, Lychett-villa, Tavistock-road.

Toms, J. A., Lychett-villa, Tavistock-road.

Townly, E. W., 116, High-street.

Turner, Henry, Birchanger-road, South Norwood, S.E.
Twentyman, Alfred, Park-hill-road.

Turney, John G., Canning-road.

Wake, Captain John D., Beachley, Chepstow-road.

47

Wallis, J. W., Lansdowne-road.

Walton, A., Tavistock-road.

Walters, Walter, Park-hill-road.

Warren, Francis, Fairfield-road.

Waters, Charles, Kenley, Surrey.

West, Frederick, The Waldrons.

Whealler, G. Anson, Elgin-road.

Whitling, Henry T., F.R.C.S., F.R.M.S., High-street.
Williams, Edward A., Friends’ School, Park-lane.
Williams, Edwin, 3, Wellesley-villas, Wellesley-road.
Williams, Dr., Duppas-hill.

Wilks, Rev. W., Old Palace.

Windsor, H. W., 8, Old Jewry, London, E.C.

Wood, J. D., Selhurst-cottage, Selhurst-road, S. E.
Woodward, John, 1, Lee’s-villas, Canning-road.
Wright, James, 8., Duppas-hill-terrace.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

R. Beverley Cole, M.D., San Francisco, California, U. S. A.
Kenneth McKean, The Beach, Madras.

NOTICE.—Members are requested to give the hon. secretary early notice of any change

of Residence, so as to prevent miscarriage of correspondence.

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ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

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oF THE

| CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB,

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. ADOPTED AT A MERTING HELD

4 JANUARY 17, 1877.
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CROYDON :
PRINTED BY F. BALDISTON, ‘‘CHRONICLE” OFFICE, HIGH STREET,

» 1878.

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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

FOR THE YEAR 1876.

President :

HENRY LEE, F.LS., F.GS. F.RMS., &c.

Creusurer :

ALFRED CARPENTER, M.D., J.P.

Committee :
JOHN BERNEY, F.R.M.S. J. §. JOHNSON, M.R.C.S.
WILLIAM H. BEEBY, F.R.M.S. | GEORGE F. LINNEY.
PHILIP CROWLEY. GEO. MANNERS, F.L.S., F.S.A.

JOHN FLOWER, M.A., F.Z.S. GEORGE PERRY.
HENRY J. STRONG, M.D.

Honorary Secretary :
EDWARD 8B. STURGE,

The Waldrons, Croydon.

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The SrventH Annvuat Meerine of this Club was held at the
Public Hall, on Wednesday evening, January 17th, 1877, Henry
Lee, Esq., President, in the chair. The minutes of the previous
meeting having been read and confirmed, the following gentlemen
were nominated for election :—Mr. H. Sykes, of Upper Addis-

. eombe; Mr. H. Moules, Wellesley-road; Mr. T. A. Richardson,

Croydon General Hospital; Mr. E. W. Puxon, Mr. W. H. Hebb,
and Mr. John Pelton were ballotted for and duly elected members,
Mr. A. Freeland, junr., who had been nominated at the previous
meeting being rejected.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Committee of the Croydon Microscopical Club have much pleasure
in submitting to the Members of the Club the Seventh Annual Report of its
proceedings. During the year 23 new members have been elected, 11 have
resigned, chiefly from removal from the neighbourhood, and 4, whose loss the
Committee sincerely regret, have died, viz. : Mr. Alfred Crowley, Mr. Fredk.
West, Mr. John Shepherd, and Dr. Cresswell; the number on the list at
the close of the year being 195 ordinary members, and two honorary members,
making a total of 197.

The Members attended the Soirée of the New Cross Microscopical Club,
and also the Soirée of the South London Microscopical Club, held at the
Crystal Palace.

Eight Papers have been read, viz. :
February 16th.—Mr. C. Jucxs ‘‘ On Darwinism.”
March 15th.—Mr. A. Hatuey, ‘On some habits of the White Ant.”

April 19th.—Dr. Parupot, ‘*On Recent Microscopical Researches in
respect to Infectious Disease,” and Mr. Jno. Flower exhibited and described
a hybrid grouse between the black grouse and hazel grouse.

' May 17th.—My. Cuas. Srewart, F.R.M.S., ‘On Sea Stars and Sea
Urehins.”

September 20th.—Mr. H. Turner, ‘‘On Trilobites and their Modern
Representatives.”

October 18th.—Mr. W. H. Bessy, F.R.M.S., ‘‘On Crystals of Lime
Salts found in Plants.”

November 15th.—My, Jno. FtoweEr, M.A., ‘‘On Pallas’ Land Grouse.”
December 20th,—Dr. CARPENTER, ‘‘ On Circulation of Sap in Plants.”

6

Also a Lecture by Professor RupERT Jones, F.R.S., &c., ‘On the
Antiquity of Man,” illustrated by a large collection of flint implements
kindly lent by Mrs. J. W. Flower and Mr. John Flower. This was given
under the same arrangements as that by Professor Morris, F.G.S., in the
previous year, when members were allowed six tickets for friends, ladies or
gentlemen. The large hall was engaged for the occasion, and was well filled,
and the committee have reason to believe that the lecture was much
appreciated.

Excursions were arranged during the recess in connection with the
Quekett and South London Microscopical Clubs.

Conversational Meetings have also been held on the first Monday in
every month (or on appointed days).

The Seventh Annual Soireé took place at the Public Hall, on Wednesday
evening, 29th November, and was attended by Fellows of the Royal Micro-
scopical Society, and Members of the Quekett, the South London, the Tower
Hill, New Cross, Greenwich, Forest Hill, and Old Change Microscopical
Clubs, by whom and members of the club 168 microscopes were exhibited,
besides other objects of interest. The number of persons present was 129
members, 654 visitors and exhibitors, total 783, the largest attendance at
any Soirée of the Club since its establishment.

The additions to the Library comprise the new edition ‘‘ Carpenter on
the Microscope,” and ‘* Bennett and Dyer’s Translation of Sach’s Work on
Botany,” by purchase ; the Reports and Journals of the Quekett, South Lon-
don, and Brighton Clubs ; and Messrs. Sorby and Butler’s paper on Amber,
were kindly presented and have been duly acknowledged.

The cabinet has received additions kindly presented by members, as
follows :—Mr. McKean, 58 slides; Mr. E. Lovett, six ditto ; Mr. Gregory,
six ditto.

Mr. McKean, who had for two years efficiently performed the duties of
honorary secretary, received an appointment in India in April, and was in
consequence compelled to resign the office, when Mr. E, B, Sturge was ap-
pointed his successor.

Mr. McKean was elected an honorary member, and received the thanks
of the Club inseribed on vellum.

In conclusion, the committee consider they have reason to congratulate the
members on the hitherto very successful career of the Club, and to hope that
its usefulness may be still further advanced by an increased interest in its
proceedings and an enlarged sphere of operations.

The thanks of the Club are due to the Local Press for the very copious
reports of the various meetings which have appeared in the columns of th
Croydon Chronicle and Croydon Advertiser. :

Signed in and on behalf of the Committee,

HENRY LEE, President.

Croydon, 15th January, 1877.

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The Rey. Dr. Roserts, in moving ‘That the report and ac-
counts be received and adopted, and that they be printed and
circulated among the members,” said that although the report was
of a gratifying character as recording the increased prosperity of
the Club, yet there was a sad side to it, and he was sure that every
member deeply regretted that whilst they had lost some of their
members by reason of their leaving the neighbourhood, they had
lost four by death, and they regarded the loss they had sustained
not only aloss to themselves, but also to the parish, and more
especially with regard to those with whom they were more inti-
mately acquainted, namely, Mr. Crowley and Mr. F. West.

Mr. C. C. Mortanp, in seconding the motion, said the report
shewed that a large quantity of useful and excellent work had been
done by the committee, and the thanks of the members were due to
them for the very many pleasant evenings the members had been
able to spend in that room and elsewhere.

The motion was then put and carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Before the election of President was gone into, the Rev. R. R.
SurrIELp gave notice that at the next meeting of the Club he should
move that in future the duration of the office of President should
be restricted to two years. It was desirable that the rules of this
Club should conform to the rules of similar scientific bodies, and as
they had, with extreme reluctance, yielded to the solicitation of
their President to retire, he thought it was advisable. before that
gentleman’s successor took office, to submit a resolution that the
duration of the term of office should not exceed two years, thus
affording an opportunity to the other members who were eligible for
the appointment to have the honour of filling the presidential chair.
There was no doubt that the new President would receive the
cordial support and co-operation of his predecessor. The name to
be submitted to them this evening was that of a gentleman of
position and of well-known scientific attaimments, not only in this
town, but also in London and other large places. This resolution
would take the following form :—‘‘ That in future the election of
President, after the second year, shall be subject to this condition
—that the retiring President shall be ineligible for one year.”

The PrestipENT rose and said—Gentlemen,—You are all, no
doubt, aware that for the past two years at least, I have felt that I
ought to resign the Presidency of this Club; not because I found
the duties of the office too onerous, but because there are gentle-
men amongst our members whose election to the chair would be an

9

honour to the Club and a compliment to themselves; and it would
be a gratification to me to give place to them, and to assist them in
their endeayours to carry the Club toa higher standard of excellence
and a greater success even than that to which it has already
attained. You will remember that, last year, I laid before the com-
mittee my views on this subject; but finding it was the wish of my
fellow members that I should hold my position for another year, I
readily consented to do so. (Hear, hear.) Now that period has
elapsed, and the time has come for me to divest myself of authority,
and ask you to elect my successor. Time flies so quickly that I
ean hardly realise the fact that seven years, almost, have passed
_ since I was made President of this Club: but so it is: and although
I have the happy consciousness that I have not held that office
longer than you have wished, and that if I desired to retain it I
should have the unanimous vote of all the members of the Club—
(loud applause)—you must, I am sure, feel that I am acting rightly
and justly in retiring, that I may enable other members to come
forward into a prominent position, and share with me the honour of
having occupied the Presidential chair of the Croydon Microscopical
Club. Believe me, I have not taken this step lightly, nor without
full appreciation of the honour I am resigning. But the honour and
the gratification will always remain to me, that I have had the
___ happiness and high privilege of enjoying, throughout the long term
of my presidency, your full and unbroken confidence, your cordial,
‘loyal, and unanimous support; that I have made many friendships
which I trust will never cease; and that whilst from you I have
received unsullied kindness, I am able to say that, in my official
career as President of this Club, I have neither done nor spoken
_- anything which I would wish to alter or recall. (Loud applause),
I thank you gratefully for all your goodness to me, and ask you
kindly to accept my resignation.

VOTES OF THANKS TO OFFICE-BEARERS.

: The Rev. R. R. Surrrenp, in proposing a vote of thanks to

- the late President, said he had a painful duty to perform. Mr. Lee
- might be designated as the real founder of the Society, for it sprang
into existence at his own house. Those who prognosticated failure,
and they were many, had proved to be false prophets, for instead of
‘failure the Club had turned out to be a great success, and that
success was in a less degree due to themselves as members than to
their late President. It was difficult to speak of Mr. Lee in his
___ presence, but there was one special feature which had made his
_ presidency conspicuous—he had had no selfish object in view, but
_ had simply worked for the benefit of science and in the interests of
___ the Club, ever since the first advertisement appeared in the Croydon
papers enlisting the little incipient movement which was afterwards

*

10

naugurated, and had ever since been carried out so successfully.
Through their career they had always felt that Mr. Lee was anxious
that the @lub should not be exclusively confined to microscopy, but
should embrace different departments of science, including the in-
teresting subject of natural history, and this was partly due to the
fact that their President was well acquainted with different branches
of scientific knowledge, and therefore he had induced gentlemen
capable of taking up one or other of these pursuits, to enrol them-
selves as members of this Society. Although they hailed with
pleasure the appointment of Mr. Lee’s successor, they could not
forget the pleasure which their President's genial character, noble
sympathy, even-handed courtesy, and intense love of natural history
and science had afforded them. Mr. Lee had kindled amongst the
members a similar spirit, and had succeeded in maintaining it; and
he (Mr. Suffield) had not the smallest doubt that, with his cordial
co-operation and valuable assistance, the Club would go on and
prosper. With feelings of real affection and gratitude for the in-
valuable services that their retiring President had rendered to them
as a Club, he begged to propose, with all the cordiality possible, a
vote of thanks to that gentleman. (Applause.)

Dr. Strona said he could not let this occasion pass without
seconding this resolution, as he had been a member of this Club
ever since its establishment, and although, from the effluxion of
time and other circumstances he had been compelled to sever his
active connection with the Club, he would yield to none in the
respect and friendship he entertained for their retiring President.
Ever since Mr. Lee had been connected with the Club he had
always been at his post, and had proved himself to be so good a
commander of the ship, that it was not surprising it had come
safely into port; and now, with a new commander, but under the
guidance of its late captain, the vessel was about to be launched for
another voyage. On every occasion Mr. Lee had shown his readi-
ness to afford information on any subject of which the members
were ignorant, and it was afforded in such a way as to encourage
the recipient to seek further knowledge. (Hear, hear.) Although
Mr. Lee had severed himself from the Club officially as President,
it was gratifying to know that he would give them the benefit of his
advice and assistance as a member of the Committee; and there-
fore he cordially seconded the vote of thanks for the valuable
services afforded by Mr. Lee in the past.

Mr. Warren said that although the Club would have an ex-
cellent President in Dr. Carpenter, he felt they had sustained a
great and heavy loss by the absence of Mr. Lee from the presidential
chair, for they could not expect to have a Lee occupying the chair
more than once in a generation. He observed that their friend
had been appointed President of the Quekett Microscopical Club ;

11

therefore our loss was their gain, and he was sure that Mr. Lee
would shed lustre on that Society. He hoped that their retiring
President would be spared for many years to benefit science as he
had done in the past, and he was pleased to find that the Croydon
Microscopical Club would still retain his invaluable services. He
had much pleasure in supporting the vote of thanks which had

been proposed.

Mr. Surrietp haying put the resolution, it was carried amidst
prolonged applause.

Dr. Lancuester, before proposing a gentleman to succeed Mr.
Lee, as President, expressed his concurrence with the resolution of
which Mr. Suffield had given notice, as it would give all members
who were eligible, an opportunity of filling the chair which had for
many years been so ably filled by Mr. Lee. He begged to propose
Dr. Carpenter as Mr. Lee’s successor, whose scientific attainments
were well known, not only in this country, but also in many others,
for the genuine scientific work he had accomplished ; and in ap-
pointing him he (Dr. Lanchester) believed they would fill the chair
with a gentleman whose name would command respect, and be
received with respect. Dr. Carpenter was a gentleman occupying
a good social position, and with his high character and great ability
he (Dr. Lanchester) believed that in electing him for this post they
would add honour to the Club and pay a compliment to him.

The Rev. Dr. Roserts, in the absence of the member who had
been deputed to second the nomination, discharged that duty,
knowing that it was the wish of a large number of members that

Dr. Carpenter should be elected to the presidentship.

Dr. Carpenter was then ballotted for and duly elected President
of the Club.

Mr. Lee mentioned that the newly-elected President was pre-
vented by indisposition from attending that evening. He called
upon the members to extend to Dr. Carpenter the same cordial and
loyal support that he had experienced, and he promised to be at
that gentleman’s right hand to assist him in the performance of his
duties.

APPOINTMENT OF TREASURER.
It was moved by Mr. Lex, seconded by Mr. Joun Drummonp,

‘and resolved that Mr. Philip Crowley be appointed Treasurer in

the place of Dr. Carpenter.

12

APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY.

The Carman said the Club could not do better than re-elect
their Hon. Secretary. They had been peculiarly fortunate in the
gentlemen who had filled that post. Their first Hon. Secretary
started the Club; their next Secretary zealously served them until
he was called away to a distant country, and he took with him the
strongest feelings of respect from the members; and inferior to
neither of them was Mr. Sturge, their present Secretary. The
labour he threw into his work was very great; no man knew it so
well as himself (the Chairman). He was in constant communication
with their Hon. Secretary, and he could honestly say that Mr.
Sturge did more for the Club than many members were aware of.
He therefore cordially proposed that gentleman’s re-election. -

Mr. Turner seconded the motion, which was carried with
acclamation.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE.

The Cuarman said that as Dr. Strong had declined to offer
himself for re-election on the Committee, he should be happy to
fill the vacancy caused by that gentleman’s retirement. (Hear,
hear.)

Dr. Lancnester moved, Dr. Apams seconded, and it was
resolved, that the following gentlemen be appointed as the com-
mittee for the ensuing year: Mr. John Berney, Mr. W. H.
Beeby, Mr. John Flower, Mr. J. 8. Johnson, Mr. H. Lee, Mr. G. F.
Linney, Mr. Geo. Manners, Mr. Howard Martin, and Mr. Geo. Perry.

Mr. Lees, in acknowledgement, said his presidency of the
Quekett Club had nothing whatever to do with the resignation he
had tendered that evening. He had long felt the desirability of
making room for other men who were eligible to occupy the post of
President, rather than monopolise the position himself year after
year ; and although he had yielded to their pressing solicitations on
former occasions not to relinquish that position, he felt that the
time had at length arrived when he should give place to some other
gentleman. It was his intention to stand by their new President

and their future Presidents, and assist them to the best of his ability

by his presence at their committee meetings. He should endeavour
to be constant and regular in his attendance, but of course they
would not expect him to come from places at long distances from
Croydon, as he had sometimes done when filling the position of
President. He was happy to say that he was not taking leave of
them, but should still remain an active member of the Club, and
such, he trusted, he should always continue. (Applause.)

eld, tee Dd

i it I aces at

13

Mr. Warren then proposed votes of thanks to the Treasurer, .
Committee, and Secretary.

The Rev. W. Wrixxs seconded the motion, which was duly
carried, and Mr. Stures, hon. secretary, offered a few remarks in
acknowledgment.

Mr. Lex said it had always been his endeavour to make this
Club a Natural History Society as well as a Microscopical Society.
Seeing the strides they had taken, it really became a question
whether they should not add to their title that of a Croydon
Natural History Society. If they would like to have it inserted,
he had no doubt it could be done at the next meeting when they
were discussing other alterations in the rules of which notice had
been given.

Mr. Joun Fuiower gave notice that at the next meeting
he would move ‘‘ That the title of the Club be changed to that of
the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club.”’

Mr. H. Turner gave notice that at the next meeting he would
move ‘‘ that the rules as to the election of members be revised.”’

The Cuarrman then said that the popularity of the Club had
been greatly dependant upon the assistance which had been afforded
by the local press, and no one could appreciate more highly than
he did the efforts of those gentlemen who prepared such copious
and faithful reports of their proceedings. He begged to propose
a vote of thanks to those gentlemen, and also to the editors of
their respective papers, the former for kindly reporting the pro-
ceedings of the Club, and the latter for publishing them.

Mr. G. F. Liyvyey, in seconding the motion, boré testimony to
the care which was exercised by the reporters in preparing for
publication the transactions of the Club, a labour sometimes involv-
ing no little difficulty, on account of the scientific nature of the

subjects with which they had to deal.

The motion having been put and carried, the company ad-
journed to an ante-room, where a light refection of tea, coffee, &c.,
_had been prepared, and the remainder of the evening was spent in
social intercourse.

The following members exhibited microscopes: Mr. Beeby,
Mr. F. E. Fletcher, Mr. Klaassen, Mr. H. Long, Mr. Lovett,
Mr. §. Overton, Dr. Strong, Mr. A. D. Taylor, and Mr. E. B.
Sturge. Mr. Lovett also exhibited some shells from the Victoria
Nyanza, found by Colonel Gordon.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS.

1876.

February 7th, 1876. — ConversationaL Merrtinc, Four members
present,

February 16th, 1876.—Paper read by Mr. Cuartzs Jecxs, “ On Dar-
WINISM,”’

The President, Mr. Henry Lee, in the chair, The minutes of
the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. George William Berridge, 3, Outram Villas, Outram Road,
was nominated for membership.

The Present announced that Mr. Philip Crowley had con-
veyed to the Committee, and requested him to convey to the Club,
the kind appreciation of Mrs. Crowley of the vote that was
proposed on the last occasion. They knew how very sincere that
vote was, and Mrs. Crowley had kindly recognised it. He had also
to mention that Mr. Taylor, who had often read papers before them,
had brought for distribution amongst the Club some sea grass from
Algeria, used commercially here for stuffing beds, in which, un-
fortunately for the sleepers, an acaris something like the itch insect
was found. It was peculiar that an acaris should be found in
marine grass, unless engendered by its heating. If the members
would like to take a portion of the grass home to examine it they
were welcome to do so. He then stated that their friend Mr. Jecks,
who had given them a lecture on a previous occasion, had come up
from Northampton to give them another, and that this time it would
be upon ‘‘Darwinism.’’ He thought it was right that the Club
should launch out from the narrow groove of microscopy, as they
had always intended, into the wide domain of Natural History.
He was quite sure that the committee and the members were too
liberal not to permit one of the great questions of the day to be
freely discussed after it had been introduced to them with the
acumen and learning which distinguished their friend Mr. Jecks.

F 15

‘¢ DARWINISM.”

Mr. C. Jecxs then delivered a lecture on the above subject.
He said he believed that Mr. Darwin was a man of retiring, un-
assuming habits, with a great aversion to what was called publicity.
He was gifted, however, with a great amount of perseverance, an
amazing power of observation, and an unwearied patience—the
result of which, after many years of labour, had been the produc-
tion of his celebrated theory of ‘‘ The origin of species by natural
selection.’”’ His theory was contrary to the generally received
opinions of mankind upon the subject, and Mr. Darwin had met
with a great amount of misrepresentation, vituperation, and abuse.
Inquiring into the true meaning of the theory, he remarked that in
the first place it implied no unnecessary development, but merely as-
serted, or rather suggested, that under certain favourable conditions
if one variety of life, whether vegetable or animal, possessed any
advantage over another, it would, as a general rule, tend to be pro-
pagated more extensively, and that the more favoured variety would
increase and flourish by reason. of the law of natural selection,
which, as it were, picked out any ‘species more favoured than
another, and tended to perpetuate its existence, till in course of
time and under long-continued favourable conditions, and the

_ peculiar adaptability to surrounding circumstances, as climate, food,

&c., which occasionally happens with both plants and animals, these
advantages became more or less fixed and permanent, and species
was the result. Thus, supposing all the above-named conditions to
exist to a sufficient degree at any one time and place, that variety
which was best able to avail itself of them would probably succeed
in establishing itself, while others, not so fortunate, would in course
of time become extinct. Each stage of progress, however, in the
favoured variety would be marked by a certain degree of advance-
ment, owing to what was called the law of heredity, or the law by
virtue of which the progeny of a plant or animal tended to inherit
those advantages possessed by its parents. This tendency existed
in an ever-increasing ratio—i.e., supposing the parents to possess
certain advantages, the progeny would possess not only the same
advantages, but, to a certain extent, a tendency to greater ones.
It was supposed that if one form of life gave rise to a number of
descendants, the progeny of each of these might, in course of time,
be so much modified by natural selection, while still preserving
more or less likeness to its original progenitor, and so many tran-
sitional links would be missing, that any form of life now existing
could scarcely be said to have descended from any one progenitor.
And as these transitional forms, constituting the missing links,
were themselves liable to a constant variation, or even extinction,
by reason, probably, of the battle of life which they had to wage
with other allied forms, it could not be wondered at that there were

16

so many seeming breaks in the chain of development. It should
be remembered that the remaining links in this chain represented in
themselves not any line of direct descent from any one form, but, as
it were, a very broken and indistinct reflection. The objections to
Mr. Darwin’s theory were numerous, and were generally based upon
misconception and prejudice. As an instance of the former, it might
be noted that it had often been confounded with that of Lamarck,
a French naturalist, who lived towards the close of the last century,
and whose theory, though it might perhaps in some measure re-
semble that of Mr. Darwin, still presented important points of
difference, as, for instance, with regard to what are called rudi-
mentary organs, which Lamarck considered as organs coming into
use, while Darwin applied the term to cases of the survival of
organs the use of which was no longer needed. As examples, the
ostrich of Africa and the emu of Australia might be mentioned,
allied as they were to each other, and taking each other’s place in
different regions in which they were found. These birds having
gradually lost the use of their wings by the action of natural
selection, were now all reduced to the condition of running birds.
The bustard family, found in the eastern part of England, and
chased by greyhounds, was another example; while, as a striking
instance of organs which seemed to have only lately become
useless, and which would, doubtless, in the course of time, become
rudimentary, the ground parrot of New Zealand might be mentioned,
which, while having fully-developed wings, seemed to have lost the
use of them—doubtless from the same causes as those noted above.
Again, with regard to the origin of certain alterations in structure,
as length of neck, &.; Lamarck believed that as in proportion as
any organ was used it increased in size, so it was with length of
neck and other peculiarities—and that in proportion as an animal
stretched its neck it would naturally become longer by an extension
of the vertebre ; while Darwin held that supposing by reason of
these slight varieties in structure which were continually arising both
in the vegetable and the animal world, any animal having a slightly
longer neck than others, if this were an advantage in the struggle
of life it would be laid hold of by the principle of natural selection,
and the animal would be more likely, by reason of this variation, to
flourish under circumstances which to others would be prejudicial.
This advantage would be continued by the law of heredity, which
signified the perpetuation, under favourable conditions, of any
-advantage in an ever-increasing ratio to its descendants, until, in
course of time, the difference in structure became confirmed, thus
giving rise to what was called a difference in species. For holding
these views the anathemas of the Church had been launched at the
devoted head of Mr. Darwin; he had also been subjected to a kind
of Protestant excommunication, and his theory had been condemned
by men, who, were it not that their eyes were blinded by dogmatic

17

bigotry, would certainly have known better. Reverting to the
theory of natural selection, he remarked that it had been objected
that if it were true some signs of its action would be found in
domesticated animals. He thought, however, that it was un-
reasonable to expect this, as in the artificial state of existence
implied by domestication, animals were probably subjected to
different modes of action of this law, as compared with those in a
state of nature. Another objection was that no one had ever
witnessed the process of development which it was alleged took
place. When, however, the shortness of human life was considered,
compared with that of many species; the extremely small develop-
ment of most ; and still more, how rarely the faculty of observation
was found directed to such subjects as the appearance, variation,
and extinction of any form of life, it was not surprising that such
things had not been noticed. He asked if it was not probable
that natural selection by variation of species and consequent de-
velopment was continually going on around us, though unrecognised
by reason of the extreme slowness of the process, and the close
observation needed to perceive it. As no one had ever witnessed
the development, certainly no one had ever witnessed the creation
of a new species, and therefore the objection was not worth much,
and seemed very much like a begging of the question. Mr. Huxley
had said of Darwin that it was his misfortune to know more of his
subject than any other man, and this was possibly the cause, in
part at least, of the number of ignorant critiques upon his works.
With regard to the ultimate truth of his theory, three things were
necessary to prove it—firstly, to show that the phenomena referred -
to really existed in Nature ; secondly, that the assumed causes of
the phenomena were sufficient to produce them ; and, lastly, that
no other causes were sufficient. He thought that Mr. Darwin had
shown good reason to believe that the phenomena really existed in
Nature, and that the assumed causes were sufficient to produce
them ; but in the third requirement he had not, perhaps, as yet,
quite succeeded, though he had accounted satisfactorily for most of
the phenomena which were seen around them. It must be re-
membered, however, that Mr. Darwin’s theory was, in the very
nature of things, incapable of logical proof, as the alleged facts
were of so wide and comprehensive a nature, and embraced such
enormous periods for their accomplishment, that all that could be
done was to reason by induction in the matter. There was, however, ”
another difficulty. In order to prove the truth of his theory, Mr.
Darwin ought to be able to show that it was possible to produce
from a particular stock, by selective breeding, two forms which
should either be unable to cross with one another, or whose cross-
bred offspring should be infertile with one another. This had not
_as yet been done. It would, however, be rash to say that it could
not be done, as so little was known of the laws which rendered

18

animals sterile or the reverse. Mules would not breed together in
England, but he believed that in Spain they did so, and it was
possible that the difference in climate might have some effect in
producing this result. If Mr. Darwin’s only published book had
been ‘‘ The Origin of Species,” he would still have done good work
in pointing out the way to a true theory of the development of
species by material selection. He believed it was Professor Agassiz
who said that a new theory must pass through three different
stages. At first people said “It is not true ;’’ then ‘ It is against
religion ;’’ and lastly, ‘‘ Every one knew it before.’ (Laughter.)
He (the lecturer) thought it might fairly be said of Mr. Darwin's
theory that it was at least in great measure a true guide to a
broader and higher knowledge of the subject; that it was not
opposed to religion properly so called; and that every one did not
know it before ; but that it had brought forward facts hitherto un-
known, and that further there was a growing acknowledgment of the
truth of his theory by some of the most eminent naturalists of
Europe. One of the principal advantages attending the theory was
that it explained better than any other a phenomenon in the
geographical distribution of species, which it was very difficult, if
not impossible, to explain in any other way—namely, the fact that
in certain parts of the world species were found existing which
were certainly not those best suited to the surrounding conditions ;
for other species, introduced from other surrounding far-off districts,
speedily took their place. This was found to be the case in but
little known parts of the earth’s surface, where, according to all
appearance, there has been very little if any change in climatal
conditions for a very long period. If all these species had been
created by the direct act of God, they would naturally expect to
find them in those positions only which were best suited to their
welfare ; but to some extent at least the reverse was the case, and
the only rational explanation of this phenomenon seemed to be
Mr. Darwin’s theory, by which they had only to imagine that
certain forms of life migrated to certain localities, where, finding
no allied species to interfere with their welfare, they established them-
selves pro tempore ; but when the time arrived for the introduction of
species better suited to the natural surroundings, the latter super-
seded the former, which would in course of time perhaps become
extinct. Lastly, in forming an estimate of the scientific attainments
of Mr. Darwin, as giving him a fair claim to the reverential re-
membrance of future generations, it should be borne in mind that
the most characteristic feature of his works was perhaps not so
much the fresh facts he had accumulated (though these were
numerous and valuable) as the altogether new light he had thrown
upon the subject of which he treated, and which seemed transfigured
by his wonderful genius. A great deal had been said about the
necessity of reconciling science with religion. It was quite true

i9

that, considering religion as apart from mere dogmatic theology,
such a reconciliation was much to be desired; for it would be
merely a re-union of what was naturally one—being, indeed, but
different forms of the same truth. Mr. Darwin’s theory had,
doubtless, exercised many minds in this effort, and it was sad
to think how many noble minds had been overthrown, and how

. Many had been driven into unbelief, by the vain attempt to re-

concile God's laws, as revealed in Nature, with their own narrow,
dogmatic notions of what they called religion. But surely it might
be said with truth that so long as religion was believed to depend in
any way on mere external authority, so long would those efforts,
however well meant, be fruitless. » What, then, was the true method
of reconciling the two? He must leave this for wiser men than
himself to decide. For his own part, he could only say that he
Was more and more convinced that true religion was not opposed to
true science, but that both came under the same law—the former
being merely the development of the moral and emotional part of
their nature, as the latter was that of the intellectual. He would

~ conclude by expressing a hope thut in his treatment of the subject

he had not hurt the feelings of any one present, as he should be
exceedingly sorry if such were the case.

The PresipEnt said he was sure Mr. Jecks had put the subject
before them in so delicate a manner that it was out of the question
that he should have hurt the feelings of any one present. A frank
statement of any iruth ought to hurt the feelings of no one. They
were there for the discussion of facts, and did not bring in political,
social, or denominational distinctions. Every man who studied
nature had a right to state his view of things, and Mr. Jecks had
stated his opinions in a manner which no one could take offence at,
but which all would rather be inclined to coincide in. The President
then invited discussion upon the subject, and hoped that no young
man present would fear to express his views. As there was no
immediate response to the invitation, he went on to state that the
lines of demarcation between species were so indistinct that the
question was one that could not be settled there for or against.
The men capable of entering the lists against Darwin might be
‘counted upon the fingers of both hands, if not upon one. He

was a profound philosopher, a most industrious, accumulator of

facts and statistics, a most acute observer, and a thoroughly
honest disputant. Those who had occasion to differ from him in
his arguments would never have been able to do so but for the
objections he had honestly stated himself in his books. For twenty
years he could have mastered any one of them with the most
perfect ease. As for the poor critics who had assailed him, they
were not to be thought of, and Mr. Darwin must look upon them
with scorn and contempt if he were capable of such a feeling. He

20

was a great man, who was not to be sneered down. He (the
President) did not exactly coincide with him, but he did respect him
as the great philosopher of the age. Never did he blink a fact,
and he stated his opinions modestly. He thought, however, that
Mr. Darwin was so impressed with great truths, as he believed
them, that he sometimes drew deductions which he (Mr. Lee)
with his insufficient knowledge, thought he was hardly warranted
in drawing, and he stated things sometimes which militated against
the deductions.which he drew. But the heterodoxy of to-day in
many cases proved the orthodoxy of to-morrow, and that which was
now not sufficiently comprehended would hereafter be recognised
and appreciated at its true value., He denied that Darwin’s theories
nmilitated against the great truths of religion. Nothing had made
itself, and he (Mr. Lee) believed there was one great Maker, and
whether things were made by special creations, or natural laws
made from the beginning, sufficient for all time, there was still one
Great Architect and Designer who was an all-sufficient Creator. He
did not think that anything Mr. Darwin had said militated -against
that belief, as he did not say that there was no Creator.

Mr. R. A. James was sorry for the sake of himself and some
others not sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Darwin’s theory, that the
lecturer had not mentioned it to a greater extent. It was some
years since he himself read Mr. Darwin's book, and he traced the
subject from the small microscopical organisms in water up to the
time of the amphibious animals. From thence he followed the
author very clearly indeed, but he could not help laughing when he
got to the part where the animals lost their tails. There he could
not follow him. When he got to the passages referring to the
gorilla, it appeared that that creature was not far removed from
man, because Mr. Darwin conclusively proved that the cranial
capacity of the savages in New Zealand and of the North American
Indians was only just above the cranial capacity of the gorilla.
They all knew that intellectual development came to those savages
by a process of civilization, till they were gradually able to hold
their own with the white man; and as the years went on he did not
hesitate to say that they would become quite on a level with the
ordinary white man. If they had heard a little more on these
points he should have been very much delighted.

The Rev. R. R. SurFrrevp said he was very reluctant to make
any remarks upon the subject, as he felt how inferior his knowledge
was to that of the President; but whilst he entirely concurred in
the general line of argument pursued by Darwin, his own opinion
very much coincided with that which Mr. Lee had expressed.
He thought there was a great deal in Mr. Darwin's theory; but that
he had not produced sufficient grounds for carrying it out to the

wh pe, thee hs my

a ey

21

fall extent. For instance, it strack him that they ought to see the
formation of different things going on in the manner in which Mr.
Darwin supposed everything to have taken place, but it did not
seem that they were presented with those facts. He felt really
ashamed to mention his own theory, but according to his limited
knowledge it seemed to him that it coincided with what they saw in
Nature to suppose that there had been an epoch at which there had
been something like a distinct commencement. For instance, he
did not think that Darwin had made out in at all a satisfactory way
the origin of one portion of Nature—the existence of man, which
had been an anxious source of discussion since his work had been
published. He must confess that looking at it by the simple
collection of facts whieh Mr. Darwin had brought forward, he should
expect to find something existing at the present time in Nature
analagous to what Mr. Darwin supposed to have taken place in
times past. He should have been glad if some one else more com-
petent had elucidated that point, as it seemed to him to be exactly
the one which Mr, Darwin had not sufficiently proved in his works.

The Presrpent said that if the discussion elicited had been
but brief, Mr. Jecks must not take it as evidence of any want of
appreciation. The fact was that the subject was a very difficult one
to express an opinion upon, and he felt that he had himself almost
gone beyond his limits in saying what he had. He did not hesitate

_ to thank Mr. Suffield for taking part in the discussion, and he was

sure they would show their appreciation of Mr. Jecks’ lecture by
giving him their hearty thanks for coming there.

Mr. JeEoxs, after briefly returning his acknowledgments for the
compliment paid him, said, with regard to what Mr. James had men-
tioned about the brain of the Indians and the apes, it was so difficult
a question to decide upon in any way, that he did not feel competent
to speak decisively upon it. The different capacity of the brain
itself was so variously estimated, even with regard to the primitive
subject of man as man, that it was difficult, indeed, to estimate the
capacity of the brain of the earliest inhabitants of the world as
compared with the capacity of those at present existing. One
of the earliest skulls ever exhibited showéd a brain capacity such
such as might have been possessed by a philosopher living at the
present day, but it was a difficult matter to speak about, as Darwin
himself would have confessed, as he was not a man to shirk diffi-

culties, but confessed them fairly and openly. With regard to
_ Mr. Suflield’s kindly criticism, he thought that gentleman in a great

measure agreed with himself. With respect to the possible dis-
covery of the links which connected the anthropoid family with the

early races of man, those links had not been sought for in the
‘Sources whence they are most likely to be found, namely, in the

22

tropical climates in the interior of Africa, where it was possible
that the earliest race of man first came into being. Nothing was
known geologically of Africa, and comparatively nothing of the
whole of the earth, as it was only a very small portion of the earth
that had been geologically surveyed. He, therefore, thought they
would come to no decision as to whether those links between man
and the lower animals might or might not be found, and as it was
desirable to suspend one’s judgment until the areas he had spoken
of had been geologically surveyed. They knew what vast strides
geological science had made during the last twenty, and even within
the last ten years—how forms of life which formerly were supposed
not to have existed lower than the tertiary or secondary strata were
now found to have existed in far earlier times. He was, therefore,
sure that the point was one upon which they could come to no
definite decision. He thanked the members of the Club very much
for the way in which they had received his paper.

Messrs. W. H. Beeby, Philip Crowley, J. 8. Johnson:
{. McKean, E. Lovett, Geo. Perry, and A. D. Taylor exhibited
microscopes and objects.

March 6th, 1876.—Conversational Meeting. Eight members present.

March 15th, 1876.—Paper read by Mr. Avex. Hay Hattey, ‘‘On some
Haszits oF THE WuitTe ANT.”

The President, Mr. Henry Lee, in the chair. The minutes of
the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Geo. Wm. Berridge was ballotted for and duly elected a
member of the Club. :

The following gentlemen were nominated for membership :
Mr. John Chumley, of 3, Park Villas, Alexandra-road; Mr. Sidney
Pitt, Grove Road, Sutton; Mr. Wilfred Godden, and Mr. William
Godden, Walgrave Road, Sutton.

The PresipENnT said it was with some considerable regret on
the part of the Committee (although in reality it should not be,
as it was for the benefit of their friend), that he announced that
Mr. Kenneth McKean was about to leave this country for Madras,
and that this was the last time he would be able to act at the Club ~
officially as Hon. Secretary. He was sure that the Club would
gladly jom the Committee in a proposition they had made to
present their friend with some little memento of their personal
regard and esteem, and in recognition of the valuable services he
had given to the Club. The form which the little testimonial was
proposed to take was an inscription on vellum, and there was no
doubt the Club would readily delegate to the Committee the task

en =

23

of preparing the inscription. As Mr. McKean was on the eve of
his departure it would be necessary to present him with the
testimonial before the next meeting; and it had also been proposed
to make their excellent friend an honorary member of the Club.
It would be an indication—small as it was—of the hearty good-
will they had towards him, and they hoped that whilst he was away
Mr. McKean would be cheered by the remembrance of their
friendship, and the pleasurable associations with the Club. It was
hardly necessary to move the proposition he had submitted, in the
shape of a formal resolution, for it was a suggestion that at once
commended itself to their sympatheis, and therefore he would ask
them to signify their approval by rising en masse, which would be
preferable to a demonstration of cheers.

The members present having risen in compliance with the
President’s suggestion, that gentleman announced that the propo-
sition was unanimously carried.

Mr. McKxan said he had to thank the Club sincerely for the
very kind way in which they had treated him. He confessed that
; his labours had been very light, and that his official connection
with the Club had been very beneficial to himself, for he had learnt
several things in connection with the duties of secretary which
probably might be of advantage to him hereafter, and he had also
made pleasing associations with friends whom he otherwise might
not have had the opportunity of meeting.

The Presipent then announced that Mr. Edward B. Sturge had
kindly consented to officiate as Hon. Secretary, and there was no
doubt that gentleman’s services would be highly acceptable to the
Club, as he had, on more than one occasion, proved himself a
valuable and useful member. This would cause a vacancy on the
Committee, and it was proposed that Mr. John Flower, whose
services they had unfortunately lost in that capacity, should be
appointed to the post vacated by Mr. Sturge. As it was more
agreeable that these gentlemen should be formally appointed by the
Club, he gave notice that at the next meeting there would be
a special general meeting for the election of Mr. Sturge as
secretary, and Mr. John Flower as a member of the committee,

The Presipent also announced that arrangements were in
_ progress for the summer excursions of the Club, and an endeavour
would be made to so fix them that they would be of service to the
- monthly conversational meetings of the Club. Mr. Lee also
mentioned that at the next monthly meeting Dr. Philpot would
read a paper on some recent microscopical researches with respect
to infectious diseases, which was a subject much discussed just
now, and would no doubt attract a large attendance of members ,

24

andin May, Mr. Charles Stewart, secretary to the Royal Microsco-
pical Society, and Fellow of the Linnean Society, would read a
paper, the subject of which had not yet been decided on. The
annual lecture of the Club would also shortly be given in the
large Public Hall, when it was probable that Professor Morris (who
last year delivered an able lecture on the Geology of Croydon),
would be succeeded by Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.R.S., &e.

The Presipent then called upon Mr. AtexanpER Hay Hatiey
to read a paper illustrating the Habits of the White Ant, from
notes taken in Java. Before proceeding with the subject matter of
his paper, Mr. Halley gave a description of the species generally,
which he said were numerous, and distributed over temperate and
tropical regions. Their habits and instincts were extremely inter-
esting, and had attracted attention from remote ages. They lived
in societies, often very large, which consisted, as in bees, of males,
females, and neuters, the latter being females with imperfect
ovaries transformed at an early stage of their existence, and were
distinguished into two classes, workers and soldiers, the former
constituting the greater portion of each society, the latter some-
what differing from them in larger size and larger and more
powerful heads. The ordinary work of the society was performed
by the workers; the principal part in warfare, defensive and
offensive, was taken by the soldiers. Mr. Halley described the
nests of ants, the process of pairing (supposed to take place in the
air), the disposition, by the workers, of the eggs deposited, and
the care taken by them of the young larve and pup, which, on
being disturbed, are carried on the backs of workers to places of
safety. Their resemblance to a grain of rice or corn had led to
a general belief that they amassed stores of that commodity for
winter food, but it was extremely difficult to ascertain whether this
was so, as ants were in an entirely torpid state during winter.
The habitations of ants were very curiously constructed, displaying
great ingenuity, although with great diversity in the different
species, the greater number of which formed their nests in the
ground, and these rose above the surface in the forms of a dome;
hence the name “ant hills,” commonly given to them. The
White Ant was one of the most dreaded of insects in all tropical
countries where they abounded ; and they committed great havoc
in house roofs, furniture, woodwork, and amongst crops, and all
sorts of devices had to be resorted to in order to preserve property
from these destructive insects. When in Java he was warned
that the presence of these insects in a room might be detected
by a noise like the dripping of water, which showed that-they were
eating their way upwards. After vainly listening on several
occasions for the singular sound, he one night heard it at the
uther end of his room, and on lifting up the matting he observed

r
5 ’

26

~ hundreds of these little insects, which were about the same size
and colour as a grain of wheat. They had worked their way up
a small crevice between the wall and the floor, and had already
constructed tunnels along the canes of the mat, having eaten the
underside quite away. ‘These creatures never worked in the light—
hence the formation of tunnels, which were beautifully constructed
of small particles of clay or earth ; they were evenly built, and of
uniform thickness throughout. He had seen one of these tunnels
raised about six feet in one night, which was evidence as to
their rapidity in building. Their mode of working a tunnel greatly
interested him. On opening one of them he observed a continuous
double line of insects, one line going up and the other down, and
so admirably was the tunnel constructed that there was just room
for the ants to pass each other without touching. The white ants
were subject to attacks from a deadly foe in the shape of long
red-legged ants, who generally succeeded in carrying off an equal
number of white ants. The queen of the white ants laid about
60 eggs in a minute, or 80,000 or upwards in the course of 24
hours ; these eggs were instantly taken away by the workers to
portions of the ant-hill where they were hatched, and the larva
attended to and nursed until they were able to shift for themselves.
In Java, a long piece of bamboo was used to fill the tubs used
for bathing purposes in connection with wells from which the
water was obtained. ‘The piece of bamboo he was speaking of was
13 feet long. He happened to be taking his bath at 6 a.m., and
on looking up to the ceiling he was surprised to find that these
insects had been at work during the night, and had formed a
tunnel from the floor up the interior of the bamboo tube to the
ceiling and through the roof; and as a proof of the rate at which
_ they had worked, the bamboo tube had been used at five o’clock
in the evening before, which gave them only 13 hours at the most.
He knocked the tube on the floor, which caused the insects to
drop down by scores, and so far from being disconcerted or
frightened by the suddenness of the movement, he was surprised
to see them take their places in admirable order, ten or twelve deep,
with here and there two or three single ants to separate the
different companies. There were about ten of these bodies, and
this orderly behaviour astonished him more than anything he had
hitherto observed of their habits, for one would naturally have
expected confusion at being thus roughly used. In conclusion,
Mr. Halley said the white ants and others of the tribe were very

useful in clearing away refuse animal and vegetable matter.

. In a short discussion which followed, mention was made of

colonies of small red ants, which had lately found their way into
dwellings, and against the ravages of which it was very difficult
to keep articles of food. If a bone was left on the table at night

26

it would be covered with swarms of these little insects, and bread
and other articles of human consumption were equally liable to
their rapacious attacks. These creatures had appeared in swarms
in a number of houses in Croydon, and so great was the annoyance
to the tenants, that some of them had been compelled to leave
their houses. Boiling water had been resorted to amongst other
means for their extirpation, but apparently without effect; and it
was only after shutting up a house for a time that these insects
were effectually got rid of.

Mr. J. Berney said that a good way of getting rid of these
pests was by applying a sponge containing sugar or molasses to
their haunts, and submerging it in hot water, repeating the process
until the ants were extirpated.

A vote of thanks was then awarded to Mr. Halley for his
interesting paper.

The following gentlemen exhibited objects with their micro-
scopes: Messrs. A. H. Halley, W. H. Beeby, J. Berney, Edward
Lovett, A. D. Taylor, K. McKean, and H. M. Klaassen.

Mr. John Gregory presented for distribution among the
members specimens of Spheraphides of Echinocactus, and re-
ceived the thanks of the Club.

April 8rd, 1876.—Conversational Meeting. Light members present.

April 19th, 1876.—Special Meeting. Paper read by Cuartes W.
Puitpot, Esq., M.D., ‘‘On some reEcENT Microscorican Re-
SEARCHES WITH RESPECT To Inrectious DisEAsE.”’

Description by Mr. Joun Fiowen, F.Z.5., of a ‘‘ Matz Hyprip
BETWEEN THE Buack GROUSE AND THE Hazen Grouss.”’

The President, Mr. Henry Lee, in the chair. The minutes of
the last meeting were read and confirmed. *

The following gentlemen were ballotted for and> duly elected
members: Mr. John Chumley, Mr. Wilfred Godden, Mr. William
Godden, and Mr. Sidney Pitt.

Mr. Kenneth McKean was ballotted for and duly elected an
Honorary Member, Mr. EK. B. Sturge was appointed Honorary
Secretary in the place of Mr. McKean, and. Mr. John Flower was
elected to fill the vacancy on the Committee caused by Mr. Sturge’s
appointment,

a

27

The PrestpentT announced that in accordance with the follow-
_ ing resolution passed unanimously at the last meeting, viz. :—
— **Qroydon Microscopical Club.— At a meeting of the members
_ holden on the 15th day of March, 1876, it was resolved unani-
_ ‘*mously that the Honorary Membership of the Club be conferred
‘©on Kenneth McKean, Esq., on his departure for Indii, and that
‘* this be accompanied by the expression of the best thanks of the
‘** Members of the Club for the valuable services rendered by him as
‘its Honorary Secretary, and of their sincere wishes for his
** happiness and success in life.—Signed Henry Lee, President,’’—
a testimonial on vellum had been prepared and engraved with the
foregoing, and presented to Mr. McKean on the eve of his
departure, and that Mr. McKean had requested him to convey his
hearty thanks to the members for the honour they had done him.

The Presipent further announced that the Lecture by Pro-
fessor Rupert Jones on ‘‘ The Antiquity of Man” would take
| place on Wednesday 26th inst. in the Large Hall, and also that
_ Mr. Charles Stewart, F.L.S., F.L.M.S., &c. would read a paper
* on ‘‘ Sea Stars and Sea Urchins ” at the next meeting to be held

17th May.

It was also announced that Mr. McKean had very kindly
presented the Club with 58 slides, chiefly of his own mounting.

Dr. Puirort then read a paper.

I thought that an account of some recent microscopical
researches, which have greatly advanced our knowledge of the
~ nature of infectious disease, would be interesting to the members
of this Club. On further consideration, however, I saw that this
presupposed for its due appreciation an acquaintance with minute
anatomy and pathology such as only those of my audience who
have received a technical education in these subjects would be
likely to possess. I have therefore widened the scope of my
paper, and instead of giving a detailed account of the brilliant
‘discoveries by which the causes of certain specific infectious
_ diseases have been identified with low vegetable organisms (such as
would be only interesting to my professional hearers), I propose
to take a wider view in this paper, and treat of microscopical
vegetable fungi, not only in relation to infectious disease, but in
connection with other processes occurring in nature, with the
causation of which they also appear to be intimately related, and
this I trust may prove of interest to all. In the process of fer-
mentation and putrefaction, chemical changes appear to be occa-
sioned by the rapid growth and multiplication of minute living
organisms. These processes are not only extremely interesting
themselves, but derive additional interest from the light which a

28

study of them has thrown upon the nature of infectious diseases.
Indeed, the well-known term Zymotic, applied to the large class of
infectious diseases, points out the analogy which is supposed to
exist between them and the process of fermentation. And this
analogy gave rise to the germ theory of disease, a theory the truth
of which has been confirmed by recent research. In fermentation,
putrefaction, and disease, the access of the germs of certain micro-
scopic plants sets up a process of change, the process of which
is accompanied, nay probably is caused, by enormous growth and
multiplication of the plant. When fermentation takes place in
a saccharine solution the greater part of the sugar is re-
solved into carbonic acid and aleohol, the elements of which,

taken together, are equal in weight to those of the sugar. A

small part breaks up into glycerine and succinic acid, and
one or two per cent. is not yet accounted for, but is,
perhaps, assimilated hy the Torula plant. The carbonic acid
escapes in the form of minute bubbles, the alcohol remains in
the solution, from which it can be separated by distillation. The
plant by which these chemical changes are connected is the Torula,
or Saccharomyces Cerevisiz, or yeast fungus. If a small piece of
germinating yeast is examined under a microscope with a
magnifying power of 3,000 diameters, it will be seen to consist of
numerous transparent colourless oval bodies, varying in size
from ;4; to ;; of an inch (with an average size of =, of an
inch), some single, but many joined together in heaps or
strings. Each of these minute bodies is a cell, consisting of a
thin transparent sac, the ‘ cell wall,’ and its semi-fluid contents,
the ‘* proto-plasm.”” Under favourable circumstances rapid growth
and multiplication takes place, minute buds appear on the surface
of each Torula, which become detached at various stages of their
rapid growth, some when they are extremely minute, others not
till they have reached the size of the parent Torula, and have
themselves developed buds and these yet others. Torule thus
produced by budding the one from the other frequently continue
to adhere together in heaps or strings. The Torula multiplies
in another way, by the process of endogenous division; no
budding takes place, but the ‘‘ proto-plasm divides into (usually)
four masses ; each of them surrounds itself with a cell-wall, and the
whole are set free by the dissolution of the cell-wall of the parent.”
(Huxley.) Reproduction further takes place by aeriel spores.

The power of exciting fermentation is inherent in the
Torula cells and not in the fluid part of yeast, for when
they (and their minute germs) are separated from the fluid
by a very fine filter, such as porous earthenware, the latter
will not give rise to fermentation when added to a saccharine

tea

29

solution. Further, the production of fermentation is connected
in some way with the vital processes of life and reproduction
of the fungus. Probably the peculiar power which the plant
has of seizing some of the elements of the sugar and appro-
priating them for its own growth, may in some way set up
the chemical changes. The activity of the fermentation is
directly proportionate to the rapidity of growth of the plant, and
conditions which destroy its life deprive it of its power of fermen-
tation. Independent of the Torula, fermentation does not occur ;
a saccharine solution will not ferment spontaneously. If it begins
to ferment, yeast has undoubtedly got into it in some way or other.
If it is boiled so as to destroy the efficiency of any yeast germs it may
actually contain, and then allowed to come into contact only with
such air as has been passed through cotton wool (which has the
power of intercepting any germs floating in that medium) it will
never ferment.

The chemical changes of putrefaction are intimately associated
with the growth of minute living organisms, known as bacteria or
microzymes. How far the microzymes are the cause of the

-chemical changes which are coincident with their evolution it is
difficult to say. It has been demonstrated that many animal -
fluids show no little disposition to putrefy so long as the germs
of microzymes are excluded, but that the putrefaction is at once
excited by their access ; therefore, under certain circumstances,
it may be said that microzymes are the cause of putrefaction, and
__ experience shows this to be the rule. Putrefaction does not occur
spontaneously, but it is set up by the germinal matter of micro-
zymes, and its. progress is accompanied by their growth and
reproduction. Having defined the terms bacteria, or microzymes,
Dr. Philpot continued—From careful examination it seems probable
_ that bacteria came into distinguishable existence as spheroids.
What are the conditions of their origin? There being an immense
3 preponderance of evidence that they do not spring into existence
of themselves in the media in which they grow, most observers
have looked for germs in the atmosphere, but with no success.
Liquids which contain no particle distinguishable under the highest
powers of the microscope can often be proved to possess the
property of evolving microzymes without contact with external
media, and must, therefore, contain the germinal substance from
_ which these organisms spring. In interpreting this fact it may be
supposed that the germinal substance is universally and equally
distributed, ¢.e., dissolved in such liquids, or that it is unequally
distributed or particulated. That any living substance is soluble
in water, is not at present admissable; we must therefore accept
_ the other alternative, and believe that we have to do with particles
m. . minute that they do not interfere with the homogeneity of the
iquid.

30

If we take a small quantity of hay, for convenience, divided
into small pieces, and pour sufficient boiling water on it to cover
it, infuse for half an hour, and then filter, we shall obtain a
perfectly clear fluid, which, in the course of a day or two will
become turbid, and on the surface of which a scum will form later
on; at the same time the infusion will have acquired a marked
putrefactive odour. If we now take a drop of the solution and
examine it under a high power of the microscope, we shall find it
swarming with elliptical or rod-like or jointed bodies in active
motion. These are the moving bacteria. An examination of the
scum shows the bacteria in their resting stage. Mixed with the
bacteria proper, both in the pellicle and the fluid beneath, we may
find a number of forms of living beings.

The question arises whether the bacterium is an animal or
a plant. It has a continuous cell-wall, and the power of forming
a protein from inorganic matter, such as ammonium tartrate, which
are distinctly vegetable characteristics. On account of its absorb-
ing oxygen and giving off carbonic acid, and on account of its
power of motion, it has been placed by many naturalists in the
animal kingdom. But the whole group of fungi—plants which
contain neither chlorophyll nor starch—absorb oxygen and give off
carbonic acid, and many of the lower plants, especially in the
group of Ales, give rise, under certain circumstances, to locomotive
bodies propelled by~cilia. On the power which bacteria possess
of seizing on the nitrogen of organic matter and appropriating it
in the building up of their own proto-plasm, probably depends their
power of exciting putrefaction. They have their place in nature
as the universal destroyers of nitrogenous substances ; they appro-
priate, for their own growth, the nitrogen which they steal. ‘The
germs of Torula are abundantly present in the air. In all
fermentible liquids exposed to the air fermentation ensues sooner
or later from the access of these germs. On the other hand the
germs of bacteria, as Dr. Burdon Sanderson’s experiments show,
are not present in the air, but are abundant in water and on all
surfaces not chemically clean. They exist in the purest waters,
even in distilled water (unless very special care has been taken in
its prepartion to exclude all possible source of contamination), and
on the surfaces of all vessels,

Bacteria are not only interesting as natural objects and as the
universal exciters of putrefaction, but they derive additional interest
from their close association with certain forms of disease in the
higher animals. It has been shown that in acute infective inflam-
mation microzymes abound in the exudation liquids, and that the same
forms are also to be found in the blood of the infected animals,
their presence being a constant accompaniment of all acute infective

31

suppurations. As to the part which’ bacteria play in the causation
of these diseases, Dr. B. Sanderson says : ‘‘The presence 0
characteristic organic forms in infective liquids affords in itself no
conclusive evidence that these bodies are themselves the cause
of the infectiveness. If we inferred from the constancy of their
characteristics and from their invariable presence that they are the
agents which produce the pathological results, we might be as
seriously in error as those who maintain, in the face of all the
investigations made during the last few years, that they are without
pathological significance. There is nothing in nature, and par-
ticularly in organic nature, without significance ; nor ought it to
diminish the interest which we take in any phenomenon, that we
are unacquainted with its relation to the other phenomena with
which we find it associated. If these infinitely mimute organisms
are present in every intensely infective inflammation, we may be
quite sure that they stand in important relation to the morbid
process.”

Not only in acute infective inflammation, but also in diphtheria
and erysipelas, microzymes, such as we find associated with
ordinary putrefactive processes, have been discovered.

Beyond the discovery of the relation which microzymes (such
as excite ordinary putrefaction), hold to what may be called
the common process of disease, e.g., infective inflammations, diph-
theria, and erysipelas, our knowledge has advanced so as to enable
us to connect certain specific diseases with specific organic vegetable
forms. A large number of diseases have one character in common.
They are capable of being communicated from one animal to
another, either of the same or some other species. They are
popularly spoken of as ‘‘ catching,” and scientifically, as infectious
‘or contagious (communicable would be a better word), as in all
such diseases the infecting agent or contagium consists of particles
of extreme minuteness, with respect to which it can be asserted
that the material of which it is composed is (1) not soluble in
animal liquids, (2) is not volatile at ordinary temperatures, (3) that
it possesses a specific gravity very slightly different from the liquid
in which the particles are suspended.

The fever and other morbid processes which ensue at a short
interval of time after the entrance of the germs into the system,
are (probably) closely connected with their growth and multipli-
cation. The smallest amount of contagium capable of exciting
disease has an almost indefinite power of multiplication in the
body.

T have already said that a connection has been traced between
certain diseases and specific vegetable forms. These forms of
vegetation have been found to be present in the contagious liquids ;

32

they are forms which differ from those either after death in the
normal tissues or liquids of the body, or during life in the products
of primary or secondary inflammation, The diseases in which
such forms have been discovered are small-pox, sheep-pox, a peculiar
disease of horses and cattle known as splenic fever, relapsing
fever, and lastly enteric fever. I take as examples the two diseases
investigated by Dr. Klein with such brilhant success—sheep-pox
and enteric fever. The former disease does not occur in man,
not being communicable to him, but it has a very close resem-
blance to ordinary small-pox, a resemblance so close that we must
believe the pathogeny of the two to be the same.

Dr. Philpot illustrated, by diagrams enlarged from the drawing
of Dr. Klein, the various structures discovered by that observer in the
lymph taken from the vesicles, and pointed out the highly
refractive spheroid regarded by Dr. Klein as the only form charac-
teristic of the lymph of sheep-pox in its aetive condition.

When the sheep is innoculated with the lymph in addition to
ordinary anatomical changes occurring at the seat of innoculation
in the development of the primary pock, Dr. Klein observed
changes connected with the growth and reproduction of the
micrococci. The lymphatic vessels in connection with the pock
become distended with a matter which resembles coagulated plasma.
In this, organised bodies appeared which neither belonged to the
tissue, nor are referable to anatomical type, viz., spheroid or ovoid
bodies, having the characters of micrococci and branched filaments.
The process thus commenced makes rapid progress. After one or
two days the greater number of lymphatics of the affected parts
of the corium become filled with the vegetation above described ;
and on careful examination of the masses it is seen that they
present the character of a mycelium from which necklace-like
terminal filaments spring, each of which breaks off at its free end
into condia. In most of the filaments a jointed structure can be
made out. When the vesicles have formed they are seen to
contain masses of vegetation similar to those found in the
lymphatics, with this difference, filaments of which the masses are
composed are of such extreme tenuity and the conidia are so
small and numerous, that the whole possesses the character of

zoogloea rather than of mycelium. Similar changes take place in

the secondary pustules.

In the case of enteric fever, experienced pathologists had
already argued thatit was a disease due to a specific poison, that
the contagium is a specific and living organism, which, when
transmitted from a diseased to a healthy individual, produces the
same disease in the latter; and further, that the chief if not the

Te eee

a a

33

only vesicles of the poison are the ejecta from the bowels of an
infected person. Contagium in the form of a living organism
could not be expected to produce infection at once, and the theory
that it is organised is prima facie justified by the circumstance
that a period elapses between the reception of the contagium and
the manifestation of the disease (the period of incubation) during
which the poisom lies dormant, but is in reality ripening towards
an active condition. According to Dr. Klein no other view of the
poison affords any explanation of the incubation period. No one
had hitherto succeeded in pointing out any specific organic form
as the probable cause of enteric fever. Dr. Klein discovered in the
stools of patients suffering from enteric fever numerous bright,
highly refractive, spherical, micrococci, of varying size, both
solitary and in chains or necklaces, and at times rod-like structures
from which these micrococci could be traced to originate. He
traced these not only in the stools, but also in abundance in the
mucous membrane of the bowel (the ileum) in the stages pro-
ceeding ulceration. In these parts of the ileum which at the
commencement of enteric fever appear to the unaided eye only to
be slightly increased in thickness, Lieberkuhn’s crypts are seen
to contain, in smaller or larger masses, corpuscles of a greenish
yellow colour, highly refractive, varying in form and also in size
from about twice the size of a human blood corpuscule to that of
@ minute granule; and it is evident, from the appearances they at
times present, that they multiply by transverse division from their
character. Dr. Klein concludes that they must be of the nature
of vegetable organisms, and that we have. to do with a fungus
which possesses mycelium threads of very unequal joints. In some
parts of these threads—probably the terminal parts—their contents
split into macro-gonidia and micro-gonidia, and the gonidia, when
discharged, undergo rapid division so as to form a kind of zoogloea.
Dr. Klein, therefore, identifies the contagium of enteric fever with
alow form of. vegetable life. The fungus is not only found in
Lieberkuhn’s follicles, but in the tissue of the mucous membrane
near to Peyer’s glands, and the spores and micrococci find their way
through Lieberkuhn’s follicles into the lymphatics and blood vessels,
and even into the mesenteric glands. Dr. Klein remarks that the
appearance presented by this organism corresponds closely with
those described by Cohn as characteristic of the vegetation dis-
covered by him in the well water in a district in Breslau, famous for
enteric fever—the Crenothrix Polyspora. The discovery will prove
of value in preventive rather than curative medicine. It confirms
the view which was previously arrived at by nearly all sanitarians
of experience, viz., enteric or typhoid fever is a specific infectious
disease (as infectious in its way as small-pox), communicated to the
healthy by a specific contagium contained in the ejecta from the

34

intestines of individuals suffermg from the disease. The disease-
germs find an entrance to the bodies of the healthy in one or two
ways, either with the air that is breathed, or with water or food
that is swallowed. Moist air from infected sewers, or water or
food polluted with infected sewage are the conveyors of the disease.
You will see with me, therefore, how futile it is to talk of atmos-
pheric influences giving rise to enteric fever, or to account for the
epidemics of the disease in one place by the fact of its prevalence
in other and distant parts. Happily for us such is not the case ;
if it were so we must cease to talk of enteric fever as a preventible
disease. I say emphatically all our knowledge proves that enteric
fever is an eminently preventible disease, and is caused solely and
entirely by local remediable sanitary defects—defects which allow the
air from infected sewers to escape into our houses, or defects such
as permit infected sewage to mix with our water or our food. It
only remains for me to acknowledge my indebtedness to the
writings of Huxley, Burdon-Sanderson, and Klein, for the
materials of my paper, which lays no claim to originality; and to
thank you for your kind attention.

Dr. Carpenter, being called upon by the President, remarked
that for himself he was much obliged to Dr. Philpot for
having so nicely condensed the observations of Dr. Klein, Burdon-
Sanderson, and others. He had shown very nicely the way in
which certain specific forms set up certain diseases in the human
frame. He had explained this from its commencement down to the
very forms of life, and he (Dr. Carpenter) gathered that bacteria
and the forms connected with them were vegetable rather than
animal. The alliance that existed between those and fungi must
be manifest. They knew that fungi did discharge functions in the
same way as human beings, but, at the same time, they had no
possible reason for being considered animals. They were vege-
tables, and he (Dr. Carpenter) could not help thinking bacteria had
some alliance. They, perhaps, might occupy the ground between
vegetable and animal life, and, as they were aware, there was no
real break in nature. Here appeared to be the meeting point.
There were many matters in connection with this subject which at
present physiologists did not understand. The work this Society,
with others all over the country, was doing by bringing their powers
to bear on microscopical research, would help to solve some points
in time, but each point required considerable time and research,
and it was only one out of 50,000 who had a chance of working
them out in the way Dr. Klein had done. The observations that
gentleman had made with reference to enteric fever had proved
most conclusively that that disease was, at any rate, in close con-
nection with 4 portion of vegetable matter in the human economy.
Whether it was the cause of the fever, or whether it was the effect,

ee

35

was a disputed point. He (the speaker) was very much inclined to
agree with Dr. Klein that it was the cause of the fever, because,
wherever they transported these germs, they found, in all pro-
bability, fever set up. There were some points in connection with
the subject which were very curious ones, and it was in connection
with certain forms of disease, where it was found the introduction
of bacteria in the blood of animals and even human beings had not
set up the mischief supposed to result from them. It was a curious
circumstance that bacteria, perfectly the same to all intents and
purposes, had not set up the disease in question, and certain results
_ of a similar character had followed from the injection of these germs.
It might appear at first sight that this was much opposed to the de-
ductions of Dr. Klein; but there were plenty of instances in nature
that showed that this was not so. If they took the spores produced
from the ordinary mushroom and placed them in a garden flower-pot
with fine mould they would not grow. They had to be brought in
communication with the mucous membrane of the horse, by using
dung or by other means. There might be some point of connection
wanted with reference to this very matter, and that it must come
into being with certain conditions of the human economy, which
were not necessarily always present, but that it took root and grew.
His impression was that if a person was in perfect health—if there
was no excretion retained in the body which ought to be out of it—
there was no manure in him in which that fungus could grow. But
if that person lived in a house improperly ventilated, in which
emanations from sewers were found to exist, or lived in a confined
situation, there was produced a ground in himself in which the
fungus could take root, and this person was subject to typhoid
fever. He thought this would explain some of the points which
appeared to be doubtful at first sight. Gardeners well knew that
there were many ways in which the plants under their care were
altered in their character without the root being interfered with,
and it might be that human beings had alterations take place in the
way shown by Dr. Kle. He (Dr. Carpenter) thought the Society
should be much obliged to Dr. Philpot for having so clearly put
before them some of the important points in his paper.

,

No other member having any remarks to make, a vote of
thanks was accorded Dr. Philpot for his interesting paper, and a
similar compliment was paid to Dr. Carpenter for the valuable
observations he had made.

The following gentlemen placed their microscopes at Dr.
Philpot’s disposal :—Messrs. J. Berney, W. H. Beeby, P. Crowley,
J. 8. Johnson, H, Kemp Welch, E. Lovett, H. Turner, and
E. B. Sturge.

back pptafret . ARG or een oS ST
Gebe . Le. CBT a
me 86 t

Mr. Joun Frower exhibited and described a male Hybrid, 5
between the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix), and the Hazel Grouse
(Bonasa betulina), which he had purchased at the shop of
Mr. Smithers, poulterer, Cannon Street, London, on March 16th,
1876. The Black Grouse has been known to cross with the
Capireailly, the Willow Grouse, the Common Pheasant, and even
with the Barn Door Fowl: all of which species are polygamous.
It has also been known, on one or two occasions, to cross with the
Red Grouse, which is monogamous, but this is thé only instance on
record of a hybrid between the Black Grouse and the Hazel Grouse,
which is also a monogamous species. Judging from the plumage
this bird seems to’ be the produce of a Hazel Cock, and a Grey Hen.
Mr. Flower called particular attention to the peculiar structure of
the bird’s feet, which much resemble those of the Black Grouse,
and are specially formed to enable the bird to walk with ease
and comfort over soft and yielding or hard and slippery snow.
This bird was exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society of
London, on April 4th, and excited much interest.

At the conclusion of the description, which was listened to
with much interest, the President expressed the thanks of the Club
to Mr. Flower, and the meeting was soon afterwards brought to

~ a close.

April 26th, 1876.—Extra Meeting held in the Public Hall. The
President, Henry Lez, Esq., in the chair.

Lecture on ‘“‘Antiquity or Man,” illustrated by the Contents of
Caves and Relics of the Cave Folk, by Prorzssor Rupert
Jones, F'.R.S., F.G.S., &e., &e.

Mr. H. Les, the President, in introducing the Lecturer to the
audience, said when the Croydon Microscopical Club was
established, just six years ago, and a preliminary meeting of its
promoters was held at his house, little more was anticipaied, of it
than that a few men interested in microscopical science might meet
together for their mutual pleasure and advantage at each other’s
residences ; but before they had actually started, so many expressed
a desire to join the moyement that they had about forty members.
Their opening meeting was honoured by the presence of many first-
class men, among whom was the founder of the Microseopical
Society of London, now the Royal Microscopical Society. They
started, therefore, with good assistance, and since then, he was
happy to say, they had made rapid, though sure and steady
progress; and the Club now numbered nearly 2U0 members.
(Cheers.) They soon found that the funds at their disposal,
obtained by small subscriptions from a large number, enabled them -

‘
q
a
¥
¢
a
*
‘
r
4
-

87

to invite their lady friends to attend a soirée, to admire various

beautiful objects which could be seen under the microscope, as

well as curiosities and specimens that were lent them for exhibition.

Soon afterwards they saw their way clearly to occupy wider ground,

and they altered the Club so that it might take up its position as

the Natural History Club of this district of Surrey. They felt also

that it was right that they should utilize their funds for the

advantage of their present members, as well as keep a prudent

balance for proper contingencies, and whilst accumulating a library

of books, and a cabinet of objects, they found themselves in a

position to extend their invitations to the spring as well as the

autumn season, and listen to a first-class lecture by a first-class

man. Their first lecture was given by Professor Morris, on ‘‘ The

Geology of Croydon.’’ He ventured to say that the lecture was

one which would be an honour to any society, and that it would

take its place in the literature of this country as long as time should

last. It seemed to him that the lecture Professor Jones was about

to deliver would be a fitting sequel to the lecture of his predecessor,

and that after hearing Professor John Morris deliver his masterly

address on the physical changes which had taken place on the earth,

they might very well ask Professor Rupert Jones, who was equally

well known, to be kind enough to come there and tell them what

science had proved with respect to the first appearance of man

upon the globe, and those who were the former inhabitants of our

_ country. He then formally introduced Professor Jones to the
; audience.

.PRroFEssor Jonzs introduced his subject by reminding his hearers

that antiquaries can trace back the successive periods of govern-

ments and dynasties by the relics and ruins beneath London, from

the Georgian to the Roman age. He referred to Colonel Lane Fox's

discovery of the old pile-village of the Romano-British period in

the Finsbury Marsh, and to the indications of still older aboriginal

wattled huts in pit dwellings on the gravel subsoil beneath Paul’s

Cross, in Cheapside. The fossil contents of this gravel, under

_ various parts of London, lead us further back in time beyond the

historic and pre-historic ages to what geologists termed the

Pleistocene period, when the Thames, much wider than now, formed

great shoals of gravelly shingle and wide-spread flats of loamy

_ flood-mud, and drifted away the carcases of mammoth, rhinoceros,

lion, urus, musk ox, and other animals now strange to the district.

The relics of man, such as implements of stone, were found here

and therg, with the bones of these Pleistocene animals in the valley

_ gravels of the Thames and its tributaries ; also in similar gravels

in neighbouring valleys, both in England and France, and in

the caves of limestone districts, where similar conditions existed.

_ The subsequent decrease of the river, leaving its margin of gravel

and loam, and the ultimate coating of peat over the marshy flats

88

bordering its now narrow channel, completed the history of the
changes down to the historic period. In these later river deposits,
and in the peat bogs, implements of polished stone, of bronze, and
of iron, were found to have been successively deposited; but in the
older gravels, and associated loams, whether in the valleys or in
the caves, stone implements (shaped only by chipping), were
found, and the oldest kind, have given the name “ Palaolithic ” to
their period, whilst the subsequent age, when man had got the
habit of sharpening his weapons of stone by grinding, is termed
‘“‘Nevlithic.”” The great lapse of time required to complete the
formation of the Danish peat-bogs in which implements of iron,
bronze, and polished stone are successively accompanied by the
beech of the present period, the older oak, and the still more
ancient fir tree, belonging to these three changes of conditions, and
of the associated animal life was next dwelt upon. An account of
the Swiss lake-dwellinys, or pile-villages, was then given; and the
indications of successive generations of peoples, using iron, bronze,
and polished stone tools, in more or less distinct gradations, were
pointed out. Those using implements of stone were not altogether
uncivilized ; and yet, if the incomplete evidence of geographical
changes be accepted, they lived some 6,000 years ago, before the
Roman conquests of western Europe. ‘They did not possess the
reindeer, though the animal had been hunted near by in earlier
times by cave-dwellers (Canton Schaffhausen), and in France, and
then the climate must have been cold enough for its existence so
far south, and cold evough for the habitation of rock shelters or
sunuy slopes, where, during the present summers of France, even
for the stench-bearing Esquimaux to abide, with the heaps of
garbage, stinking flesh and bones, would have been impossible ;
but there, the hunters of the reindeer, horse, and musk ox, did
live, using chipped flint tools, and knowing not how to grind and
polish them—thengh they used some kind of grindstones in pre-
paring food and paint, and were artistically inclined. They
cleverly engraved outlines of animals and other things on bone,
ivory, and stone, with pointed flints and shaped bone and ivory,
into handles of poniards and quaint statuettes. Among their
drawings is a lively figure of the hairy high-fronted elephant
(Mammoth), which they therefore must have seen, and which
ranged over colder regions of the western hemisphere. The long
and unknown space of time requisite for the change of climate from
Arctic conditions in South France and Switzerland to warmer
winters and hotter summers, unfavourable to the existence of mam-
moth, reindeer, and musk-ox, divided the cave-dwellers using
chipped flakes, from the lake-dwellers using polished stone imple-
ments. ‘hese caye-folk of Dordogne and elsewhere, however, were
by no means the oldest inhabitants of caves. They lived at, or

a

se Se ee eee

i

39

near the level of existing rivers; but there are caves containing

relics uf human inhabitants, which have been left high up in the

limestone cliffs, whilst the rivers have worn away the gorge below toa
great depth. This is shown by the presence of certain pebbles in the
deposits within the cave, which must have rolled across the interval,
from the other side of the valley, whilst a floor existed at the level of
the cave. If this excavation be due to the violent rush of the
torrent from the increased slope of its channel, caused by the rising
of the land, what was the rate of elevation? Further, some few of
the caves contain stone implements of ruder make than those left
in others ; and the valley gravels left behind as terraces and isolated
patches by the rivers, which have deepened and narrowed thin
channeis, also contain such rude and even ruder implements, care-

‘ fully, but roughly chipped, and doubtless serving very well

the purpose to which these early people applied them. These
gravels contain remains of the Arctic animals. Their age is to be
reckoned by the time required for their formation and their distri-
bution. The subsequent excavation of lower valleys, and the other
stages of time already indicated, necessarily lengthen their
chronology. Their existence is owing to the early formation of
gravel plats and plains of loam out of the débris of the land, when
it was far above its present height ; and when Western Europe had
been raised so high out of water as to comprise the British Islands
as far as the well-known ‘‘hundred-fathom-line,’’ which when
raised to the water level would of course add at least 600-ft. to the
height of the land’s surface. The Alps were much higher than
now ;‘and probably Snowdon stood at least 2,000-ft. higher than at
present. ‘This elevation originated in the great alteration of the
earth’s crust in this portion of the globe, by contraction of its axis,
immediately after the long ‘Tertiary Period” of geologists,
bringing in the new conditions of geography, hydrography, and
distribution of life in what is known as the ‘ Pleistocene Period.”’
The great uprise of land was probably then; it introduced enormous
glaciers, grooving out the great gorges, which, after vast and con-
tinuous changes, the greatest rivers have scarcely yet filled up with
their plain-making detritus. Whether men existed or not in this
earliest part of the Pleistocene period is as yet unproved. A great
reaction took place, and a great and gradual subsidence lowered
plain and mountain, until Snowdon sank to be an island not more
than 1,000-ft. at most in height, and the shoulders of the mountain
were below the great Northern Sea; for when it rose again, Moel
Tryfaen (now 1,300-ft. above the sea) bore up the well-known
sands and shingle with marine shells, in witness of the change.
Man had set foot in this region by that time, for when the giaciers,
during some of their oscillations, occupied the great vaies of
Western Yorkshire, one of them left some of the characteristic

40

laminated mud ina cave opening against its lateral moraine, and
this mud buried up some old cave earth, in which are bones of
elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, hyenas, and man. This
glacial clay was surmounted by a cave earth, formed after the
glacier had melted away and left the vailey open but cold, for rein-
deer bones occur in this layer. Subsequently the face of the cliff
slowly shed its frost-bitten fragments, and formed a talus of great
thickness, on the slope of which Neolithic men came and went.
These, after some 500 years (as measured by the state of formation
of the talus), the Romano-British (or Brit-Welsh), driven from their
cities by invaders (Picts or Saxons) lodged in the cave, and left
their riches on the sunny slope outside; and these are covered by
the fallen trees of 1,200 years. Add these small sums of historic
and pre-historic years together ; allow for the period of reindeer life
in Yorkshire; measure out a time for the glacier’s coming and
going; and add the many years and ages whilst the great
Pleistecene animals roamed over the changing scenes, and some
notion will be gained of the antiquity of man. To allow for the
last uprise of Snowdon, for its previous subsidence, and still earlier
and higher elevation, some 200,000 years at least is required, when
the glacial period came in. If not before this period, certainly
during some part of the time, whilst England was continuous with
the Continent, the mammoth and man existed here together; and
the -many great changes that have occurred since Paleolithic man
left his implements in lakes, rivers, and caves, have required a large
proportion of those two thousand centuries.

Dr. CarPENTER said he rose at the command of the President
for the purpose of asking the audience to join with him in
presenting a vote of thanks to the learned lecturer for the admirable
way in which he had pnt the subject before them. He had told them
that they were now still living ina stoneage. He (Ir. Carpenter)
was quite sure that the present time belonged to the neolithic or
polished stone age, and he was equally certain that it was right to
accord to him the vote of thanks that was undoubtedly due to him
for the admirable way in which he had entertained them that
evening. The almost perfect silence with which his lecture had
been Jistened to must have told him the interest it awakened, and
also that the audience would fully understand all that he so plainly
put before them. He asked them to join with him in a most hearty
vote of thanks.

The motion having been seconded by Mr. F. West, was carried
by acclamation, to which Professor Jonzs briefly replied.

The Lecture was attended by 78 members, and 409 friends of
members.

41

Mrs. J. W. Flower and Mr. John Flower, kindly lent a large
and valuable collection of flint implements.

ay Ist, 1876.—Conversational Meeting—Five members present.

ay 17th, 1876.—Paper read by Mr. Caarues Stewart, F.R.M.S., &e.,
Presiden‘ of the South London Microscopical Club, on ‘‘ Sra Stars
AND Sra Urcuins.” The President, Mr. Hexry Les, in the chair.

Lhe minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Srewarr Overton, Selsdon Road, was proposed for
membership.

The Present alluded in feeling terms to the loss sustained
by the Club in the sudden death of Mr. Frederick West. and it was
resolved unanimously, ‘‘ That the Honorary Secretary be requested
to write a letter of condolence to Mrs. West, expressing the respect
and esteem in which Mr. West was held by members of the Club,
and their sympathy with his family in their bereavement.”’

The PrestpENT announead that the excursions of the season
would take place in connection with the Quekett and South London
Microscopical Clubs.

Mr. E. Loverr very kindly presented six slides of interesting
objects for the Club cabinet, and received the thanks of the
members.

Mr. Cuartes Stewart then gave an interesting account of
‘“‘ Sea Stars and Sea Urchins,” describing the habits, appearance,
and peculiarities of the various kinds of Echinodermata, including
the Lily Star Fish, and the snake-armed Star Fish ; illustrating the
paper by drawings on the black board in coloured chalks.

After some discussion by the President and others a very
cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Stewart.

The President, Mr. W. H. Beeby, Mr. P. Crowley, Mr. F. E.
Fletcher, Mr. E. Lovett, Mr. George Manners, Dr. Strong, Mr.
_ E. B. Sturge, Mr. H. Turner, and Mr. A. D. Taylor, placed their
microscopes at Mr. Stewart’s disposal in order to exhibit the very
_ beautiful specimens he had brought down to the meeting.

A few fossils were also exhibited by Mr. E. Lovett and Mr.
E. B. Sturge. M5

_ The proceedings of the Club were then adjourned until
Wednesday, 20th September.

42

July 3rd, 1876.—Conversational meeting--Two members present.

August Ist, 1876.—Conversational meecting—Six members present,
several of whom brought microscopes and exhibited various shells
of diatoms, foraminifere, &c.

September 4th, 1876.—Conversational meeting—Six members present.

September 20th, 1876.——Paper read by Mr. Henry Turner, on
“TRILOBITES AND THEIR MopERN REPRESENTATIVES.” The
President, Mr. Henry Les, in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Stewart Overton was ballotted for and duly elected a
member.

The following gentlemen were proposed for membership :—
Mr, T. Loftus, Outram Lodge, Lower Addiscombe Road; Mr.
Harvey Roberts, Norfolk House, Cheam Road, Sutton; Mr.
James Packham, 16, Katherine Street, Croydon; Mr. John Albert
Toms, of Lytchett Villa, Bedford Park, Croydon; and Dr.
Williams, of Oakfield, Duppas Hill, Croydon.

The PresipENT announced that the Committee had decided to
hold the annual soirée on Wednesday, 29th November.

Mr. H. Turner then read a paper on ‘‘ Trilobites and their
Modern Representatives.” Ho said that Trilobites had always been
objects of special interest to the geologist on account, partly of the
former obscurity of their nature, partly by reason of their great
beauty and variety of form; but chiefly, he thought, because of—
even to the geologist—their amazing antiquity, for they were, until
somewhat recently, considered to have been among the earliest of
living things. In order that they might properly understand what
was known of these long extinct animals, it was necessary that they
should know somewhat of the nature and habits of existing crustacea
which, if not their lineal descendants, may be considered the modern
representatives of the Trilobites. As his type of crustacea, Mr.
Turner took the common edible lobster (homarus vulgaris); with
whose general appearance everybody was familiar, and the anatomy
and physiology of which he described minutely, commencing at the
body, which comprises the abdomen, commonly called the tail, and
the cephalo-thorax, consisting of the head and chest. These were
composed of 20 rings, ealled ‘‘ somites,’ more or less like each
other ; of these the head eontained six, the thorax eight, and the
abdomen six. The latter are connected by flexible integument ; they
overlap each other from front to rear, and are moveable, so that

bd

Oe a

j
4

43

the animal ean double himself up and use this part of his body as a
powerful instrument of propulsion. Those of the head and thorax
were welded together into one piece, called tke ‘‘ carapace,” having,
however, a slight depression which distinguishes the head from the
thorax. Of the abdominal somites Mr. Turner took the third
as a typical segment, which he fully described, and also explained
that all the other somites were formed upon this plan, but were
variously modified. Referring to the internal organisation of the
lobster, Mr. Turner said the shell was, of course, filled partly with
muscular tissue, by means of which the animal movel about, and
which was the indigestible stuff people ate when they partook of a
lobster supper. He described the pericardium, the heart, the
respiratory apparatus, the stomach, the nervous system of the
articulata and the vertebrata, and the reproductive organs, and with
this he concluded his sketch of the lobster as an example of the
general plan upon which the crustacea were constructed. Of the
other groups of crustacea, one need only glance at some of them to
see that, although constructed upon this same general plan, they
departed very widely from the type he had selected—some more,
others less, to suit their various modes of life, and the conditions by
which they might be surrounded.

Mr. Turner, in referring to the structure of the Trilobite,
said that of its external organization, we know nothing; but
we might fairly presume that—to some extent, at any rate
—it resembled that of living crustacea, and was apon the
same general plan, although, perhaps, ditfering widely in details.
The only living animal whose form approaches that of the Trilobite is
the Limulus, or King Crab of the Eastern Seas. This animal has a
horse-shoe-like carapace, sword-like tail, and limbs, some of which
are used for swimming, others for jaws. lLimuloid forms are
found in the carboniferous rocks. The most striking feature in the
outward structure of the Trilobite is that from which the family
name is derived, namely, its longitudinal trilobation or division into
three lobes. This trilobation is common to all Trilobites, but is
more distinct in some genera than in others. Besides this longi-
tudinal division by furrows more or less deep, the exo-skeleton is
divided into three lateral parts—the head, thorax and pygidium, or
tail. These large divisions are composed of rings or segments
which vary in number in different genera and species. Those of
the head are united into a kind of carapace or cephalic shield; the
segments of the thorax and tail being distinct by means of furrows,
as in the abdomen of the lobster. The middle lobe of the Trilobite,
answering to the back of the lobster, is called the axis, and the side
lobes the pleura. The posterior angles of the cephalic shield are
frequently prolonged into spines of a greater or less length, as are

44

also the pleura of the thorax and tail, thus giving the animal the
appearance of great beauty, and probably serving also for defence.
The body, too, is sometimes tuberculated, especially the head,
thus adding to the beauty of the creature.

Respecting the under aspect of the creature, Mr. Turner said but
little was known. It was true, that a few years ago, we heard of some-
body having found, in Canada, what he believed to be the legs of a
Trilobite, but Mr. Turner was not aware that the discovery had been
confirmed. Hundredsof these creatures had passed through his hands,
but he had never seen anything like legs or swimmers; though he
believed he had found something like antenne in one or two species.
Whether these creatures had legs, whether in the absence of legs
they crawled along on the bottom of the sea in which they lived,
whether they propelled themselves through the water by means of
the tail, as the lobster propelled itself, he did not know. But some
at all events—the Calymene, for instance—had the power of rolling
themselves into a kind of ball, like the wood-louse, in which state
they were buried. The only appendages of which we are at
all certain are the eyes and the lips. The eyes are extremely
interesting. In some genera—for example the Encrinurus—the
eyes were stalked, as in the lobster; in others they were sessile ;
while some trilobites are considered to have been blind. Further,
the eyes of many are beautifully and numerously faceted, as in the
Phacops and others ; some are large, and many so small as scarcely
to be visible to the naked eye; and it is singular that these small
eyes have always been found detached from the animal that bore
them. What a wonderful series of thoughts is suggested to the
mind as one gazes upon these beautifully preserved relics of a time
so long passed away. The fossil remains -of trilobites are more
generally found in fragments than whole ; occasionally separate
segments only are met with. The reason for this is, that the
attachment between the several divisions—head, thorax, and tail
—was weaker than that between the segments of the same division,
and that decomposition and the separation of these parts occurred
before burial. Just the same was the case with the vertebrata, the
mammalia, the saurians, and the fishes, and with the bivalve mollusea,
whose shells are often found apart.

Now there is as wide a departure from the trilobite among the
ancient crustacea as from the lobster type among the modern crustacea.
Trilobites vary very much, both in size and form ; some have been found,
both in Wales and America, nearly two feet long, while others are so
small as to be scarcely visible to the naked eye. The variations in the
form of the head, in the number of rings in the thorax, or tail, the
presence or absence of spines, the form of the eyes, and the like,
give rise to the division of the trilobites, but it is thought that some

45

of the forms may be only the young of others more mature.
(Mr. Turner here enumerated a few of the most common genera
pretty nearly in their order of time, some of which were illustrated
by large drawings in the room). Many of the genera and specific
names, he said, were arbitrary rather than descriptive, being
derived sometimes from the discoverer, sometimes from the locality
where first found or where abounding, and sometimes purely poetical.

These animals had a very extensive range both in space
and time. As regards space, the remains of the same genera are
found in the palwozoic rocks of the Old World, America, and
Australia; while as to time they may be traced through the
immense palwozoic rocks from the Cambrian, in which they first
appear, to the coal measures, beyond which, as yet, we find no
trace of their existence. This represents a period of time con-
cerning the length of which the human mind cannot form the
faintest conception. How much earlier they may have existed, or
how much later they may have continued, we at present do not
know. But the trilobites are not equally distributed through the
palwozoic rocks, either in space or time. They abound in some
localities on the same level more than others, just as cockles and
oysters, crabs and shrimps do now, their abundance or variety
depending probably upon the plenty or scarcity of food and other
circumstances. Some rocks literally swarm with their remains,
whilst others of the same material, close by, are almost or quite
barren. They appear, also, to have reached their maximum both
in the number of genera and species in the upper beds of Lower
Silurian rocks, after which they gradually died out in the coal
measures. Moreover, the genera and species seem to have had
their limited range, though often a long and wide range, in space
and time. One cannot but be desirous to know what were the
habits of these animals, their colour and form, whether they
frequented deep or shallow water, and whether they were car-
nivorous or vegetarians. Their remains are found most abundantly
in mud-formed or limestone rocks, and less frequently, I think, in
sandstone deposits, which seem to indicate that they lived at some
distance from the shore, in water somewhat deep and still; or it may
be that the sand did not preserve their remains so effectually as
the mud.

Below the lower Cambrian rocks—the Menevians of
St. David’s—which yield the great Paradoxides, lie the still older
Harlech grits and Barmouth sandstones, in which have been
discovered, besides Paradoxites, Agnosti, and others, a genus of
trilobite called Plutonia Sedgwickii, ‘‘ which” says Sir C. Lyell,
‘is comparable in size to the large Paradoxides Davidis; has well
developed eyes, and is covered with tubercles.” What are we to
conclude from this? Are we to suppose that these large and well-

46

developed forms bounded, so to speak, upon the stage of life, or
may we not presume that they were preceded by humbler forms
whose remains may yet be found, by patient investigation, in
English or other rocks still older than those pointing to the
crustacean forms in times so remote as to be beyond the grasp of
the most powerful conception? And may we not also as fairly
presume that trilobite forms may yet be discovered in rocks newer
than the coal measures, so bringing down their existence to times
nearer our own? Here is holiday work and recreation for those
who have the inclination and the opportunity.

One remark in conclusion. To what purpose was all this
variety and beauty of'form, and profusion of ornament, when and
where there was no human eye to see them? Gray, in his ex-
quisitely polished verse, says :—

Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear ;

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
—TI cannot. entirely agree with the poet. I rather believe that the
colour and fragrance of flowers serve some purpose to bird or insect
even in the desert. I cannot believe that there can be any waste
in the vast laboratory of the Great Chemist, but that everything is
made to serve some beneficent purpose in the wise economy of
nature.

The paper was illustrated by a dissection of a lobster.
The Presipent having invited remarks,

Mr. Syeuuine asked if there was any means of ascertaining
whether the eye of the creature was concentrated upon a single
object, or upon a number of objects before an impression was con-
veyed to the brain ?

The Presient said he had no doubt that only one image was
received by the eyes of the animal, although he might have all sorts
of images around him. A man had two eyes, but he did not see
double unless he was drunk.

Mr. Perry thought the trilobite must have been an inhabitant
of very deep water, and that the immense number of facets were
probably to collect all possible rays of light that might pass down
into the great depth of water. He had looked at the eye a good
many times, and had come to that conclusion.

The PresipEenT dissented from this opinion, and after making
a few remarks upon the admirable paper of Mr. Turner, and the nice
way in which it had been illustrated by specimens and diagrams,
tendered on behalf of the Club a hearty vote of thanks to that
gentleman.

47

Mr. Turner, in reply, said he should be amply rewarded for
any trouble that he had taken in the matter if he should be the
means of causing some of them to work among the old rocks them-
selves, and see if some new forms could not be brought to light and
to Croydon for their inspection.

The President exhibited a very fine specimen of a King Crab.
The following members placed their instruments at Mr. Turner’s
disposal, and also exhibited numerous specimens of fossils,
crustacea, &c., in connection with the subject of the paper :—-
Messrs. J. S. Johnson, H. M. Klaassen, E. Lovett, G. N. Price,
G. Manners, A. D. Taylor, Dr. Strong, and Mr. E. B. Sturge.
Dr. Carpenter exhibited a specimen of the American pokeweed in
full seed. Mr. Klaassen exhibited a sea-urchin (Echinus), as found
at present on sea shores, a fossil from the chalk at Caterham, and
a flint specimen from a Croydon road, also some beautiful specimens
of fossil sponges, collected near Swindon, and some ammonites,
collected at Whitby. Mr. E. Lovett exhibited some young forms
of crustacea, perfect. forms of foraminifera, globigerina, &c., with
spines, in situ, from thé South Pacific, also some fresh water
crustacea (artacus fluviatilis) from the Thames, near Cricklade,

Wiltshire.

Mr. E. Lovett presented six slides for the club cabinet, and
received the thanks of the members.

- October 2nd, 1876.—Conversational Meeting. Six Members present.

Mr. Klaassen exhibited Vegetable Preparations; Mr. Lovett Fossil
and recent specimens of Teredo Navalis and Foraminiferous Rock

from Clifton. °

October 18th, 1876.—Paper read by Mr. W. H. Berzsy, F.R.M.S., on
‘¢Tsr Crystats oF Lime Saurs FounD IN Puants.”’ The Presi-
dent, Mr. Henry Lee, in the chair. The minutes of the last meet-
ing were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen were ballotted
and duly elected Members :—Mr. T. Loftus, Mr. Harvey Roberts, Mr.
James Packham, Mr. John Albert Toms, and Dr. Williams. Mr.
Egbert Alfred Crowley, 62, High Street, Croydon, and the Rey.
A. J. Bennoch, Woodside, were nominated for election.

The Presipent announced that Mr. John Flower would read a
- paper in November, ‘On the Natural History of Pallas Sand
Grouse”? (Syrrhaptes Paradoxus), and Dr. Carpenter one in
December, ‘‘ On the Circulation of Sap in Plants.”

Mr. W. H. Bessy then read a paper ‘‘ On THE CrysTAts or Live
Satts Founp in Puants.’’—Mr. Beeby said the above subject had not

48

hitherto received much attention, either from Botanists or Micros-
copists generally, but probably every one present was aware that a
very large number of plan\s contained, within the cells of which
they were composed, crystals of various salts of lime. For some
time past all plant crystals of whatever shape had been confounded
under the common name of ‘“‘ Raphides ;’”’ that name, however, was
only properly applied to that particular form of crystal to which it
was Originally given, viz., the needle-shaped or acicular. Professor
Gulliver—to whose researches we owed almost everything that is
known of these crystals—had classified them according to their
form in the following order :—1st, Raphides ; 2nd, Crystal Prisms ;
and 8rd, Spheraphides. The Raphides were generally found in
small bundles within the cell; they presented less variety of form
than the other crystals, differing only in size and comparative length
and-breadth. They were to be easily obtained from the black -bryony,
by simply squeezing out a drop of juice from a ripe berry on to a
slide, when the raphides would be seen, some lying loosely about,
while others remained in compact bundles. These crystals were to
be found in a number of our native plants, amongst which were
mentioned arum maculatum, lemna triscula, orchids, typha latifolia ;
and amongst foreign plants, in the grape-vine, Virginian creeper,
aloes, American poke-weed, &c. ‘The crystal prisms were the most
varied in form of all; they were divided into the long and short
prismatic crystals. They were found in the testa, or seed-coat of
the elm; in the testa and pericarp of our wild geraniums ; in the
leaves, calyx, and stipules of many representatives of the pea tribe ;
as in our wild vetches, clovers, &c. The spheraphides were distinet
from these two classes, and as to variety of form were intermediate
between them. They were to be found in many of the pink tribe
of plants, in the common dog-mercury, and in many representatives
of the dock and nettle tribes. The value of these crystals in
systematic botany, and the size and compositions of the crystals,
were also explained by Mr. Beeby, who then proceeded as follows :—

Respecting the office which these crystals fill in the economy
of the plant, it has sometimes been maintained that they are no use
whatever, but that they are merely of accidental occurrence—the re-
sults of an abnormal condition of the plant. This, however, is not the
case, though when once deposited they are probably of no further use
to the plant, unless, as seems possible in some very succulent species
in which they oceur in great quantities, they may act as a kind of
skeleton to help in supporting the plant. As to the mode in which
some of the crystals are deposited, I will read a sbort quotation from
the text book of botany by Dr. Julius Sachs. He says, ‘ A large
part of the calcium taken up by plants is precipitated by oxalic acid,
and remains inactive. The importance of calcium must there-
fore be sought partly in its serving as a vehicle for sulphuric

49

and phosphoric acid in the absorption of food-material, and
partly in its fixing the oxalic acid, which is even poisonous to the
plant, and rendering it harmless.’ Connected with this part of the
subject is the bearing which the study of these crystals may have
on agriculture. Professor Gulliver has already called attention to
this point. I was told recently, and shall be glad of information on
this question, that when a farmer desires to change a grass field
into a clover field, he simply manures it heavily with lime, without
necessarily sowing any clover seeds. I thought at the time that
there was probably some connection between this and the fact that
the clovers abound in crystals of oxalate of lime. If I am
correct as to the facts, I believe the explanation to be as follows :—
We know that the clovers in a healthy state contain vast numbers
of crystals of oxalate of lime, and that they must therefore secrete
oxalic acid. Professor Gulliver, indeed, has calculated that one inch
of the midrib of a leaflet of clover contains 17,500 without counting
the smaller veins. Ifthe plant cannot get sufficient lime to fix the
oxalic acid, which Dr. Sachs tells us is poisonous to the plant, it
naturally remains poor and small, and is easily overpowered by the
grass ; when, however, it gets the lime it requires, it becomes strong,
and in its turn overpowers the grass—that is, of course, presuming
that there is already some clover in the grass field, which is usually
the case. I may mention also, in support of this view, that crystals
of lime salts are not found in any grass. It appears to me that we
learn from this that those plants which, in a healthy state, are
found to secrete these crystals should be manured accordingly, and
I think it would be a very interesting experiment to watch the effect
of different mavures on some plants like the garden-pea, which, as I
have already said, contains very large numbers of these crystals. It
seems probable also that the presence or absence of these crystals
may possibly account for the distribution of some plants. Professor
Gulliver has said that every British orchid yet examined has been
found to contain raphides. Now nearly all of our British orchids
are chalk-loving plants, and indeed they will not exist without it.
On the other hand, Professor Gulliver informs me that he has also
found raphides in foreign epiphytal species, while in other epiphytal
species he has been unable to detect them. Again the dog-mercury
(mercurialis perennis) abounds in spheraphides, whether growing
on chalk or not, so that there are many apparent contradictions to
this view. I think that the subject of manures for plants, and the
distribution of plants, would form together an interesting study in
connection with these crystals. My remarks on these two points
are intended to be regarded rather as suggestions for future investi-
gations than as established facts. In conclusion, I will, with your
permission, read one more extract from Professor Gulliver’s pub-
lished writings on this subject, He says—‘‘ When we consider the

50

importance of lime in the economy of animals, we may well admire
this one of several sources by which, as we now see, nature has so
abundantly provided this earth in that very provender on which
many animals greedily feed. Has any chemist ever determined the
percentage of lime and starch and its derivatives, in the leguminous
plants used as fodder for ruminant and other animals, and the rela-
tion of such constituents to the value of such food ? What are their
absolute and relative qualities in a truss of clover or sainfoin ?
Surely questions of this rational sort will have to be sotved, sooner
or later, in the interest of scientific agriculture. We can now
perceive some of the significance of these crystals. But why they
should be constantly present in certain parts of the structure of one
plant or group of plants, and as regularly absent from the same
parts of others; why, instead of the form of shapeless precipitates
the lime should occur in crystals within beautifully-organized cells,
arranged with exquisite regularity, we can nowise understand. Here
‘science is in complete darkness, utterly unable to see the cause of
these phenomena. And it is so as regards such lowly objects, we
may derive from them—and their number is legion—lessons of hu-
mility which should not be without use to those philosophers who
believe themselves able to unveil, by mere physical inquiries, the
mysteries of the highest creation.”’

On the termination of the paper a short discussion ensued, in
which Dr. Strong, Dr. Carpenter, and other members took part,
after which the President accorded to Mr. Beeby the cordial thanks
of the Club for his paper, upon which he had been at work ever
since the recess. This was a great compliment to the Club, anda
great credit to himself.

The paper was illustrated by diagrams and microscopical speci-
mens, the latter being exhibited under microscopes placed at Mr.
Beeby’s disposal by the following members :—The President, Mr. P.
Crowley, Mr. J. 8. Johnson, Mr. H. M. Klaassen, Mr. E. Lovett,
Mr. George Manners, Mr. George Perry, Dr. Strong, Mr. EK. B.
Sturge, and Mr. A. D. Taylor.

Dr. CarpENTER called attention to an admirable specimen of a
fossil sponge which had been dug up in gravel that had been de-
posited in the Brighton-road. It was the most perfect specimen he

- had ever seen.

The PresipEent remarked that they were generally called fossil
mushrooms by the stone-breakers.

Mr. H. Turner called attention to a singular phenomenon he
had lately witnessed in connection with the stars,

51

November 6th, 1876.—Conversational Meeting. Seven members present.

November 15th, 1876.—Paper read by Mr. Joun Frower, M.A., on

Pantas’ Sanp Grouse -(Syrrhaptes Paradowus). The President,
Mr. H. Lee, in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Hon.
Secretary, Mr. EH, B. Sturge, and confirmed.

Mr. Egbert Alfred Crowley and Rey. A. J. Bennoch were
elected members.

The following gentlemen were nominated for election at the
next meeting, viz.:—Mr. H. Salmon, 8, Warwick Villas, Clyde-
road, Addiscombe; Mr. Alfred Walton, Lauriston House, Tavistock-
road, Croydon; Mr. Allen Lambert, junior, High-street, Croydon;
Mr. Robert Hall, Garth Villas, Addiscombe; Mr. J. W. Wallis,
Lansdowne Gardens, Croydon; Mr. William N. Cuates, Fai field-
road, Croydon; Mr. A. G. Blake, Dingwall-road, Croydon.

The Presipent stated that some little time ago a wish was
expressed that a little more time should be given to the exhibition
of microscopes and for conversation, and he was glad to inform
them that arrangements had been made that the room should be
open at seven o'clock and remain open till ten. Many of the exhibitors
were not aware of this arrangement, and it would greatly oblige the
members if they would keep their microscopes on exhibition a little
longer than at present, but, of course, if the gentlemen wished to
catch a train, or to leave earlier than usual, they would not be ex-
pected to put themselves to inconvenience. Although on this occasion
it was not a microscopical evening, he was just as pleased to see
microscopes present, and he hoped there would not be an evening
when microscopes would not be brought because they had a lecture
on Natural History. He asked those gentlemen who intended to
exhibit at the approaching soirée to send in their names as soon as
possible. He hoped the Club would figure well on the occasion,
and that it would be strongly represented. A large amount of
influence had been exerted to make the soirée successful, and a
number of gentlemen from other microscopical societies had
promised to give their attendance and exhibit their microscopes.
‘That was a reason why the members of the Club should endeavour
to use their best exertions on that occasion, and he had no doubt
that they would do all in their power to make the soirée equal to,
if not surpass, the soirées previously held under the auspices of the
Club. He also mentioned that the Committee had decided to add to
the library the following works :—Sach’s Botany”’ (translated by
Professor Thistleton Dyer and Mr. A. W. Bennett) and the new
edition of ‘‘ Carpenter on the Microscope.”’

52

Mr. Frower said—The two birds which I have brought for
your inspection this evening are two specimens, both females, of
Pallas’s Sand Grouse (Syrrhaptes Paradoxus of Pallas) which
have been kindly lent to me by my friend and neighbour Mr. W. N.
Coates. They were killed in the afternoon (about 4.30 p.m.) on
October 4th last, at Knockanilly, the estate of Mr. W. C. Coates,
near Kileock, County Kildare, in Ireland, which is about twenty
miles due west of Dublin, and they are the same two birds as are
mentioned in The Field of October 21. The estate on which the
birds were killed is described to the as being in a rather wild and open
country, of rich land, thinly populated, and having very large grass
fields. It stands high, and the particular field where these birds
were killed commands a very extensive view on all sides. Mr,
W. C. Coates and his uncle, Mr. W. N. Coates, were out partridge
shooting when these birds were met with. They were found ina
stubble field, and the dog who found them, a setter, at first could
not make them out at all. He approached them wagging his tail, as
setters always do when they are not sure of their game, but
eventually set them. These two birds were the only ones seen,
and when they rose Mr. W. C. Coates shot the one which has
the long tail feathers, and his uncle the other. Mr. W. N. Coates
showed me the bird which he killed on the morning of October 7th,
and he afterwards sent it to Mr. Ashmead, of Bishopsgate-street,
who has preserved it as you now see it. I saw this bird weighed
before it was skinned. It was in very good condition, with a
considerable quantity of fat about the intestines, and it weighed
exactly 10} ozs., which is less than half the weight of a female red
grouse. This weight is important, as it shows that the bird was in
exceptionally good condition, and from this fact, it seems probable
that it, and probably its companion, whose weight, unfortunately,
was not taken, had been in the neighbourhood where they were
found, undisturbed, for some little time, and had not just arrived
after a long journey. Mr. Ashmead sent me the body of the
bird which he stuffed, after he had skinned it, and I carefully
dissected it. The state of the crop and gizzard proved clearly that
the bird had not suffered from want of food: they were full of
vegetable matter, consisting chiefly of the seeds of the common
orache (Atriplex Patula) with a few seeds of a species of Polygonum,
probably the copse buck wheat (/P. Dumetorum), both of which
plants are common weeds all over the British Islands; but I could
find no trace at all of insects*. I believe this agrees with the result

* Since this paper was read, the contents of the crop and gizzard have been
submitted to Dr. Hooker, and are now in the Museum of the Royal Gardens at Kew.
Dr. Hooker is of opinion that the seeds are more probably those of the Atriplex hastuta
and Polygonum maritime, both maritime plants. If so, these birds had probably been
frequenting some part of the sea coast, and at the time when they were killed had gone
inland to feed.—J. F,

—

—— le

58

of all previous examinations of the crop and gizzard of these birds ;
in no case have any remains of insects been detected. I have the
contents of the crop and gizzard here,.and you can examine them
for yourselves; The state of its plumage shows that this bird has
not yet completed its autumn moult. If the moult had been
completed, both birds would have been handsomer than they are,
as they would have had the peculiar long feathers in the wings and
in the tail which are so characteristic of the species. The bird
which has the long tail feathers has been preserved by Messrs.
Williams and Son, of Dame-street, Dublin. Like the other, it is
not in very good plumage, as it is, apparently, in the middle of its
moult, In order that you may see what these birds are like when
in perfect plumage, I have here the volume of Gould's British Birds,
which contains a plate of this species, and which has been kindly
brought this evening by Mr. Crowley. This drawing, like most of
Mr. Gould’s, is very beautiful; but the colours in it are, I think, more
light and more bright than you will find in any living specimen. In
this species, the brighter portions of the plumage soon fade after
death, and Mr. Gould’s colours will therefore differ still more from
those ina stuffed specimen. I think this is about all that is to
be told about these particular specimens, but Mr. W. N.
Coates, who shot one of the birds, is here, and, no doubt,
will be happy to give you any further information as to
them which he possesses. I propose now to give you a short
account of the species, as its history is most remarkable and highly
interesting. Pallas Sand Grouse takes its name from Pallas, the
well-known naturalist, who was the first person to make the bird
known in Europe. It is a member of the great order Rasores, or
scraping birds, an order which comprises, besides the Sand Grouse,
all the pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and grouse proper, and all
our domestic fowls, and the birds nearly allied to them. In this
order the Sand Grouse form a highly specialised and distinct group,
and, accordingly, they are classed in a distinct family ( Pteroclide ).
One very striking feature about them is their very peculiar colouring,
which is remarkably well adapted to conceal! them in a sandy desert.
They are found all over Africa and Madagascar, and the greater
part of Asia—wherever they can meet with the large sandy tracts
which they frequent. Some few stragglers may find their way into
southern Europe, but only two species—Pt. alchata and Pt. arenarius
—are known to breed there. Although commonly called grouse,
they are not really grouse at all, but, as we shall presently see, are
much more closely allied to the pigeons, and strongly resemble
pigeons in many of their habits and ways. The family Pterochde
consists of but two genera: Pterocles, from which the family takes
its name, and Syrrhaptes. The last-named genus contains but two
species: Pallas Sand Grouse (the more immediate subject of this
paper) and a large species, about double the size of Pallas bird,

54

which was obtained by Lord Gifford, on the banks of the Tsumureri
Lake, in Thibet, and was firat described by Mr. Gould in 1850.
These two birds have a close general resemblance, buth in structure
and habits, to the other members of the family, but they aro
distinguished from all other known Sand Grouse by the following
characteristics:-—(1) The hind toe is entirely wanting. (2) The
front toes are united by a web, and therefore the bird, although
essentially a land bird, is strictly web-footed. As to this singular
feature I shall have more to say later on. (3) The first primary
feather in each wing terminates in a long filament, like the two
central tail feathers in some other Sand Grouse. This is well
shewn in Mr. Gould’s plate. (4) The legs, instead of being
feathered only in front, as in the other members of the family, are
entirely covered, down to the extremity of the toes, with short,
dense feathers. Of the genus Pterocles, the British Museum
collection contains fourteen species. Mr. H. Chasemore has kindly
sent here this evening a case containing three specimens of the
Singed Sand Grouse, or Rock Pigeon (Pt. exustus). These birds
belong to a species which is common to North Africa and South
Asia, and it is the most abundant species of Sand Grouse throughout
India. It frequents the bare, open plains, and is very partial to
ploughed lands and bare fallow fields. It goes regularly twice a
day—at about nine in the morning and four in the afternoon—to
some river or tank to drink. In parts of the country where water
is scarce, they come from great distances, flying at a great height,
and assemble at the tanks in thousands. They remain a few
minutes at the water’s edge, and then fly off and return as they
came. As they are very good eating they form one of the chief
game birds of India. Like many of the other species of Sand
Grouse, these birds are more or less migratory in their habits, and
at Mhow and Sangor most of them leave the district after breeding
in July, and do not return till the end of the rains. In Upper
Egypt they breed in April and May. Another Asiatic species, the
large pin-tailed Sand Grouse, or Khata (Pt. alchata), is decidedly the
handsomest bird of the whole family, and it has, besides, an ex-
ceptional interest attached to it, in that it is believed to be the bird
upon which the Israelites fed in the Wilderness of Sin, as recorded in .
Exodus, ch. 16, and at Kibroth Hataavah, as recorded in Numbers,
ch. 11, and which is spoken of in our translation of the Bible as ‘‘the
quail.’’ This bird is comparatively rare in India, and is only seen
there in the cold season. It is said to exist in countless numbers
in Palestine, where they appear in very large fiocks, and when
these flocks leave the ground and fly off into the air, the effect is
said to be very striking. In the mountains of Edom they are so
abundant that the Arab boys are said sometimes to kill as many as
two or three at a time by throwing a stick into the flock. This
species, and probably others of the Pteroclide, have the same very

55

singular way of feeding their young that pigeons have—the female
disgorging from her own crop, food, partially digested, into the crop
of the young bird. I have also two specimens of my own of
another species, the large Sand Grouse, or Ganga (Ptarenariu),
from Bombay. This species is common in India during the cold
season, from the end of September to March. It seems, like most
of its family, to be confined to open plains during the day, and
flies in vast flocks. It has the same habit as the Singed Sand
Grouse of going regularly twice a day to drink: and it generally
seeks its food on grassy plains and stubble fields, early in the
morning and again at dusk. Its flight is exceedingly strong and
rapid, and, as its flesh is remarkably good, it is one of the most
esteemed of the game birds of India. In rising from the ground
these birds make the same peculiar rattling noise with their wings
as a flight of pigeons. They have a curious way of catching this
species in the Canary Islands. Small paths leading to their
drinking places are made by placing rows of stones. Over these
the birds will not step, owing to the shortness of their legs. They
run down the paths, and are then easily taken in nooses.

To return now to the bird the more immediate subject of this
paper. Pallas’ Sand Grouse is not, strictly speaking, a true British
bird at all. It isnot known to have occurred in the British Islands
previous to the year 1859, and that is the reason why it is not
mentioned in ‘‘ Yarrell’s History of British Birds,” or in any work
on English ornithology published prior to that date. Ihe bird
exists in great numbers in Central Asia, which is its proper home.
It is found all through the Asiatic Continent, from the Caspian Sea
to the east coast. It extends as far south as the Himalaya Mountains,
but how far north it extends I am unable to say.

In the winter of 1860, which you will remember was the year
of the Chinese war, this species was particularly abundant on the
plains between Pekin and Tientsin and on the banks of the river
Peiho downwards. They formed a welcome addition to the food of
the English and French soldiers. Several living specimens were
brought home to England by officers attached to the expedition,
and amongst others Mr. James Stuart Wortley presented no less
than 84 to the Zoological Society, out of 73 which he started with ;
and one of these birds laid several eggs in confinement.

In 1858 Pallas’ Sand Grouse is mentioned by Herr Moschler as
a very rare species, ina list of birds met with at Sarepta in the
Lower Wolga, and this appears to be the earliest authentic record
of its actual occurrence in Europe. Early in July, 1859, a male
specimen was killed near King’s Lynn, in Norfolk, an4 is now in
the museum of that town. This bird was alone when it was shot,
but at least one other, apparently of the same species, was observed

56

in the neighbourhood about the same time, but was not procured.
On the 9th of the same month a second was killed at Tremadoc, in
North Wales, which may possibly have been the second bird seen
at King’s Lynn, and in November of the same year a third was
killed at New Romney, in Kent. These three birds are the first
which are recorded as having been seen in any part of the British
Islands. In the same year, five more specimens are recorded
to have been killed at various places on the Continent, so that
altogether nine birds (or possibly only eight) are recorded as
having occurred in Europe in 1859, and of these three, as we have
have seen, were killed in England and Wales. No further specimens
of this bird were observed in Kingland, or, so far as is known, in Europe,
until 1863. Jn thatyeara most extraordinary irraption of the species
took place, an irruption which is entirely without a parallel in orni-
thology. An enormous-number of these birds, probably in one flock,
seem to have left their proper home in Central Asia, and to have swept
uninterruptedly onward, in a north-westerly direction, ata tolerably
uniform rate of progress. Small bands seem to have detached
themselves from the main body, at intervals, as they passed along,
and these again separated themselves into pairs in the districts
where they stopped. ‘he remains of this great host crossed over
into England. As some were killed as far west as the coast of
Donegal, in Ireland, and the island of Benbecula, in the Outer
Hebrides, there can be no reasonable doubt that they would have goue
still further west if they had not been stopped by the Atlantic. They
might certainly have gone on to St. Kilda, which is fifty miles
farther west, but, after that, there would be no land between them
and America. Nortoward, some members of the flock reached as far
up as the Foeroes, and southward as far down as Biscarolle, in
Gascony. ‘The flight of this strange host has been very carefully
investigated and worked out by Professor Newton, and he has
traced the progress of the flock through more than 33 degrees of
longitude—from Brody, in Galicia, to Naran, on the north-west
coast of Ireland. The earliest date given with precision seems to
be May 6th, on which day they were observed at Sokolnitz, in
Moravia, in longitude 16 degrees 40 seconds KE. ‘There seems to
be some slight doubt as to the exact date on which the flock reached
England. Professor Newton considers May 21 to be the date, on
which day three were killed, out of a flock of 14, at Thrapton, in
Northumberland; but it seems probable that some few, at all
events, of these birds crossed into England a few days before May
21st. It is worth while pausing for a moment to consider the
distance which these birds must have come. If they started from the
country lying immediately to the eust of the Caspian Sea, which is
the nearest point they could have come from, and they may quite
well have come from still further eastward, then, starting from
about longitude 55 degrees E., those which reached the west coats

ee

57

of Ireland got as far as 8 degrees west longitude, or thereabouts,
and this represents in round figures about 4,500 English miles.
How much further they might have gone if they had not been
brought up by the Atlantic Ocean it is impossible to say. Professor
Newton estimates the number of the birds which thus visited
Europe in 1863 to be 700; and the total number out of these
which were killed at 500 or thereabouts. The strong indignation
which the Professor expresses at this wholesale and reckless slaughter
cannot but be reciprocated by everyone who is at all interested in
birds and their habits. Professor Newton adds that of these
500 birds those which were killed in France were mostly eaten ;
those which were killed in Germany were mostly preserved, but
in public museums; while those killed in England were mostly
preserved, but in private collections. The national characteristics
of the French, German, and English nations thus showed themselves
even in that comparatively small matter. As regards England, I
can supplement Professor Newton’s remark by sayinz that there is
not, at this moment, a single specimen of this species, killed in the
British Islands, either in the British Museum or in the Museum of
the College of Surgeons.

To return to the English birds. It would be very tedious to
give you a detailed list of all the birds seen and killed in England
in the summer and autumn of 1853. They are all carefully recorded
by Professor Newton, in an admirable article in ‘ The [bis "’ of 1864,
and by Mr. Stephenson, in his work on the Birds of Norfolk, vol. 1,
p-p. 376 to 404, from both of which articles I have borrowed freely.
The Scotch specimens are recorded by Mr. Gray in his birds of the
West of Scotland, p.p. 238 to 240. It will be enough for our
present purpose if I tell you that between May, 186%, and the
early part of 1864, a very large number were seen, and about 250
were killed in various parts of the United Kingdom. | The last of
these was obtained at Haverford West, on 8th February, 1864.
The largest flock seen at any one place was one of 100, which was
seen at Oswestry.

It is quite possible that some of these birds may have bred
here in 1863. ‘They certainly bred, in June or July.ofthat year, in
Denmark, as several nests and eggs were found on the East coast
ef that country. ‘'hey are also stated to have bred in Holland,
but no eggs or young birds have ever been seen in England.

Two birds only are recorded as having been seen in Europe
in 1864 after February 8th. One of these was killed on the 9th of
February, 1864, and the other was caught alive in the following
June. These were no doubt part of the flock of 1863.

--No more of these birds were seen in England till 1872, A
small flock are said to have appeared on tho Northumborland

58

coast, opposite the Fern Islands, in the last week of May of that
year, and to have continued there as late as June 6th, and on June
22nd, 1872, four, probably part of the same flock, are said to have
been seen at Girvan in Ayrshire.

The occurrence in Ireland of the two birds which we have here
this evening, is of exceptional interest, as they are, I believe, the
only ones of the species which have been seen in the British Isles
this year, or indeed since 1872 ; and their occurence seems to prove

that there has been another irruption, though on a small scale, in
1876.t

A good deal of speculation has naturally been indulged in as
to the reason for the very remarkable invasions which I have
described, but of all the conjectures that have been hazarded none
appear to me so simple and reasonable as that put forward by
Professor Newton. He is of opinion that these singular events are
nothing more than the natural overflow of a very prolific species,
and that, in all probability, they will be repeated.

It only remains for me now to point out to you one or two
interesting facts, as to the structure of this species.

When the birds before you were killed, one of the party
present, who was not an ornithologist, but was a gentleman with a
good practical knowledge of birds, pronounced them to be ‘‘ some-
thing between a partridge and a pigeon.” He had, by a happy hit,
exactly expressed their zoological character. To show you this, it
will not be necessary for me to give you a long technical description
of the three birds ; I will confine myself to pointing out a few of the
more prominent characters.

If you will compare the Sand Grouse with the Turtle Dove
(C. Turtur) on the one hand, and with the Red Grouse
(L. Scoticus) which is very closely allied to the partridge, and
very much resembles it in structure, on. the other, and they now
stand between these two birds on the table, you will see that the
Sand Grouse are intermediate in form between the two. The beak
and head, and the general appearance of the birds, are more like
those of the dove. So also are the short feet and legs, which,
except in Pallas’ bird, are feathered only in front, as is the case in
many pigeons. An examination of the skeleton shows the same
relationship. Ihave here the breastbone of the Red Grouse, and
if you will compare the breastbone of the Sand Grouse, which is
here, with that of the Red Grouse on the one hand, and that of the

t Since the paper was read I have been informed by Professor Newton, that a small
flock of Pallas’ Sand Grouse were seen off the Island of Heligoland, in May or June,
1876, and that one of them was procured. The two birds killed in Ireland were probably
a remnant of this little flock.

Li

}
:
:

a 59

Common Ring Dove (C. Pulumbus), which is also here, on the
other, you will see that there is very little difference between the
breasibones of the Sand Grouse and Ring Dove, while the difference
between those of the Sand Grouse and the Red Grouse is immense.

Mr. H. E. Dresser has kindly Jent me a proof of the number
of his well-known work on the Birds of Europe, which contains
Pallas Sand Grouse, and I have made free use of its contents. I
find it stated in it that Falco Hendersoni is the only bird of prey
which persecutes the Sand Grouse, and even this swift falcon cannot
always capture them. An examination of the skeleton seems to
bear this out, and to prove this species to be a bird of very rapid
flight. The long wing feathers do not seem to hinder its speed,
and, as they are moved very rapidly during its flight, they produce
a noise like the fall of a shower of hail.

If you will examine the breastbone of Pallas Sand Grouse you will
_see that the depth of the keel, which gives attachment to the pectoral
muscles, is very great compared with that of the Red Grouse. The length
ofits breast bone is four inches ; that of the Sand Grouseis two anda
half inches, and yet the depth of the keel is the same in both,
namely, one inch, and the shape of this bone shews that the bird can
not only fly very rapidly, but is capable of long flights, and of
keeping on the wing for a considerable space of time.

I have reserved for the last the most remarkable feature of

_this interesting bird, viz., the structure of its feet, and this is so

peculiar that the scientific name by which the bird is known is
founded upon it. Mr. Flower then exhibited and described the feet
of the Ptarmigan and Black Grouse, of the Swamp Hen of New
Zealand, and the Avocet, all of which are specially adapted to
enable the bird to walk over a soft yielding surface ; but none of
them would have suited a bird like a Sand Grouse, whose natural
home is a sandy plain, which affords a soft yielding surface, but that
surface, hard and gritty, and often hot, aud, accordingly, this bird
has been provided with a foot most beautifully adapted for its wants.
Although the bird is as essentially a land bird as our common
fowl, yet its little feet are webbed like those of a duck, which
enables it to walk over the sand which it frequents without sinking
in, and with ease and rapidity.

I have now, I think, told you pretty well all that is known about
these birds. They form a groupof exceptional interest, and behind
their curious and eventful history, we cannot, I think, fail to discern
the hand of that great power in nature which guides and sustains all
living things. ,

60

The paper was received with general applause, and was followed
by a short discussion, in the course of which the Rev. R. R. Suffield
and other gentlemen asked numerous questions with reference to
the speed at which the birds could fly.

Mr. Fuower said this had never been ascertained, but the
power of flight of these birds must be very considerable, as they
must have got over the 4,500 miles which they traversed in coming
from Asia, in about a month.

The Presipent having expressed regret that Mr. W. H.
Rowland was not present, said he had invited Mr. Bartlett, the
Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens, to attend the meeting,
but unfortunately he was unable to be present.

A cordial vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Flower for
his interesting and able paper, and that gentleman having briefly
replied, the proceedings of the evening were brought to a close.

Wednesday, 29th November.—The Annual Soirée took place at the Public
Hall, and was attended by Fellows of the Royal Micro-
scopical Society, and Members of the Quekett, South London,
Sydenham and Forest Hill, Greenwich, New Cross, Tower Hill,
Old Change, and Brighton Microscopical and Natural History Clubs,
as follows :—

Croypon.—Messrs. Adams, Berney, Brodie, Beeby, Bindley,
Corry, Cooper, P. Crowley, E. A. Crowley, Drummond, Flower,
Fletcher, Gard’ner, Hovenden, James, Jones, Johnson, Klaassen,
Loftus, Long, Linney, Henry Lee (President), Harry Lee, W. Lee,
Lovett, Moules, G. Manners, C. Manners, Moseley, Nation, Overton,
Purser, Perry, Price, Swaine, Sturge, Taylor, Toms, West, Whitling,
Warren, and Drs. Adams, Carpenter, Lanchester, Philpot, and
Strong.

Royau.—Messrs. Butler, Baker, Boosey, Blankley, Goodinge,
Norman, Smith, Tyndall, White, and Williams.

Qurexetr.—Messrs. Andrews, Bailey, Coles, Collins, Dunning,
Enock, Fryer, Gay, Hadland, Halley, Hainworth, Ingpen, Meachers,
Matthews, Messenger, Nelson, Pearce, Pearse, Prickett, Priest,
Reeve, Rowlett, Smith, Slade, Smart, Waller, T. C. White, and
E. E. White. ,

Souta Lonpon.—Messrs. Brewer, Dadswell, F. Hovenden,
R. G. Hovenden, Inskipp, Park, Rogers, Russell, Rawlings, Stid-
stone, J. A. Smith, R. A. Smith, W. B. Smith, Suffolk, Terry, West,
Worster, and Hembry.

61

SypEnHAM AND Forest Hiiu.—Messrs. Anelay, Beeton, Bird,
Deacon, Etheridge, George, Hardy, Hind, Millidge, Northey, Perrins,
Pickett, Simpson, and Terry.

GrEENwiIcH.—Messrs. Bishop, Blomfield, Collins, C. Dannatt,
T. W. Dannatt, Malyon, Trickett, and Vasey.

New Cross.—Messrs. Auld, Hicks, and Harvey.

Tower Hitt.—Messrs. Alston, Crosfield, Harrison, Harrod,
Levien, Macdonald, Sedgwick, Simpson, and Waller.

Otp CHance.—Messrs. Batcheller, Francis, Green, Gribbell,
Ives, King, and Piper.

Bricuton.—Messrs. Haselwood and Sawyer.

GENERAL Exursirors AND Maxers.—Messrs. W. R. Adams,
Crouch, Electric Writing Co., How, Justican, Mennell, Routledge,
Richardson, Moginie, Dr. Dempsey, W. F. Stanley, and Atkinson.

The number of instruments were:—Croydon Club, 51; Royal
Microscopical Society, 12; Quekett, 29; South London, 18;
Sydenham, 14; Greenwich, 8; New Cross, 2; Tower Hill, 9;
Old Change, 7; Brighton, 2; Makersand Private, 16; total, 168.

Many other interesting objects were exhibited, among them
being—Pallas’ Sand-grouse, by Mr. John Flower; Anglo-Saxon
and Roman remains from Beddington, and Fossils, by Dr. Carpeu-
ter; a Dutch Bible, published in Amsterdam, 1664, Harris's
Aurelian on butterflies, published in 1776, and a catalogue of the
sale at the Portland Museum, 1786, by Mr. Sturge; diagrams and
dissections of mussels, by Mr. J. S. Johnson ; crustacea and trans-
parencies, ‘‘ Denizens of the Deep,” and birds’ eggs, by Mr. E.
Lovett; five drawers of shells, by Mr. H. T. Mennell ; eight cases of
butterflies, by Mr. Auld; a pair of pistols, formerly owned by
Napoleon I., by Mr. Gard’ner ; Bohemian and Hybrid pheasants,
by Mr. W. H. Rowland ; a case of crystals, by Mr. T. D. Russell;
crystals from the human body and the ox, by Mr. J. H. Hadland; a
revolving stereoscope, by Mr. Moginie ; shark’s teeth, from the
Cambridgeshire Coprolite beds, by Mr. G. Purser. The President,
as usual, exhibited many novelties, among which some Gorgonias
claimed especial notice. Mr. A. D. Taylor’s pretty little aquariam

‘was one of the features of the exhibition.

The platform was decorated by Messrs. Ridge & Son, and was
further embellished with some fine foliage plants, kindly lent by
Mr. J. H. Ley.

The attendance included 129 Members, with 654 visitors and

- exhibitors, making a total of 783;.the largest on record. . The
number of tickets sold was 281.

December 4th, 1876.—Conversational meeting. Four Members present.

The subject of staining vegetable preparation was the principal
topic at this meeting.

December 20th, 1876.—Paper read by Alfred Carpenter, Esq. .M.D.,
on ‘THe CrrcunaTion oF Sap 1n Puants.”

The President, Mr. Henry Lee, in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were ballotted for and duly elected
members :—Messrs. H. Salmon, A. Walton, A. Lambert, Jun.,
Robt. Hall, J. W. Wallis, W. N. Coates, and A. G. Blake ; and E. W.
Puxon, Park-hill, A. Freeland, Fairfield-road, W. H. Hebb, Heath-
field-road, John Pelton, Stroud Green, were nominated for election.

The President announced that the Annual Meeting for the re-
ception of the Report of the Club’s Proceedings for the year 1876,
and for the Election of Officers for the ensuing year would take place
on 17th January.

It was proposed by Mr. H. M. Kuaassen, seconded by Mr. A. D.
Taynor, and carried unanimously, ‘‘ That Mr. Howard Martin and
Mr. Theophilus Bindley be appointed Auditors for the past year’s
accounts.”

Dr. Carpenter then read a paper on ‘‘ Tae CrRcULATION OF
Sap in Puants,” and said he was sometimes asked whether trees
were not injurious to health when they were planted near to houses;
whether an open down was not purer than a situation near to a
wood; and whether it was not a mistake to plant trees in our suburban
roads, because of their interference with ventilation. Many
persons imagined that a grove was at all times an undesirable place
of residence, only to be tolerated in hot weather, when the cool
shade was so refreshing. He proposed, by a reference to the actual
mode of the growth of trees, to answer these enquiries. In the
year 1856 six young limes were planted in his garden. They were
nearly equal in size and strength. In 1860 they were all from nine
to ten inches in circumference, at four feet from the ground. They
had now been planted twenty years. Three of them were 27, 26,
and 26 inches respectively in circumference ; two were 22 and 23
inches; and one was 163 inches only. Proceeding to explain the
reason why there was a decrease of three inches of absolute growth
of wood in the diameter of one of the trees, he stated that in the
autumn of 1860 he selected three branches on three of the trees in
nearly the same position on each four’or five feet from the
ground. He cut out a ring of bark from each branch, about an inch
and a half from the trunk, and about a quarter of an inch in breadth.
The operation did not appear to influence the growth of the branch

>

68

in the least. The leaves came out as usual in 1861, and were shed
at the usual time. In 1862 he observed that the edges of the
wound inflicted in 1860 on trees Nos. 1 and 2hadclosed. A fresh
incision was made, a ring of bark being again removed. No effect
upon the branches resulted from this operation. The leaves were
of the same size, and were shed at the same time as were those on the
untouched trees. In 1865 all evidence of the removal of the rim
from the branch of tree No. 8 (which was done in 1860) had dis-
appeared ; the cut in the bark had completely healed, and could not
be discovered by external observation. He left it alone; but, two
years afterwards, it was accidentally broken off, and, therefore, no
further observations had been recorded with regard to that tree. A
fresh rim of bark was removed from tree No. 1, about half an inch
in breadth, and witha rim of woody matter extending abour one-
third of an inch into the alburnum. A similar operation was per-
formed on tree No. 2, but not to so large an extent. The result of
the operation appeared to delay the formation of buds, or rather the
production of leaves. The leaves came out earlier on other parts
of the tree than they did on the branch itself of tree No.1. The
delay was not so decided on No. 2; but, as if to make up for their
later appearance, the leaves were larger and finer than their fellows,
but had not quite so dark a hue as those on other parts of the tree.
They changed colour, and became yellow earlier in the season, and
dropped off so that the branch became bare before auy leaves had
fallen from the other trees. He did not again operate on tree No.
2, but left it to take its chance. The rim that was cut into the
alburnum of the branch healed up completely, and at this time it is
not to be discovered, an enlargement of the truuk of the tree
having covered it up, and obliterated all trace of the operation. The
branch appeared to be as sound and as well as any other on the
tree ; but the tree itself was the least flourishing of the six, except the
tree to which his observations would now alone apply. He did not
conclude that this want of growth had been caused by the opera-
tion upon one of its branches, but it was quite possible. In 1868,
and in the autumn of each succeeding year, he removed a thin rim
of woody matter from the branch, always cutting at the edge, away
from the trunk of the tree. Each succeeding year a strong effort
was made to repair the breech. The only absolute change in the
tree itself was the fact that the leaves were always the last to
come out, and the first to be shed, and that no flowers appeared on the
branch itself. The late appearance of the leaves applied at first to
the branch only, but now it applied to the whole of the tree, and not
to the damaged branch alone. In the autumn of last year he re-
moved a thin rim of wood without interfering with the bark. This

ear small twigs on the branch had died away, and it being evident
that he had reached the limit of endurance on the part of the
patient, and that another vivisection would be fatal to the branch,

64

he removed it altogether from the tree about a month since, and he
now presented it in section. The first vivisection, when made
in 1860, was nearly 14 inches from the trunk of the tree. The
whole length of the branch below the incision had now been absorbed
into the trunk, clearly showing that there was no extension in the
length of the wood of the branch below tbe incision, and that no
deposit of woody fibre took place in the remainder of the branch
between the incision and the trunk. There was no alteration at all
in the condition of the bark below the cut. The bark might be seen
in the specimen almost unaltered on the part which represented the
absorbed branch on its upper surface, or in that which is called the
axil of the branch. It goes down deep into the trunk of the tree,
leaving a thin groove of epidermis, which is not in common with
the groove of the trunk of the tree itself. This inability to come
into actual union—an inability which was kept up by repeated
vivisections-—-had led to a line being left and a way provided along
which matter, foreign to ordinary trees, might find its way
into the trunk. It is by channels such as this that fungus germs,-.
parasitic plants, or other causes of decay gain access to the hearts
wood of trees, and eventually cause the destruction of the giants o

our forests. The hranch itself gave very little indication of its age
—more than sixteen vears—but branches on the other trees of
similar age were ten times the size. The circumference of the
branch, four inches above the cut, was three inches, or one inch in
diameter. The circumference of a branch of corresnonding age
from tree No. 6, was 113 inches. He had removed that. branch,
and a section of it was before the audience. It showed the rings
which indicated its age, although they could not he made out in the
lime tree with the same aceuracy as they could in manv other trees,
in conseqnence of the little difference in colour which existed hetween
the woody, the vascular, and the cellular tissue. It might he com-
pared with a section of the branch which was operated on 16 years
ago, when each branch was of the same size. Sixteen rings could
te made out in the section on the larger branch which had been eut
off about a foot from the trunk. It indicated at least two years less
than the real age of the branch. Some of the rings were munch
more defined and much broader than the others. There was an
equal number of rings in the thinner and smaller branch which had
heen cut from the branch operated on ; but they were so undefined
that they could not be made out except by microscopic aid. The
appearance showed most clearly that the growth of branches might
be stunted by such operations without their vitality being destroyed,
provided the operation did not cut too deeply into the woody tissue.
The difference in the growth of the trunk above the wound, as com-
pared with the part below, was also easily seen. The bark of the
tree just below the wound was not thicker than it was on the branch
tself, whilst the bark on the trunk above the wound showed a con-

~~ ae Y

a a Te

BB

siderable increase in thickness. There wasa thickening of the bark
below and to the right of the direct line from above downwards,
which indicated that the growth from the tree itself spread round
the branch, but not immediately beneath it. The arrest of growth
was shown by the enlargement of the branch just above the wound.

‘his enlargement led at once to the idea that the cause of such
enlargement was from the descent of material from above, and not
from the rise of sap from below. “The rise of sap ”’ was a common
expression, and was strictly true; for the rise of sap did take place,
and the uninstructed would expect that swelling would take place
below a vivisection, rather than above it ; bat it was clearly shown
in this case that the growth of wood was from above down-
wards, and not in the contrary direction. Leaving specimens No.
1 for a time, he proceeded to show some of the deductions which
might be made from No. 2. It was the main trunk of an arbor
vite in which accident had produced a result similar to that which

‘arose from design as shown on No. 1. He rescued it from a

rubbish heap to which a gardener was about to consign it.
The tree had grown for some years after a piece of tarred string had
been tied round it. ‘This year the upper part of it died without
assignable reuson ; but a section through the trunk explained the
cause of death. ‘I'o make this clear he referred to the causes which
give rise to the ascent of the crude and the descent of the elaborated
sap. After stating that all living structures, avimal, as well as
vegetable, have their first origin ina homogenous matter called
protoplasm or bioplasm, which develops into cell life, he said the
circulation in plants consisted\in the movement of a gelatinous
matter slowly up one side of the cell wall across the end and down
the other, generally taking somewhat of a spiral course.

- The cell wall is lined by material in which chlorophyll granules
are embedded. They form through the vital action which sets up
the current, and it is continued by the chemical action which arises
when the starch or sugar of the absorbed matter is changed into
chlorophyll or some other product. ‘The movement is especially
active in sunlight, which is absolutely required for the formation of
the green matter of plant life. ‘This cell circulation is easily seen
in various kinds of water-plants in which the cells are large. In
Valieneria the chlorophyll granules move with the current. The
rapidity varies with the activity of the growth of the plant. It is
most rapid in warmth and sunlight, provided the heat is not
excessive, but a temperature of 112 degrees Fahrenheit stops it in
all plants that live in temperate climates. An electric current stops
it for a time, and so does pressure. It can be seen in the
labellum of an orchid, and in the hairs of many rapid-growing
plants; also In lycopods and ferns; but a very little pressure
stopped it. The circulation is limited to each cell. Itis established
by the vital power which exists in the bioplasm, and it is then con-

66

tinued by the chemical action which leads the gas produced to find its
way out of the call in the direction in which that particular gas finds a
way opened for it by exosmosis. As these actions proceed, the cell
becom2s changed in its character. The cell either doubles itself, or is
developed into some other form of tissue, or it becomes filled with
formed material or dead tissue which may be the special product of
the plant. There is multiplication of bioplasm first, as shown by
deduplication of cell life, and subsequently formed material is laid
down in readiness for the nourishment of the bioplasm which is
about to become dormant. Bioplasm requires light, warmth, and
moisture to bring out its vitality, and if one or all of these be absent
or deficient in amount a new birth does not arise—a cyclosis is not
setup. This, however, is not the circulation of sap as ordinarily
understood ; but it is the way in which plant life commences and is
renewed every spring. If light, warmth, moisture, and air are

fortheoming, the two iatter supply material which is combined with .

the pabulum already in the seed; growth is promoted, and circula-
tion arises. Trees might be considered as hybernating in the
winter, circulation being reduced to a minimum ; but a living tree
is warmer than a dead tree, as might be seen trom the snow melting
sooner on it than on the latter. Not only a circulation but a
respiration goes on all the year ronnd, and minute quantities of
carbonic acid are yiven out by a tree from all parts of its structure.
Directly leaves are produced they begin their proper functions,
which are to act as exhaling organs, giving out watery vapour to
the air, and with it the oxygen that has been set free by the act of
growth. ‘This exhalation of moisture necessitates the abstraction of
liquid from below. ‘The cellular and libro vascular tissue of the
tree itself parts with liquid; a current is established from below
upwards in each cell, and an endosmosis arises. A powerful vis a
fronte is set in motion lke that of a pump at millions of
points on the tree, which becomes an irresistible force in raising
fluids from below upwards. This action rapidly extends downwards
from the buds and leaves to the roots of the tree. It is not,

however, by a vis a fronte alone that the circulation is carried on, -

There is a vis a tergo as well which acts as powerfully. The earth
receives and retains its warmth more persistently than do the
buds. Heat is not lost so rapldly as it in the buds themselves. A
new vitality arises in the roots as well as in the branches, com-
mencing earlier than that which begins in the buds. New life
develops at the extremity of each fibre below the ground. Each
extreme cell contains dormant protoplasm as well as the buds, and
with returning sprihg there is new growth. ‘Trees cast off minute
hair-like processes from on the fibrille of the roots every
autumn. As soon as the function of the leaf ceases, the rapid
absorption of aqueous matter is no longer required; and one of the
great advantages which attend upon the equinoctial gales and the

ta nt ee

67

winter storms is thet the fibrillle of the rootlets are absolutely
separated from the cellular layer which envelopes them, and the
hair-like processes are removed from immediate contact with the
cells which are to set up the new growth. ‘This is accomplished by
vibration. If a plant be examined in the summer, the
rootlets are found terminating in fibrille. If these are carefully
manipulated, they are seen to be covered with microscopic hairs
which extend for some distance from the plant. He had traced
them for some inches in the case of the fibrille of rye-grass. They
could not be seen by the naked eye; it is probable that they
extend many feet. They extend by cell growth, and as they extend
they transmit sap upwards into the radicles and through the flbro
vascular tissue of the root to the trunk of the tree, but not into the
bark. This sap in all cases consists at first of water containing
carbonic acid, albumen, sugar, and gum in solution with the varicus
salts which are capable of solution and absorption by plant life. A
powerful capillary attraction is superadded to the endosmosis which
arises in the cells of the root-hairs, and together they produce the
vis a tergo upon which the circulation partly depends.

As soon as the minute hair-like processes on the roots have
fulfilled their mission, aod the leaves cease to decompose the car-
bonic acid in the sap, they become useless ; oxygen ceases to be
discharged, some is used up in the oxidising process by which
a change of colour is produced in the leaf itself. The winter storms
then, by swaying the tree backwards and forwards, remove the
cellular matter which is in close proximity to the rootlets and allow
a minute rift in the soil, along which the air which is required for
the new growth can find its way. The floods of spring wash away
the cellular exuviz, the water carrying down with it carbonic acid
and ammonia compounds as well as oxgyen ready for use as soon as
the germ of protoplasm at the extremity of each root-fibre awakes
from its dormant state. Thus there is cell-growth beneath the soil
as well as above it, and the more rapid that cell-growth is the more
rapid will be the growth of the plant. In the case of certain
cereals, as wheat and oats, the fine hair-like fibres have been traced
to a depth of from five to six feet from the surface of the ground.
In the case of rye-grass a felt-like web is formed on the surface of
the soil which appears able to digest albuminous matter, and
especially to absorb bioplasm. Chemically there does not appear to
be any difference between the albumen of plant life and the albumen
of the blood. They are mutually convertible by the aid of the vital
power which exists in the fibrille of the plant as well as in the
digestive organs of the animal, and thus one class of plants are
able to grow with intense rapidity because the particular pabulum
which has passed through the cell by an action which they reqnire
is ready at hand in a state fit for immediate assimilation. These

68

observations were intended to apply more especially to exogens,
He explained that a circulation was set up by the act of growth in
certain cells. This is called cyclosis. The cell, according to its par-
ticular attribute, forms a particular kind of tissue, and transmits the
fluid by a process which is styled ‘‘endosmose.”’ This action is easily

produced by placing liquids of different densities on different sides of ©

a thin membrane, as a bladder. The one fluid attracts the other is
a peculiar manner, so as to be able to support a considerable column
of the mixed fluids above the level of the one which is attracted.
Thus sugar and water attract water with great avidity; so does
alcohol. This endosmose action is the vis a tergo—the force which
raises the liquid from the soil to the upper part of the tree, and it is
the force also which leads the ogygen to give place in the leaf to
carbonic acid. But the question arise as to the channel through
which it passed. The examples he had produced answered the
question. It did not go through the bark, because that was re-
moved in the one case and strangled in the other ; neither did it go
through the outer layer of of woody tissue, but through the layers
of tissue lying upon the duramen. It was probable that in its
tran: mission upwards it prepared certain portions of a tree for the
reception of used-up woody matter, which is taken away from the
descending sap, and which is the formed matter eorresponding to an
excretion in an animal; but as support is required, and the tree
continues to grow, the formed material, as used up, provides that
support, and thus the extension of an exogenous tree is, as far as
size is concerned, unlimited. Describing the respiratory process of
trees by which the carbonic acid in the atmosphere is kept at a
minimum, and its place supplied by that which is necessary for
animal life, Dr. Carpenter stated that this interchange of gas takes
place through the stomata or so-called breathing pores which exist
more or less on all leaves, there being as many as 160,000 in some
instances on each square inch of surface; so that the dense foliage
of a forest is one of the helps which a kind Providence has supplied
to keep our atmosphere at its proper healthy standard. As forests
are cut down it is man’s duty to provide distributed lungs, and the
more the country is disforested the more necessary it is to secure
an abundance of trees in our midst. After further explaining the
interesting peculiarities of the circulation of sap in trees, Dr. Car-
penter stated that it was between the bark and the wood that the
new layer of tissue was first laid down, and thus might be perceived
the reason why no new wood was formed below the cut on tree No.
1 that he had referred to, or below the legature in No. 2.. Dr. Car-
penter next referred to the lactiferous vessels in plants, the bark of
exogenous trees, and the manner in which they may be destroyed
by fungus growth and parasites.

He showed a section of the great fir-tree which for many years
had been a land-mark at the rectory at Sanderstead, which was now

ee

69

destroyed. The section of the tree was taken 85 feet from the ground,
and showed some eighty rings. A large number of the outer rings
were undistinguishable from decay, but the tree was probably 120
years old. A ring for a year is the usual calculation as to the life
of a tree, and it is a correct one as regards those years in which the
tree is vigorous and in full growth, but it is not correct as to the
whole life. It was twenty years since the branches appeared which
were in section before the audience; but he could only make out
sixteen rings in the untouched branch, whilst in the other they were
undistinguishable, although of equal age. It appeared, therefore,
that the early years of the life of a tree were to be easily made out,
whilst its later years, as was the case with the Sanderstead fir, if
interfered with by causes which affect its vigour, may be altered in
such a way as to prevent accuracy of computation. Atmospheric
causes might lead to multiplication. An early spring followed by a
cold summer, and this succeeded by a warm autumn, might develop
the appearance of two rivgs by the checks to vegetation which are
produced by frostsin June. In conclusion, Dr. Carpenter remarkek
that there was scope for microscopical observation both in structures
of woody matter, in growth of tissue, and in changes which such
growth produces, well worthy the atttention of the Microscopical
Society.

The paper was illustrated by numerous specimens and dia-
grams, and the following memlers placed their microscopes at Dr.
Carpenter’s disposal :-—Mr. J. Be.ney, Mr. J. S. Johnson, Mr. H.
M. Klaassen, Mr. KE. Lovett, Mr. Ki. B. Sturge, and Mr. H. Turner.

After a short discussion It was proposed by the President and
seconded by Mr. Turner, and carried unanimously, that a very
cordial vote of thanks be given to Dr. Carpenter.

THE LIBRARY.
RULES FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.

1.—Books to be lent out to Members at any time when the Library
of the Literary Institution, at the Public Hall, is open, on application
to Mr. Pusry, the Librarian.

2.—All books and periodicals to be marked with the stamp of the
Club and numbered before being circulated, and kept in such a place as
shall from time to time be determined by the Committee.

3.—Members may obtain books by making personal or written
application for them, and by signing a receipt for the same, which shall
be held by the Librarian until the book is returned. No Member shall
have more than one work at a time, nor shall he keep anv work for a
longer period than one month; but it may be returned for exchange any
time within that period when the Library may be open.

4.—When a book is returned by a Member it may be borrowed by him
again, provided it has not been bespoken by any other Member. Books
which have been bespoken shall circulate in rotation, according to priority
of application.

5.—Standard works, as shall be named by the Committee, to be kept
for reference, and not to be lent out.

6.—Members retaining books longer than the specified time shall be
subject to a fine of one penny per day. If any book be retained by
a Member for two months, and he not returned after written application
has been made for it, the Committee may order it to be replaced and
charge the Member in default with the amount thus incurred, in addition
to the fine. If any book, when returned by a Member, is found to have
been damaged during the period such Member has had it, a fine equivalent
to the injury shall be paid by the Member.

LIST OF BOOKS BELONGING TO THE CROYDON
MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Achromatic Microscope... ais awe as Beck.

Address before the Royal Microscopical Society ... Rev. J. B. Reade.
British Diatomacee (vol. 1.) ms ney a Smith.

British Diatomace (vol. 2)... we rs ... Smith.

British Shells : a a coh . = Turton.
Collection and Preparation of Alge ... te ... John Nave.

Cryptogamic Botany ous e = =A Berkley.
Dyer and Bennett’s Translation of Sach’s Botany ... Sachs.
Foraminifera ae wee sie tes ay; Dr. W. B. Carpenter.

Flora (vol. 1)... wae Ae oat eee ... Bentham.

Flora (vol. 2) ose aA ee ee =) Bentham.

How to Work with the Microscope ... eae .. Dr. L. Beale.

Human Microscopic Anatomy... 5 das Killiker.

Lectures on Histology ... oe ode 6: ..- Quekett.

Marvels of Pond Life oe zp Jes a8 H. J. Slack.
Microscopical Manipulation ... = ea ... Suffolk.

Microscope The, Edition, 1868 ... 7 ee Dr. W. B. Carpenter.
Microscope The, Edition 1875 ae ne .. Dr. W. B. Carpenter.
Polarized Light Woodward.

Preparation and Mounting of Microscopical Objects Davies.
Spectrum Analysis ao ode wee ... Suffolk.
Opticians’ Catalogues _.. Sa re fs Beck and others,
Journals of Quekett Club.

THE CABINET. .
Slides of various objects, presented to the Club by Members and others.

ps

peas

. CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

RULES.

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club is constituted for the mutual help of its Members; for the
discussion of subjects connected with, or dependent upon, Microscopical
research ; for the exhibition and exchange of Microscopic Objects and
Preparations; and for the promotion of the study of Microscopy and
Natural History generally.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by the President, Trea-
surer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and nine other Members, who shall
be elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting. Three to form a

quorum.
MEMBERSHIP.

1.—Every candidate for Membership shall be proposed by two or more
Members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal knowledge of him,
and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of him, according to the
Form appended. The certificate shall be read from the chair, and the
candidate therein recommended ballotted for at the following meeting.
Three black balls to exclude.

2.—The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., payable in advance on the
1st of January, or on election if previous to November, and no person shall
be entitled to the privileges of the Club until his Subscription shall have
been paid.

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the Club,

provided they do not reside within the district ; such Honorary and Corres-

ponding Members shall not be subject to any of the expenses of the Club,
and shall have no vote in its affairs.
4,—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural History
amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals of that class
mar be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first coinmunicate some
original information or observation on Microscopy or Natural History, or
exhibit such specimens as shall by their merit satisfy the Committee. Such
Associates shall enjoy the privileges of Honorary Members.

5.—No Member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Club
until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice to the
Secretary of his intention to resign.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any Member from the Club,
the same shall be done by a resolution of the Committee, which shall be
read at the next ordinary meeting; and at the following meeting a ballot
shall take place with respect to the proposition, and if two-thirds of the
Members present shall vote for such Member's expulsion, he shall no longer
be considered a Member.

7,—Any Member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, who
shall enter his name, with that of the Member by whom he is introduced, in
2 book to be kept for that purpose.

ORDINARY MEETINGS.

1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third
Wednesday in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and
pages), at seven o'clock in the evening ; the chair to be taken at half-past
ight precisely ; or at such other time as the Committee may appoint.

A sien: b

2.—The ordinary course ot proceedings shall be as follows :—

eae minutes st the previous meeting shall be read and submitted for approval as

eing correct.

, II.—The names of candidates for Membership shall be read, and the ballot for the
election of Members shall take place. —

ITI.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after which the chair
shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve itself into a conversazione, to
terminate at ten o’clock. :

3.—In the absence of the President, the Members present at any ordi-
nary meeting shall elect a chairman for that evening.

4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of the
Committee ; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the subject of the
papers to be read shall be given, by the Secretary, to the Members, No
paper shall exceed fifteen minutes in the actual reading, unless by the
especial permission of the Chairman.

5.—In addition to the above ordinary meetings, others, for conversation —

and the exhibition of Microscopical objects and Natural History specimens,
shall be held on the first Monday in each month, at eight o’clock iu the
evening. .

BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two Members ap-
pointed at the ordinary meeting in December. No Member of the Com-
mittee shall be eligible a3 an auditor.

2.—At the same meeting notice of the Annual Meeting in January
shall be given from the chair.

8.—An Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place of the
ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January, at half-past
eight o'clock, when the election of officers for the year ensuing shall take
place, and the report of the committee on the affairs of the Club, and the
balance-sheet, duly signed by the auditors, shall be read.

4.—No permanent alteration in the rules shall be made, except at one
of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed alteration
or addition must be given at or before the preceding ordinary meeting.

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.

CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

Mr.
of
being desirous of becoming a Member of this Club, we beg to recommend
him for Election.
(on my personal knowledge ).
This Certificate was read 187
The Ballot will take place 187

Nore.—Original Rules, drawn and adopted at a meeting held on the
16th March, 1870.

Rules, as to Election of Officers, and number of Committeemen, revised
January, 1872.

Rules, as to payment of Subscriptions and establishment of Conversa-

tional Meetings, revised and adopted J angry y8!6. *
ais O7

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CONTENTS.

Page

Proceedings ... ere) ol to xvits

On the Natural History as Hard Water, and its softening
by Clark’s Process, by ALFRED eagle M.D.,
President oo

On a Portion of the Trunk of a Piece. Bhceinne “ote in 5 hee
an Iron Chain has become embedded, by Jonn FLower,
M.A., F.Z.S. se ae a eae Fee

First Report of the Botanical Sub- Gaauatttes

Notes and Remarks as to a few of the more tainackable bia
interesting of the Plants mentioned in the Botanical Sub-
Committee’s First Report ks

Copy of a Letter from Mr. GrorGEe CorpDEN to the Wratten
Advertiser” as to the Storm at ee on pani 1
23rd, 1878 ...

Ornithological Notes, by cae Featien M. a F. Z. S., Beoeident

Notes ona Collection of Nests of British Birds, which have been
selected by the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus Cy for the
Deposit of its Eggs x a =F

On a Peculiarity, hitherto Bae ie. in the Boe eels of
the Gannet (Sula peeeane)» by Joux soins M.A., F.Z.S.,
President ... pe

Notes as to the Flow of ce ore the Cut Piao ape a Birch
Tree (B. alba), by PHitip CRowLEy a re

Diatomacez, by WILLIAM INGRAMS..

Winter Temperatures, observed at fe Wandle Baa: Croydon,
by GEeorcE CorDEN

Instance of the Voracity and Picantog. Habits of the Greil
Black-backed Gull ig ees by JoHN ads
M.A., F.Z.S., President . a nae oe e

On a Hen Pheasant which bias pes the Plumage of the
Male, by Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President

On the Peculiar Species of the British Fauna and aig by
ALFRED RussEL WALLACE

On the Preparation of Objects for the Teicncate “ E. cone

On the Structure and Geological History of the Weald and of
the Catchment Basin of the River aoe by Joes
Fiowenr, M.A., F.Z.S., President Se

On Preparing and Mounting for Exhibition ences, aa
similar Objects, by Epwarp Lovett ... te

A Table of the Girths, Positions, and Seated \e of
Churchyard Yew Trees in the Eastern Half of the cee:
of Surrey, by E. STRAKER

On the Peculiar Shape of the Claw of the “Middle Toe of f Birds,
by Joun Fiowenr, M.A., F.Z.S., President

PROCEEDINGS

Cropdon Microscopical and Aatural
History Club.

Ordinary Meeting, 20th Feb., 1878.

ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and con-
firmed, the Rev. D. Long, Mr. E. Straker, Mr. C. W. Mather,
Mr. J. H. Mitchiner, and Mr. J. W. Baillie, were elected
members of the Club.

The PRESIDENT announced the receipt, from Mr. E. Gill, of
two slides of Oolite, for the cabinet of the Club.

Mr. J. W. WAL Is read an interesting paper on ‘“ Man
Nomadic,” which was followed by a discussion, more par-
ticularly as to the origin of language, in which the President,
Mr. R. A. James, and Mr. H. M. Klaassen took part.

The following objects were exhibited :—Mr. J. S. Johnson,
Cypris Tristiata, Fresh-water Crustacean; Mr. H. Long,
specimen of Yeast; Mr. E. Lovett, section of Fossil Wood,
shewing the introduction of iron pyrites into the structure, and
South American Snake, shewing the manner of casting the
skin; Mr. J. A. Richardson, Spindle-celled Sarcoma, Cat's
Ovary; Mr. H. M. Klaassen, Bilder-Atlas of Ethnography,
published in Leipzig.

Ordinary Meeting, 20th March, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. C. Cooper, Mr. Benjamin Hanscomb, and Mr. Wm.
Field were balloted for and elected members.

The PRESIDENT announced that the Committee having fully
considered the subject of the annual lecture, had decided to
abandon it for this year, as the expense of the delivery and

A

il. Proceedings.

printing of the lectures delivered in previous years had pressed
rather heavily upon the funds of the Club.

Mr. W. J. Nation read a paper on “Ivory,” which was
followed by an interesting discussion, in which the President,
Mr. A. C. Davies, Mr. H. M. Klaassen, and Mr. H. Turner
took part.

In addition to numerous specimens of carved ivory exhibited
by Mr. Nation, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Lambert, the following
objects were exhibited: —The President, Japanese ivory
figures ; Mr. J.S. Johnson, molar tooth of elephant; E. Lovett,
fossil ivory, from Berkshire; vegetable ivory; J. H. Ley,
flower case of palm, open and unopen ; T. M. Loftus, diatoms ;
H. Long, vegetable ivory; K. McKean, sections of elephants’
teeth from Ceylon, spiculum: of helix aspersa; E. B. Sturge,
fungi—vegetable ivory ; A. D. Taylor, a greenhouse pest; A.
Warner, spicules of glass rope sponge; E. Williams, white
blackbird; A. M. Davis, ivory boat, specimen of Japanese
workmanship ; H. M. Klaassen, fresh water aquarium.

Ordinary Meeting, April 17th, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed,
and Mr. M. D. Northey was elected a member of the Club.

The PRESIDENT announced that Mr. R. B. Douglass had
presented a spectroscope to the Club, and the thanks of the
Club were accorded to Mr. Douglass for the gift.

A paper was read by Mr. GEoRGE CorDEN on “‘ The Meteo-
rology of Croydon,” * and the various matters treated ofin the
paper became the subject of a prolonged and interesting dis-
cussion between the President, Mr. Corden, Mr. H. M.
Klaassen, Mr. A. C. Davies, Mr. P. Crowley, and Mr. H.
Long.

At its close a cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Corden
for his valuable paper.

The following objects of interest were exhibited :—Mr.W. F.
Stanley, Six’s day and night thermometer for self-registration,
Mason’s hygrometer for showing the humidity of the air,
Lind’s anenometer or wind gauge for registering the pressure
of the wind in pounds on the square inch ; two aneroid baro-
meters for registering altitudes and depths; Mr. W. H. Beeby,
sepal of geranium robertianum showing sphceraphides; Mr.

* This paper has been printed separately, and has been circulated among
the members of the Club.

Proceedings. ili.

E. Lovett, silicious sponge from the Cape of Good Hope, con-
taining young bivalve mollusca, also a barometrical chart
showing fluctuations from the rst February, 1877; Mr. K.
McKean, the young of Limnceus Pereger, hatched last summer;
and Mr. H. Long a section of ivory.

Ordinary Meeting, 15th May, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The PresIDENT called attention to the very small number of
members who were present at the conversational meetings,
which were held on the first Monday in each month, and
reminded the members that these meetings were tried as an
experiment only, and that if they were not better attended in
the future it would become necessary to consider whether it
would not be desirable to discontinue them.

Mr. C. T. HopcEs read a very interesting paper on ‘‘ The
Natural History and Instinct of the Bee,” which was followed
by a paper by Mr. T. J. Batpwin, on “ Bees and their
management.”

The subjects dealt with in these papers were discussed at
considerable length by Mr. Hodges, Mr. Baldwin, the Presi-
dent, and Mr. Frewer.

The following objects were exhibited :—Messrs. Neighbour
and Sons, an improved cottage hive, a Stewarton hive, and a
frame hive, with their new sectional supers; Mr. Baldwin,
a unicomb glass hive with living bees, Ligurian queen, and an
improved frame hive; Mr. E. Lovett, the cast skin of a green
lizard (Lacerta Viridis); Mr. S. Overton, microscopical
objects.

The PrEsIDENT announced that this was the last meeting of
the session, and that the next ordinary meeting of the Club
would be on September 18th.

ExcurSsION TO REDHILL, NUTFIELD, AND BLETCHINGLEY.
Saturday, 15th F$une, 1878.

In this, which was the first excursion of the season, the
members left East Croydon at 2.44 for Redhill Junction, where
they were joined by members of the Royal Microscopical
Society, and of the Quekett and South London Clubs. The

iv. Proceedings.

party then proceeded to Nutfield, having received permission
from J. Cawley, Esq., to visit and inspect the Fuller’s-earth
works, known as Cockley Pits, and lying to the left of the road
between Nutfield Priory and the village. The excavations
nearest the road were first inspected, and the strata examined
and explained. Some fossil wood was found, and some fine
specimens of Ammonites were shown by the workmen. The
Fuller’s-earth bed, however, had here only just been reached,
and the foreman of the works accordingly conducted the party
to a lower excavation a short distance off, where this peculiar
clay had been worked to a considerable depth. There is, it is
believed, but one place in England, besides Nutfield, where
this useful article can be procured. It is extensively used in
dressing woollen and silken fabrics, and for bleaching purposes,
and is also looked upon as a valuable adjunct to an infant’s
toilet. It was incidentally mentioned that it would take at
least fifty years yet to exhaust the supply of clay upon this
estate alone. After visiting the drying and storing houses,
seeing some fossils that have been found in sinking through
the lower greensand beds that lie above the Fuller’s-earth bed,
and securing a few specimens, the party walked across the
fields to Pendell Court, Bletchingley, where they were warmly
and hospitably received by Sir George Macleay, K.C.M.G.,
the owner of this charming property. The drawing-room,
dining-room, and library, of this fine old 16th century mansion,
with their polished oak floors, and oak wainscotting in almost
perfect preservation, were each in turn inspected by the
visitors, who found much to delight them. Sir George after-
wards accompanied the party over the beautiful gardens, filled
with a great variety of English and foreign flowers, and the
varied grounds, and through the extensive greenhouses and
hot-houses. To many of the party the walk through Sir
George Macleay’s grounds and “ houses ” gave more pleasure
than the whole of the day’s proceedings besides. From Pendell
Court, after cordially acknowledging Sir George’s courtesy and
kindness, the party proceeded on their way to Bletchingley,
which was reached about 7 p.m. Here a halt for rest and
refreshment was made for about an hour, when the start was
made for Redhill and Croydon, the latter place being regained
about 9.30 p.m., after a very enjoyable and instructive day.

Excursion To ADDINGTON.—Saturday, 20th Fuly, 1878.

The members met on Addington Hills at 3.30 p.m., and
proceeded to the beautiful park of the Archbishop of Canter-
bury. Dr. Carpenter, the President of the Club, was present,

i

Proceedings. Vv.

and acted as guide to the party. After exploring the woods
and plantations for nearly two hours, Addington was reached,
and the visitors inspected the Church and burial ground,
afterwards returning through the park to the Ballards, where
Mr. Goschen very kindly provided tea and substantial refresh-
ments. From the keeper’s lodge, which is one of the highest
points on the range of hills, in clear weather the most beautiful
panoramic views may be obtained, portions of Kent, Essex,
Middlesex, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, in
addition to the greater part of the County of Surrey, being
visible. On this occasion the atmosphere was somewhat
cloudy, and the more distant prospect was obscured. After
enjoying the rest here, the party returned to Croydon, which
was reached about 8.30 p.m.

Ordinary Meeting, 18th September, 1878.

ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. John Drage was balloted for, and elected.

The PresipDEntT called attention to a wasp's nest, taken at
Wye, Kent, which had been presented to the Club by Mr.
Stampa Lambert, and to a very fine oyster shell, and some
lignite, which had been found in a sewer cutting in the Holmes-
dale-road, about eight feet below the surface, and forwarded by
Mr. Brooks.

Mr. Epwin Roper read an interesting paper on ‘“ The
Microscope and its uses ;” and, after sketching shortly the
history and gradual development of the microscope, called
attention to the effect which its use had produced in the study
of the lower forms of animal life, and of Cryptogamic plants.
He further described many of the discoveries which had been
made, by the aid of the microscope, as to the nature and
origin of some forms of disease, and in the natural history of
many animal and vegetable parasites, and spoke at length of its
valuable assistance in investigating the phenomena of vegetable
nutrition, the nature of the process by which the ovule was
fecundated by the pollen tube, and the metamorphoses of the
lower animals. Mr. Roper concluded by giving some interesting
instances of the practical value of the microscope in medical
cases.

The paper was followed by a discussion, in which the Pre-
sident, Mr. J. Berney, and Mr. E. Roper took part.

Mr. E. Gill showed hairs of myosotis, spiral and hooked;
Mr. Long, hair worms; Mr. K. McKean, living phylloxera

vi. Proceedings. -

devastatrix, from a vineyard of the Upper Douro; Mr. S.
Overton, longitudinal section of ivory; Mr. E. Roper, section
of stomach, shewing secreting glands; Mr. A. D. Taylor,
young newt; Mr. Warner, spicules of holothuria; Mr. E. B.
Sturge, French diagram plates, hoof of horse, mule, and ox,
the honey bee and apiculture. Batrachospermum, taken
from Czsar’s Well, Keston Common, was shewn with the
camera lucida, by Mr. Klaassen.

Ordinary Meeting, October 16th, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and con-
firmed, Mr. Lewis Browne was balloted for, and elected.

The PREsIDENT announced that the South London Micro-
scopical Club had forwarded a map of the district which they
had selected for their work, and the map was laid upon the
table for inspection by the members.

The PRESIDENT called attention to a fact which he had
observed, viz., the number of spring flowers which had come
into bloom this autumn, and produced specimens of rhododen-
dron, laburnum, common primrose, and common strawberry,
all in flower, which he had picked that afternoon in a garden
at Duppas Hill. He also mentioned that he had had both
apple and pear trees in bloom in his garden last week, but the
flowers were now too far gone to be picked, or he would have
brought them with the others.

Mr. MairLanp GARDNER stated that he also had had some
pear trees in flower in his garden last week, and he had
intended to call attention to this fact, as it was not at alla
common occurrence.

The PresipEnT also related a remarkable instance of the
power of instinct in a terrier dog belonging to his son, who
was a student at St. Thomas’s Hospital. His son took the
dog with him from Croydon by railway, and left it at his
lodgings in Lambeth, which were near the hospital. It
remained there till five o’clock in the afternoon of the day after
its arrival, when it escaped, and in a little over two hours after
its escape, it found its way back to his house at Croydon.
The dog had never before been on the road between London
and Croydon.

The PresIDENT also read a paper ‘‘ On the Natural History
of Hard Water, and on its softening by Clark’s process.”

(Vide p. 1.)

Proceedings. Vii.

A discussion ensued, in which Mr. G. F. Linney, Mr. H. M.
Klaassen, Dr. Strong, and the President took part.

In addition to the collection of minerals, &c., exhibited by
the President in illustration of his paper, Mr. J. Packham, of
Katharine-street, exhibited 22,000 grains, equal to 3-lb. 21-oz.
of solid matter which had been obtained by distillation, from
1,000 gallons of Croydon water; Mr. A. D. Taylor, Lavender,
with scent ducts; Mr. K. McKean, Larva; Mr. E. Lovett,
Parasite of Flying Fox, also an improved method for illumi-
nation of objects ; Mr. Edward Williams, Fungi.

NintH ANNUAL SOIREE.
Held on Wednesday, Nov. 6th, 1878.

This was held, as hitherto, in the Large and Small Public
Halls, and was attended by: 140 members, 53 of whom exhi-
bited; 106 exhibitors from other clubs; and 549 visitors,
making a total of 795, as against 770 in 1877. 173 microscopes
were exhibited.

The musical arrangements were again under the care of Mr.
George Webb, who attended with four instrumentalists.

Many interesting objects were exhibited, among which may
be mentioned a collection of crystals by the President; the
Quadruple Electro Chronograph which was used for the obser-
vations on the transit of Venus in 1874, exhibited by Mr.
Thomas Cushing, by permission of the Secretary of State for
India; a Phoneidoscope, an instrument for observing the
colour figures of liquid films, under the action of sonorous
vibrations, by Dr. Philpot; Butterflies trom the Malay Archi-
pelago, among which were specimens of the Leaf butterfly
(Kallima paralekta), of Sumatra, by Mr. Alfred Russel Wal-
lace; two Roman cinerary urns of glass, a number of skulls
of Mammalia, stuffed birds, and a portion of the trunk of a horse
chesnut tree in which an iron chain had become embedded,
by Mr. John Flower; Aquaria, by Mr. H. M. Klaassen and
Mr. A. D. Taylor; mineralogical specimens by Mr. J. Toms
and Mr. H. Long; crustacea, by Mr. Lovett; fossils by Mr.
Henry Turner and Mr. J. R. Frewer; a carbon candle as used in
the Jablochkoff system of electric lighting, by Mr. Thomas
Cushing; specimens of silk-producing insects, by Mr. J. A.
Clark ; weather charts, by Mr. George Corden. Microscopical
specimens were also kindly lent by Dr. Ord, and exhibited by
the President.

Microscopes were exhibited by members of the following clubs:

Croydon.—The President, Messrs. W. R. Adams, Berney,

Vili. Proceedings.

Baldock, Bindley, Beeby, Corry, W. Cooper, P. Crowley, A.
Drummond, Harrod, Hall, Ingrams, Johnson, James, Klaassen,
Long, H. Lee, Harry Lee, Loftus, Lovett, Linney, G. Manners,
C. Manners, H. Moules, E. R. Moules, Northey, Overton,
Owen, Oswald, Palmer, Roper, Richardson, Sarjeant, Sturge,
Straker, J. A. Toms, Taylor, Turner, West, Whitling, Wallace,
Williams, and Drs. Carpenter, Lanchester, Rosser, and Strong.

Royal.—Messtrs. Goodinge, Williams, and Brindley.

Quekett.—Messrs. Adkins, Andrew, Addis, Cocks, Dunning,
Enock, Hainworth, Hunter, Ingpen, Messenger, Nelson,
Pearce, Russell, Reed, Reeve, Smith, White, Watson, Bat-
chelor, Brown, and Dr. Matthews.

South London. — Messrs. Brewer, Ersser, Hovenden,
Hardess, Hembrey, Marriott, Short, W. B. Smith, J. A.
Smith, R. A. Smith, West, Dodswell, and Stidstone.

Sydenham and Forest Hill.—Messts. Arch, Bird, Crossland,
George, S. Milledge, A. Milledge, Purdue, and Terry.

Greenwich.—Messrs. Blomfield, Colsell, T. W. Dannatt,
G. Dannatt, Dowsett, Daish, Scarr, Trickett, and Higgins.

New Cross.—Messrs. Auld, Collingwood, Loxley, Poland,
Stewart, Wrangham, Willcock, Swinburn, and the Rev. S.
Thackrah.

Tower Hill.—Messrs. Alston, Crosfield, Harrod, Menzies,
Sedgewick, Simpson, and Thompson.

Old Change.—Messrs. Batchelor, Green, and Gribbell.

Hackney.—Messrs. Addis, Clark, Crossfield, Duggan,
Goldthwaite, Hardy, Rose, Smith, Willmott, Wood, Bartlett.

Private.—Messrs. Appleford, Day, Howes, Justican, Light-
wood, Payne, Scargill, Bossey, Tyndall, Christian, Gregory.

Makers.—Messrs. Beck, Bailey, Baker, Crouch, How,
Stanley, Christmas.

General Exhibitors.—Mr. J. W. Bailey, new folding micro-
scope ; Mr. Chumley, pen and ink drawings and oil paintings,
by E. G. H. Lucas; Mr. O. C. Goldthwaite, cases of
lepidoptera; Mr. O. T. Hodges, Cloisonné ware; Mr. G.
Howes, collection of bones, skulls, &c.; Mr. G. Manners, map
of Paris, 1792, assignats, 1792; Mr. T. D. Russell, crustaeea,
Madagascar; ‘Mr. J. A. Richardson, mounting cabinet; Mr.
E. B. Sturge, fungi from Addingten Hills; Mr. E. Straker,
plans of Surrey churchyards and measurement of yews, shewn
by sections of the tree; Mr. F. W. Silvester, specimen of
hazel; Mr. H. D. Turner, oil paintings; Mr. J. R, Gregory,
meteoric stones; Mr. W. Saward, coins.

ee ee

Proceedings. oo

Ordinary Meeting, Nov. 20th, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esgq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and con-
firmed, Mr. J. Truman, Mr. Walter Cooper, and Mr. Samuel
Palmer were balloted for and elected.

The PreEsIpDENT announced that Mr. Howard Martin had
retired from the committee of the Club, in consequence of his
many other engagements, and that the committee had decided
not to fill up the place thus left in the committee, but to lecve
‘it to be filled up by the General Meeting in January. He also
announced that the paper which was read by Mr. George
Corden on “ The Meteorology of Croydon” on April 17th last,
had been separately printed, and that a copy of it would be
forwarded to every member of the Club.

Mr. J. CuIsHoLM read a paper ‘‘ On a Geological Section in
Park Hill Rise.” Mr. Chisholm first referred to the labours
of Professor Prestwich, who, about 30 years ago, clearly
demonstrated the Lower London Tertiaries, which occur
between the London clay and the chalk formations, to be
separable into three great divisions, which now go by the
names of the Oldhaven, the Woolwich and Reading, and the
Thanet beds respectively. Their position at Park Hill was
illustrated by a diagram enlarged from a drawing in a paper
by Professor Prestwich, in Vol. 10 of the Quarterly Journal of
the Geological Society, p. gg, and their general structure and
distribution commented on. Attention was next directed to a
section taken from a pit ina garden at the top of Park Hill-rise.
The various strata uncovered were explained, and a number of
fossils, ostrea bellovacina, calyptroea trochiformis, cyrena,
&c., found in some of the beds were exhibited. The point of
interest in this section was the apparent overlying of the Old-
haven pebbles by the Woolwich and Reading beds, the second
member of the Lower Tertiaries, and Mr. Chisholm brought
forward several reasons for supposing this to be really the case.
He also stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Whitaker,
the well-known member of the Survey, in which it was
suggested that there might be a “ reversed fault”’ at this spot.
The result of a number of other openings in the neighbourhood
was then given; among others that of a boring 20-ft. deep
made by Mr. Baldwin Latham in his garden for the purpose of
making researches into the underground temperature. Asa
general conclusion, Mr. Chisholm believed that the bed of Old-
haven pebbles would be found to cover a considerable part of
the northerly slope of Park Hill, and the plastic clay of the
Woolwich series continued along the top of the hill between

i Proceedings.

Park Hill-rise and the Waterworks tower. After referring to
the unavoidable mistake that had been made owing to the
absence of sections when this neighbourhood was first mapped
by the Survey, and to a slight inaccuracy that had been con-
sequently found to exist in the map that accompanies Professor
Morris’s lecture on the geology of Croydon, Mr. Chisholm said
he should take advantage of this error on the part of the Survey,
to point out the utility that would attach to a record of local
sections as that which had that evening been brought forward,
and suggested that the examination and recording of these
sections should be done systematically by a sub-committee of
this club. Even one isolated section might not be without
» some use, but the combined record of a great many sections
would be of far greater and more practical importance. A
great part of the neighbourhood of Croydon was covered by a
superficial deposit of gravel which filled up the hollows, and
effectually concealed every indication of the stratification
beneath. It was only when some opening in the gravel
chanced to be seen and the dip of the underlying strata noted,
that a calculation could be made of their probable direction
underneath, and the spot at which they terminated. Thus, when
our acquaintance with the solid geology, as it is called; in its
minor ramifications, was founded on one or two only of such sec-
tions, it was little more than guess work, and it would be neces-
sary to multiply observation upon observation to attain anything
like exact knowledge. Ina growing neighbourhood like this,
constant opportunities were presenting themselves for a better
acquaintance with the ground beneath us ; openings were being
made on every side, and these were so numerous, and in so
many different localities, that it required the co-operation of
many observers to take note of any large proportion of them.
They could not expect a member of the Survey to be always
on the spot to take note of sections ; such work must be left to
residents. If it were undertaken we. should have the data
ready to our hand to assist us in carrying out more thoroughly
our drainage operations, and thus in approaching a more
perfect sanitary condition, and a consequently higher standard
of health.

In the discussion which ensued, Mr. F. Warren and Mr.
H. M. Klaassen took part.

Mr. TurNER said he had been invited last spring by Mr.
Chisholm to inspect the section, under circumstances less
favourable than he could have desired. The conflicting appearance
of the section puzzled him, and he had some difficulty in
making out the relation of the different beds to each other, and
therefore the opinion he was about to offer might not be worth

Proceedings. Xi.

much. Mr. Whitaker maintained that in all probability there
had been a reversed fault ; but he (Mr. Turner) could not see
how a reversed fault could have taken place in a locality like
this, and he expressed an opinion that the confusion of strata
was due to a subsidence, and not a reversed fault. Under any
circumstances, he considered that great benefits would result
from the discovery and record of phenomena such as this.

The PRESIDENT expressed his approval of the idea of a
geological sub-committee being formed for dealing with these
subjects similar to the botanical sub-committee, and said he
should take care that this was brought under the notice of the
committee. He congratulated Mr. Chisholm on the artistic
and most satisfactory manner in which he had explained some
of the differences in the strata of the neighbourhood, and
referred to the fact that the same kind of fossils which Mr.
Turner had brought from a distance were to be found at
Selhurst, at Duppas Hill, and on the site of the present Gas
Works. In explanation of the confusion and irregularity of
the strata, he expressed his belief that it could be accounted
for by denudation, adducing in support of his argument the
immense displacement of chalk from the hills by the action of
rain in the course of many thousands and perhaps millions of
years. For every seven gallons of rainfall each year, one
pound of chalk was removed. During that long period the
chalk had been gradually washed out, and the subsidence thus
occasioned had probably led to the confusion of strata. He
had never seen it accounted for in this way ; but he thought it
was a point worthy of consideration.

Mr. J. FLower read a paper on a portion of the trunk of a
horse chestnut tree, which he had exhibited at the soiree, and
in which an iron chain had become imbedded. (Vide p. 5.)

The PRESIDENT reminded the members that a short time
since he had exhibited a portion of an arbor vitce tree, which
had a piece of tarred string tied tightly round it. The effect of
this, however, was different to that of the chain on the horse
chestnut tree, inasmuch as an abnormal growth was produced
above the string, and there was no unusual growth below it.

The following were exhibitors :—Mr. J. W. Chisholm, col-
lection of fossils from Park Hill; Mr. H. Turner, fossils ; Mr.
H. M. Klaassen, fossil oysters from Park Hill; Mr. E. Lovett,
specimens of rocks composing the earth’s crust (arranged accord-
ing to strata); Mr. E. Gill, xanthidia in flint; Mr. J. S.
Johnson, section of fern in coal; Mr. S. Overton, head of
blowfly, mounted without pressure.

xil. Proceedings.

Ordinary Meeting, Dec. 18th, 1878.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. J. W. Ward, Mr. C. James Egg, and Mr. F. M.
Walton were balloted for and elected.

Mr. Thomas Cushing and Mr, Henry Turner were appointed
to audit the accounts of the Club for the current year.

The PRESIDENT announced that Professor Rupert Jones had
presented the Club with two pamphlets—‘‘On recent
Foraminifera of County Down and Antrim,” by Joseph Wright,
F.G.S., and published in the transactions of the Belfast
Naturalists’ Field Club; and ‘‘ Les Foraminiferes Vivants et
Fossiles de la Jamaique,” by Professor T. Rupert Jones, W. K.
Parker, and H. B. Brady.

The PRESIDENT drew attention to a new and very ingenious
section cutting machine, which was exhibited by the inventor,
Mr. W. L. Sarjeant, a member of the Club.

Mr. FLower next read the first report of the Botanical
Sub-Committee (vide p. 8), which was illustrated by numerous
dried plants from the neighbourhood of Croydon, which were
exhibited by the members of the Botanical Sub-committee.
To this report was added some remarks by Mr. Flower, on
some of the more interesting of the plants mentioned in the
report.

In the discussion which ensued, the PRESIDENT expressed
his opinion that the report was a very valuable contribution to
the work of the Club, and pointed out very clearly the direction
they should follow. Mr. Flower had shown them that the list
was not complete, and he thought they could not do better
than ask the sub-committee to continuethe work. He believed
it would be their wish that in due course the report should be
put in type. Subsequent reports might be added, so that in
the future they would have a “ Flora” of their own.

Mr. KuaassENn thought it was a wise conclusion not to
publish the places where the several species were discovered,
and mentioned one instance where a certain flower had
disappeared from the neighbourhood in which it was found
owing to the raids made by persons who, except for such
publicity, would have been ignorant of the locality in which it
erew. He hoped that in future the sub-committee would
make known the soil upon which the plants grew. He under-
stood Mr. Flower to say that 750 species had been found. He
thought that there were altogether about 950 species to be
found near Croydon.

Mr. FLower said the sub-committee was not yet in a

—-

Proceedings. Xiil.

position to put forward a classification of plants with regard to
soils, but in the future they hoped to do this. He also

expressed his opinion that the district round Croydon was rich

in plants, and in proof of this he mentioned that on the railway
bank between the foot-bridge near the Fairfield and the bridge
in Coombe-lane there were about 150 species of flowering
plants. How some of them got there it was difficult to explain.
In the gravel pit there were some plants which were probably

; brought there with ballast. He also expressed a hope that

members of the Club who were interested in plants would help
the sub-committee, and if they saw a plant which they thought
was strange, would let the sub-committee know of it, or send
it to them in the best condition they could. If they could not
send the whole plant even a portion might be sufficient.

Mr. Fietp next read a paper “ On a piece of chalk,” which
was followed by a discussion, in which the President, Mr. H.
Turner, and Mr. J. W. Chisholm took part.

The following objects were exhibited :—Foraminifera, Croy-
don chalk, Mr. J. W. Chisholm ; ditto, ‘‘ Challenger ” expedi-
tion, Mr. J. S. Johnson; section of kidney of Guinea pig, Mr.
H. M. Klaassen; chalk in process of formation from the
Atlantic, 2,300 fathoms, Mr. K. McKean ; hybrid primulas,
Mr. E. Straker; lichen and fungi, Mr. E. B. Sturge;
foraminifera, Gravesend chalk, Mr. H. Turner.

Annual Meeting, January 15th, 1879.
ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The PRESIDENT announced that the soiree of the South
London Microscopical Club would be held at the Crystal
Palace on February 1gth, and that in consequence of this the
ead meeting of this Club would be postponed to February
20th.

The PresipEnT further announced that the New Cross
Microscopical Club had fixed their soirée for the 28th inst.

The receipt was also announced of two slides of Phylloxera
Devastatrix from the vineyards of the Upper Douro, from
Mr. K. McKean ; and two slides of Belemnite from the York-
shire coast, from Mr. E. Gill; also two copies of weather
Sol which had been tabulated by Mr. Corden, from 1867 to
1877.

The Hon. Secretary then read the report of the committee
and statement of accounts for the past year.

xiv. Proceedings.

REPORT.

The committee have again the pleasure of submitting to the
members of the Club their annual report of its proceedings.

During the year 25 members have been elected; 14 have
resigned (chiefly on account of removal from Croydon or from
inability to attend the meetings), and the committee regret to
add that five members, viz.: Mr.]J. M. Eastty, J.P., Mr. C. W.
Johnson, F.R.S., Dr. Henry Owens, Mr. C. H. Maltby, and
Mr. William Harrison have died. The total number of mem-
bers on the 31st December, 1878, was 241, one being an
honorary member.

The following papers have been read :-—

Feb. 20th.—Mr. J. W. Wallis, ‘On Man Nomadic.”

March 20th.—Mr. W. J. Nation, ‘‘ On Ivory.”

April 17th.—Mr. George Corden, ‘‘ On the Meteorology of
Croydon.” A full copy of this paper will be forwarded to each
member of the Club in the course of the ensuing month.

May 15th.—Mr. O. T. Hodges, ‘‘On the Natural History
and Instinct of the Bee;”’ Mr. S. J. Baldwin, ‘‘On Bees and
their Management.”

Sept. 18th.—Mr. Edwin Roper, ‘‘ On the Microscope and its
uses.”

Oct. 16th.—The President (Dr. Alfred Carpenter) ‘‘ On the
Microscopical Appearances and Natural History of Hard Water,
and its softening by Clark’s process.”’

Nov. 20th.—Mr. J. W. Chisholm, ‘‘On a Geological Section
in Park Hill Rise; ’’ Mr. John Flower, M.A., ‘‘ On a portion of
the trunk of a Horse Chestnut Tree, in which was embedded
an iron chain which had been placed round the tree.”

Dec. 18th.—The report of the Botanical Sub-Committee and
list of plants found by them in the neighbourhood of Croydon ;
and notes by Mr. John Flower, M.A., on some of the rarer and
more interesting plants comprised in the sub-committee’s list ;
Mr. William Field, ‘‘ On a piece of Chalk.”

The success which has attended the appointment of the
Botanical Sub-Committee appears to justify the opinion that
there is room for further development in this direction, viz., by
the formation of sub-committees in other branches of science.

Excursions were made on the 15th June to Redhill, Nutfield,
and Bletchingley, in conjunction with the Quekett and South
London Microscopical Clubs, on which occasion the Clubs
were kindly and hospitably entertained by Sir George Macleay,
K.C.M.G., at Pendell Court ; and on the 2oth July to Adding-
ton Park, when the members of the Club were also kindly and
hospitably entertained by Mr. Charles H. Goschen, of Ballards.

'Proceedings. Xv.

In the last report attention was drawn to the thin attendance
at the conversational meetings, and the committee regret that
they cannot announce any improvement.

The Ninth Annual Soiree took place at the Public Hall, on
Wednesday evening, 6th November, and was attended by
fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society, and members of the
Quekett, South London, Sydenham, Greenwich, New Cross,
Tower Hill, Old Change, and Hackney Clubs, and others, by
whom, and by members of the Club, 173 microscopes were exhi-
bited, besides many interesting objects in natural history,
antiquities, works of art, &c. The attendance was the largest
on record, being 140 members, 106 exhibitors, and 549 visitors ;
total, 795, as against 770 at the Soirée in 1877.

The members of the Club gave an exhibition of microscopes
at the Working Men’s Club, on October 14th.

The reports and Journals of the Quekett, South London,
Watford, Brighton and Sussex, Berwickshire, Sydenham and
Forest Hill, New Cross, East Kent, Eastbourne, and Belgian
Clubs and Societies have been received.

The donations tothe Club during 1878 are as follows :—Mr.
E. Gill, two slides, Oolite; Mr. R. B. Douglass, a spectroscope;
Mr. George Corden, volume of weather charts for 11 years,
1867 to 1877 ; Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.R.S., &c., papers
on recent Foraminifera of Down and Antrim, by Joseph Wright,
F.G.S., and ‘“‘ Living and Fossil Foraminifera of Jamaica, by
Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.R.S.; Professor W. K. Parker,
F.R.S.; Professor H. B. Brady, F.R.S.; and Mr. S. W.
Lambert, Wasps’ Nest from Wye, Kent.

During the year the reports for 1876 and 1877 have been
printed and duly issued to the members and corresponding
Clubs and Societies. The Club series is now complete to
date, with the exception of 1871, which it is hoped may be
shortly completed.

The attendance at the ordinary meetings has been good,
and equal to the average of the previous year.

The thanks of the Club are again due to the local press for
the very full reports of the various meetings, which have
appeared in the columns of the Croydon Advertiser, Croydon
Chronicle, and Croydon Guardian.

Signed on behalf of the Committee,
ALFRED CARPENTER, President.
Croydon, 15th January, 1879.

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Proceedings. XVil.

The PREsIDENT, in moving the adoption of the report, said
it was on the whole a very satisfactory one. The Club, during
the year, had lost nothing of its prestige; the number of
members had been augmented, and the financial year termi-
nated witha balance in its favour. Papers of intrinsic worth
had been read, and although the work done in microscopical
research, he believed, was not so great as in some of the
previous years, there was an undercurrent of work in some of
their members which would bring its reward hereafter. The
balance at the end of the year was not so large as that at the
commencement, and this was to be accounted for by the
bringing up of arrears in the printing of the annual records of
the proceedings. Two of these had been printed during the
past year, and there now remained only one of the earlier years
to becompleted. In consequence of this additional expenditure
it had been thought desirable that the annual lecture, which
had hitherto been given, should for the present be discontinued.
There had also been a large expenditure connected with the
soiree, but when they considered the amount of pleasure that
was afforded to the large number of visitors, and the interest
they manifested in examining the varied objects exhibited, he
thought the money spent had been well invested. As this
would be the last occasion on which, as their President, he
should have the pleasure of addressing them, he would take
this opportunity of acknowledging the kindness and support he
had invariably received from the committee, who although
they sometimes very properly differed in opinion, worked
amicably together for the common interests of the Club ; and
he should look back to those committee meetings with a con-
siderable amount of pleasure. He moved that the report and
accounts be received and adopted, and that they be printed and
circulated amongst the members.

Mr. J. FLower, in seconding this motion, referred to the
recommendation of the committee that additional sub-com-
mittees should be appointed, and cordially endorsed that
recommendation. In the earlier stages of its existence the
work of the Club was chiefly microscopical, but latterly the
Natural History element had been developed, and he thought
it very desirable that this part of the work of the Club should
be organised and put into a more systematic form ; this could
best be done by the appointment of sub-committees, whose
particular duty it would be to develope the work of the Club
each in its own department. In 1877, a botanical sub-com-
mittee was formed to work the district, and the experiment had
been so successful that he thought they might follow it up by
appointing three more sub-committees in other branches—-such

A 2

XViii. Proceedings.

as geology, meteorology, and zoology. It might be necessary,
hereafter, to sub-divide these, but for the present he did not
think it advisable to have more than four. He hoped that
at the next meeting the appointment of sub-committees for the
three branches he had mentioned would be announced.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then put and
carried.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.

Dr. CARPENTER said he had much pleasure in rising to pro-
pose that Mr. John Flower be elected President of the Club for
the ensuing year. The way in which Mr. Flower had sup-
ported the Club, and the knowledge which he would bring to
bear upon the subjects which would come before it would, he
was satisfied, render him a very valuable and efficient head of
the Club. :

Mr. Henry LEE seconded the motion, which was carried by
acclamation.

Mr. Flower, in thanking the Club for the high compliment
they had paid him, said he had much pleasure in accepting
the honour they had conferred upon him. Although they
might have selected some one with more leisure at his
command, and with greater skill in the use of the microscope,
he did not think they could have found one who would be more
anxious to promote the development of the Club, and to extend
its usefulness. At the same time, he was quite conscious that
the duty which would devolve upon him would not be a
sinecure, but on the contrary, would involve a large amount of
responsibility and careful attention. He had no doubt, how-
ever, that he should receive the cordial co-operation of the
officers and members of the Club, and that he shouid be able
with that help to maintain the present high standard of the
Club.

APPOINTMENT OF TREASURER AND SECRETARY.

Mr. H. Lee then proposed the re-appointment of Mr. Philip
Crowley, as treasurer, and Mr. E. B. Sturge, as honorary
secretary.

Dr. CARPENTER, in seconding the proposition, paid a well-
merited tribute to the care and attention of their hon. secretary.

The motion having been put and carried,

Mr. Crowtey and Mr. Srturce briefly acknowledged the
compliment that had been paid them.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE.

Mr. G. F. Linney then moved the re-appointment of the
committee as follows:—Mr. W. H. Beeby, Dr. Carpenter |

Proceedings. xix.

Mr. Thomas Cushing, Mr. J. S. Johnson, Mr. H. Lee, Mr. G.
Manners, Mr. K. McKean, Mr. H. Turner, and Mr. A. D.
Taylor.

Mr. J. Berney seconded the motion, which was put and
carried.

Mr. LEE proposed a vote of thanks to the President, to the
treasurer, hon. secretary, and other officers during the past
year; also to Mr. Corden, for his valuable tables on the
meteorology of Croydon, the result of laborious and painstaking
work during a period of ten years, and for which, as an addition
to their library, Mr. Corden was entitled to a special vote of
thanks from the Club.

The PresIDENT having briefly acknowledged the vote of
thanks, expressed a hope that some of the members would
break through their reserve and come to the front in a way they
were fully competent to do, by reading papers on subjects
which could not fail to impart instruction to the Club. He
should like them to look upon their fellow-members as students,
anxious to instruct each other; and they would find that, in
compiling their papers, they would learn things that they never
knew before. He thanked the Club for the kind support they
had invariably extended to him, and he had no doubt that his
successor would be equally well supported.

Dr. StronG then suggested that a few pounds should be
expended in works of reference for the library.

Mr. LEE explained that if it were found that the members
applied for books the committee would be happy to consider
Dr. Strong’s suggestion, but at present few applications were
made.

Mr. J. Berney said that unless the Club had a room of its
own, the demand for books would not be great, as it was
sometimes necessary for members to have their microscopes
with them when they consulted their books.

Mr. LEE said the books were in the care of the librarian of
the Literary and Scientific Institution, and might be obtained
at any time by members, who would be at liberty to take the
books home with them. A list of the books was published in
the records of their transactions.

Mr. KiaasseEN then called attention to the wording of the
first rule of the Club, which was somewhat ambiguous, and
Mr. Lee, on behalf of the committee undertook that this should
be considered with a view to the amendment of the rule in
accordance with Mr. Klaassen’s suggestion.

This brought the proceedings to a termination.

The following objects were exhibited :—Mr. E. Gill, Larva
of gnat; H. M. Klaassen, Human nerve; E. Lovett, Parasite

xx Proceedings.

of calf; H. Long, Parasite of goldfinch, wheat mildew; K.
McKean, Larva of beetle; Mr. R. Owen, Fungus; A. D.
Taylor, Pollen of Godetia; A. Warner, Section of stem of
exotic fern, stained in two colors; W. L. Serjeant, soap films.

Ordinary Meeting, Feb. 26th, 1879.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace was balloted for and elected.

The PreEsIDENT announced that Mr. G. Corden had
forwarded to the secretary a copy of a letter written by him to
the Croydon Advertiser which contained some interesting par-
ticulars as to the very remarkable thunder storm which broke
over Croydon on Sunday, June 23rd, 1878, and the letter was
laid on the table for perusal by the members. (See p. 32).

He also announced that Mr. Mason, photographer, of George-
street, had taken three very good photographs of the piece of
the chestnut tree with the iron chain embedded in it, which
was exhibited at the soiree, and described at the meeting on
November 2oth, 1878, and he presented copies of the three
photographs to the Club.

He further intimated that the soiree of the Quekett Micro-
scopical Society would be held at University College, Gower-
street, London, on Friday, March 14th.

Mr. H. Turner read an interesting paper ‘‘ On Yeast,” and
Mr. Henry LEE read a short paper, by Mr. H. Long, who was
unavoidably absent, on the same subject.

A discussion took place on these papers, in which the
President, Mr. H. M. Klaassen, Mr. J. S. Johnson, and others
took part. Mr. Klaassen solved one of the difficulties felt by
Mr. Long, by explaining that two varieties of yeast, dis-
tinguished by the Germans as the ‘ Ober-hefe,”’ or surface
yeast, and the ‘‘ Unter-hefe,” or sediment yeast, were now
recognized by naturalists, and explained and described the
peculiarities of each. Mr. Long’s experiments had probably
been made with the surface yeast, which, when dried, became
converted into a ‘“‘tough horny substance,” as described by
Mr. Long: whereas the sediment yeast, when dried, appeared
as a fine powder. Mr. J. S. Johnson, at the request of the
President, also explained how it was that yeast cells were com-
monly found in some parts of the urinary system of the human »
body in certain diseases.

The following objects were exhibited:—Mr. H. Turner,

Proceedings. XXi.

torule, cells of yeast plant under high power; Mr. A. D.
Taylor, polypodium vulgare, showing sori; Mr. J. S. Johnson,
clematis, stained; Mr. K. McKean, mould from jam; Mr.
H. M. Klaassen, yeast plant, and experiments with soap
bubbles to illustrate cell division of torule; Mr. E. Lovett,
orbilolites, eocene, Isle of Wight, pupa cases and larva, from
China; Mr. E. B. Sturge, two vols. Ephraim Chambers’ Cyclo-
pedia, published 1738; Mr. J. Toms, diatoms.

Ordinary Meeting, March 19th, 1879.
Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected :—
Mr. Richard Backwell, Mr. E. Mawley, Mr. H. T. Mennell,
Mr. J. Poland, Mr. W. R. Harwood.

The PresIDENT proposed four gentlemen for election as
honorary members, and, in doing so, remarked that when the
Club was in its infancy it was felt that they could hardly ask
distinguished men to be connected with it, but now that the
Club had increased to very considerable dimensions, and had
come to be known beyond the limits of Croydon, the time had
come when they could properly ask men who were eminent in
science to accept the honorary membership of the Club. He
had, therefore, pleasure in proposing Mr. John Evans, D.C.L.,
F.R.S., of Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, Herts; Professor
W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President of the Zoological
Society of London, of the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s
Inn Fields, London; ProfessorJoseph Prestwich, M.A.,F.R.S.,
Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford, of No. 34,
Broad-street, Oxford; and Professor George Rolleston, D.M.,
F.R.S., Linacre Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the
University of Oxford.

The proposal was seconded by Dr. Carpenter, and the PRE-
SIDENT announced that these gentlemen, having been duly
nominated, would be balloted for, in accordance with the rules
of the Club, at the next meeting on April 16th.

The PresIpENT called attention to what had passed at the
annual meeting, on January 15th, with reference to the wording
of the rules of the Club, and stated that the matter having been
_ considered by the committee, they recommended that the rules
should be altered in the following respects :—That the first
paragraph should be as follows—

XxXil. Proceedings.

TITLE AND OBJECTS OF THE CLUB.

The Club shall be called ‘‘ The Croydon Microscopical and Natural
History Club,” and shall have for its objects the mutual help of its
members in the study of Microscopy and Natural History, the
investigation of the Meteorology, Geology, Botany, and Zoology of
the neighbourhood of Croydon and the County of Surrey, and the
dissemination amongst its members of information on the subjects of
Microscopy and Natural History.

That two merely verbal alterations be made in the Rule as to the
management of the Club. ;

That in the Rule as to honorary members, the words “ provided
they do not reside within the district,” ‘‘ and corresponding” be
struck out.

And that in Rule. as to ordinary meetings, the time limited for
the reading of papers be increased to twenty minutes.

And gave notice that at the meeting on April 16th he would
move that the Rules of the Club be altered as recommended by
the committee.

The PresipEnT further announced that the recommendation
in the committee’s last report, that the number of sub-com-
mittees should be increased, had been acted upon, and that three
more sub-committees, to be called the Meteorological, Geolo-
gical, and Zoological sub-committees, had been constituted,
and that the following gentlemen had consented to act as
members of them :—

Meteorological Sub-Committee.—Mr. E. Mawley, Mr. H. S.
Eaton, Mr. G. Corden.

Geological Sub-Conmittee.—Dr. Carpenter, Mr. H. Turner,
Mr. J. Chisholm, Mr. H. M. Klaassen.

Zoological Sub-Committee.—Mr. J. Berney, Mr. E. Lovett,
Mr. A. D. Taylor, Mr. P. Crowley, Mr. K. McKean.

Mr. H. T. Mennell had also joined the Botanical sub-
committee.

The President of the Club for the time being would be an
ex-officio member of each of these sub-committees.

These sub-committees could not, however, as yet, be con-
sidered as complete, as it was hoped that other members who
had made some of the various branches of Natural History
their particular study would be willing to join them.

The PresipentT further announced that letters had been
received from the secretaries of the Geological Society of
London and the Hackney Microscopical and Natural History
Club, acknowledging with thanks copies of Mr. Corden’s
paper on the ‘Meteorology of Croydon,” which had been
forwarded to them.

Dr. CARPENTER exhibited, and made some remarks upon
two pieces of lead pipe, which had been used as water pipes,

Proceedings. XXlil.

and had been gnawed through by rats. Both exhibited the
marks of the teeth of the animals very plainly. One had been
sent to him by Mr. R. Pelton, of Tunbridge Wells. The other
specimen in the room had been brought by a member of the
club (Mr. E. Straker). He passed the pieces of pipe round for
inspection, and read the following letter as to one of them from
Mr. Pelton :—

68, Parade, Tunbridge Wells, March 23rd, 1879.

Dear S1r,— It may possibly be interesting to the members of the
Croydon Microscopical Club to see a piece of lead pipe gnawed
through by rats, as described in the extract from Nature, at the foot
of a letter in the Croydon Advertiser, signed H. M. Klaassen.

The pipe from which this piece is taken runs along on a concrete
floor at the basement of my house, and is of course exposed, although
a wood flooring is above the concrete. During a severe frost a few
winters ago the, cistern was found empty, and on opening the floor
the water had escaped through the hole made by the rats in the piece
of pipe I send herewith. It is possible that during the severe frost
the usual supplies of water which the rats were in the habit of getting
their drink from had frozen up, and as they say these animals get
very desperate when thirsty, they must have had instinct strong
enough to know that water was in the pipe, and attacked it
accordingly. Two facts noticed were curious—tst, the almost entire
absence of the lead filings round the hole made; 2nd, the largeness
of the hole. Taking No. 2 first I may say the pipe was fully charged
from a rather large cistern, and. consequently I conclude that the
hole must have been small at first, and the water would probably
then rush through and perhaps frighten these four-footed engineers
away until the cistern emptied itself. When this was done they
must have come back again, and probably tempted by the trickling
of a little water at the bottom of the pipe, commenced gnawing until
they made the hole large enough to get their noses in. As to the
absence of the lead filings, some of them doubtless got washed away,
some of them were around the hole and in the pipe, and I cannot but
think that some of them were eaten; whether they were good for
digestion or not you are a much better judge than myself.

I am, &c., yours obediently,

R. PELTON.
—Dr. Carpenter went on to remark that rats had a great deal
to do with the destruction of the atmospheric railway which
used to run from Croydon to London. He explained the
principle on which that railway was constructed, viz., the
exhaustion of air from a so-called pneumatic tube, and stated
that by the rats gnawing some of the leather the tube was no
longer air-tight, and the carriages in consequence frequently
came to a dead stop.

Dr. Carpenter also exhibited a piece of the lower part of the
trunk of alaburnum tree from the garden of the Rev. M. Farrar,
of Shirley, in which a colony of Ants (Formica Umbrata ?) had
formed their abode, and described shortly the history and habits

XXlv. Proceedings.

of the various species of ants, contrasting them with bees. He
also alluded to their propensity for eating flesh, and explained
how by the agency of ants, good skeletons of small animals
could often be obtained. In proof of this he took up the skull
of an animal which was lying on the table, and which had been
cleaned in a most beautiful and effectual manner by those
insects. In the piece of the laburnum tree which was
exhibited, the arrangement of the nest was seen in a very clear
manner. Unfortunately the tree had been split open before
the existence of the formicarium was discovered. A portion of
the nest had been sent to the British Museum. The remainder
was before the meeting. Thecovered ways, the winding stair-
case like passages, and the extensive apartments in which the
eggs of the ant were stowed away, and moved about, were very
manifest. It would appear that the ant was an acute observer
of the state of the atmosphere, that, without either barometer
or dew point measure other than those existing on their own
persons, they were able to judge as to the kind of day in
store for them, and used to arrange their eggs and pupa
. accordingly, with almost unerring certainty. Dr. Carpenter
also called attention to the walls of the nest, which were
arranged so as to limit the action of cold and moisture to the
fullest extent.
In the discussion which ensued,

Mr. W. H. Rowrtanp asked whether the water-rat, in
addition to living upon vegetable matter, did not also eat fish.
When he had been snipe shooting he had found pieces of cray-
fish shell which had apparently been eaten by water-rats, and
he thought that in addition to vegetable matter these rats
indulged in food of this kind.

The PRESIDENT said that about almost every river, especially
if near a town, there were two kinds of rat—the water-rat
(Arvicola amphibia), and the common brown rat (Mus decu-
manus). The latter was very fond of water, and was constantly
seen upon river banks, and would eat anything. The water-
rat on the other hand was more like a beaver, and as a rule
lived upon vegetable food only. He was very much inclined
to think that the cray-fish referred to by Mr. Rowland had been
eaten by the common brown rat, and not by the water-rat.
The two were very often confused, but they were very distinct
animals in their habits and their structure.

The PresipEenT called particular attention to a very inte-
resting series of nests, 47 in number, exhibited by Mr. P.
Crowley, in each of which a cuckoo had laid its egg. (These
were again exhibited at the meeting on April 16th. See p. 38).
He also called attention to a skull, to which Dr. Carpenter had

Proceedings. XXV.

referred as having been cleaned by ants, which was exhibited
by Mr. Maitland Gardner.

Mr. A. R. WALLACE being appealed to, explained that this
was the skull of a species of Pig, the Babirusa, or Pig Deer
(Barbirusa alfurus), an animal with which he was well
acquainted. It is found only in the Island of Celebes, the
Sula islands, and the island of Bouru, all in the Malay
Archipelago; but as regards Bouru. it is probably not
indigenous, but has been introduced by the natives. Mr.
Wallace called attention to and described the long curved tusks
in the upper and lower jaws. These were probably once
useful to the animal, but changed conditions of life have
rendered them unnecessary, and, no longer being worn down
as fast as they grew, they now develope into a monstrous
form, just as the incisors of rodents do if the opposite teeth do
not wear them away. The history and structure of the creature
all seem to indicate that it is a survival of a very ancient form.*

The PRESIDENT read some notes on a sterile Grey Hen, the
Cirl Bunting, the Stock Dove, and a foot of a cock Pheasant
with an additional toe. (See p. 34).

The following objects were also exhibited :—By the Presi-
dent, nest and eggs of the Common Yellow Bunting; Mr. J.
Berney, volvox; Mr. P. Crowley, specimen of yeast; Mr. E.
Gill, White Ant; Mr. E. Lovett, Black Ants (Glyciphagus
plumiger) from Gibraltar; Mr. H. Long, fermentation of malt
liquor, and shewing fermentation of surface yeast; Mr.
H. R. Owen, Coralline; Mr. E. B. Sturge, Asterina gibbosa ;
Mr. W. L. Sarjeant, Peristome of moss and peculiar variety of
Lime Hawk Moth; Mr. A. Warner, section of leaf and midrib
of Strelitza augusta, stained in two colours; Mr. W. H. Row-
land, Globe Fish (Diodon ?).

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. G. F. Linney
described the Albo-carbon light (patented by the Albo-Carbon
Light Company), with which the room in which the meeting
was held was lighted.

* The skull of the Babirusa is well figured in Mr. A. R. Wallace’s work,

| ** The Malay Archipelago,” vol. 1, p. 434.

XXVi. Proceedings.

Ordinary Meeting, April 16th, 1879.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were balloted for, and duly elected
honorary members of the Club:—Mr. John Evans, D.C.L.,
F.R.S., Professor W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., Professor
Joseph Prestwich, M.A., F.R.S., and Professor George
Rolleston, D.M., F.R.S.

Mr. H. S. Eaton, Mr. E. Wormald, and Mr. T. J. Duke
‘were balloted for and elected.

Referring to the proposed alterations in the rules of the
Club, the PresIpDENT again read and explained the alterations
recommended by the committee, and, in pursuance of the
notice given at the last meeting, he moved that the rules, as

altered by the committee, be adopted as the rules of the Club.
' This having been seconded, was carried unanimously.

A programme of the excursions which had been arranged by
the Quekett Microscopical Club was laid upon the table, and
the PRESIDENT announced that one of these, to Caterham and
Godstone, would take place on Saturday, May 17th.

A letter was read from the hon. secretary of the Quekett
Club, thanking the members of this Club for their assistance at
the soiree at University College, Gower-street, on March
14th.

A letter was read from Mr. F. J. Horniman, of Surrey
House, Forest Hill, by which the members of the Club were
invited to visit his house and examine his various Natural
History collections, and the PREsIDENT requested all the
members who were desirous of accepting this invitation to
send in their names to the hon. secretary, in order that the
necessary arrangements for their visit might be made with Mr.
Horniman.

The PresipenT further announced that Mr. Horniman had
also, very kindly, forwarded about 40 boxes of wings of
butterflies, for distribution amongst the members of the Club ;,
and he requested all those who would like to have some of these
to send in their names to the hon. secretary.

The President exhibited three skins of the water rat
(Arvicola amphibia), and referring to the discussion which took
place at the last meeting, pointed out the characteristics which
distinguished the water rat from the common brown rat (Mus
decumanus).

He also exhibited a white dove, one of a wild pair which were
shot by the gamekeeper of Edward Wormald, Esq., at New-
digate, Surrey, in the summer of 1877. From the plumage, it

Proceedings. XXVil.

was quite impossible to say whether the bird was a white
variety of the wild turtle dove (Turtur vulgaris) or was a tame
dove, which had escaped from a cage. If the former, the
specimen was very interesting, as white varieties of the
English turtle dove were exceedingly rare. The small size of
the bird, which, however, might be due, to some extent, to bad
stuffing, would seem to favour the view that the bird was a
tame one which had escaped.

Attention was also called to a Night Jar (Caprimulgus
europceus), exhibited by Mr. W. H. Rowland, and to a series
of eggs of this bird, which was exhibited by Mr. P. Crowley.

The PresipENT also called attention to some plants of
Asarabacca (Asarum Europceum) brought by Mr. P. Crowley,
and which were now in full flower. These were garden
specimens, but the plant was believed to be truly wild in some
places in the north of England and in Wiltshire.

A paper was read by Mr. J. W. WA ttis on ‘“ Man, his social
progress in pre-historic times,” which was followed by a
discussion, in which the President, Mr. W. H. Rowland, Mr.
Lovett, and others, took part.

Mr. P. Crow.ey again exhibited his collection of nests of
British birds, which had been selected by the common cuckoo
for the deposit of its eggs, and these were described by the
President, who also called attention to various matters con-
nected with the history of the cuckoo upon which these nests
and eggs seemed to have an important bearing. (See p. 38).

In the discussion which ensued on this paper, Mr. A. M.
Davis mentioned that he had seen a cuckoo take away an egg
from the nest of a hedge sparrow in his garden. He distinctly
saw the egg in the cuckoo’s mouth, and he afterwards found
the egg of the cuckoo in the nest of the hedge sparrow.
Mr. A. M. Davis expressed his belief that it was usual for the
cuckoo, when it laid an egg in a nest, to remove one or more
of the eggs which the nest contained.

The PresipEenT also read a paper ‘“‘ On a peculiarity appa-
rently hitherto undescribed, in the breastbone of the Gannet
(Sula bassana).” (See p. 42).

Mr, P. CRowLey read some interesting details as to the
quantity of sap which had escaped from the cut branch of a
Birch Tree in his garden at Waddon. (See p. 44).

Mr. J. W. CuisHoLM communicated the result of an exami-
nation by the Geological sub-committee, of a well lately sunk
by Messrs. Legrand and Sutcliff, Artesian Well Engineers, of
Bunhill Row, London, at the Brewery of Messrs. Pontifex and
Hall, at Elmer’s End. The depth reached was 180o-ft. 6-in.,
and the beds bored through were as follows :—

XXVIll. Proceedings.

Brown sand 3°6) Oldhaven
Grey ditto : 146] Beds.
Shells and concrete ... 4°6
Ditto and clay 73) Woolwich
Hard white stone 2. and
Coloured clay... . 13°0f Reading
Black pebbles... Hay Beds.
Green sand and ditto on Or
Live grey sand Age
Dead sand - 4°6| Thanet
Flints ... ane 2 }56)( «Sande
Chalk and flints . 70°6

180°6

Water rises above the surface four feet.

Specimens of the various beds, which had been kindly lent
by the engineers, were also exhibited and described by Mr.
Chisholm.

The following objects were also exhibited :—The President,
breast-bones of the Greater Black Backed Gull and Green
Cormorant, Turtle Dove, Common Wren and House Sparrow;
also eggs of the Missel Thrush, Common Wren, and House
Sparrow ; E. Lovett, Diatoms from Peru, spines of Porcu-
pine Fish; S. Overton, Common Stickleback; H. R. Owen,
Seaweed; S. Palmer, Heliopetta; W. L. Sarjeant, Diatoms
from Peruvian Guano; A. Warner, section of butcher’s broom,
stained in two colours; E. B. Sturge, Scales of Butterfly ;
J. S. Johnson, Diatoms; K. McKean, various.

ExcurRSION TO CATERHAM, SURREY.
(In connexion with the Quekett and South London Clubs.)
Saturday, May 17th, 1879.

The party proceeded by rail to Caterham, thence walking to
White Hill, and through the War Coppice, where the ancient
British camp was examined. Part ofthe ancient road, known
as the Pilgrim’s Way, was traversed, and the party descended
the hill to Godstone. The ponds in the district were examined
by the members, and some specimens of pond life collected.

The party returned to Croydon and London from Caterham
by the g p.m. train.

Proceedings. secian

Ordinary Meeting, May 21st, 1879.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Letters were read from Mr. John Evans, F.R.S., Professor
Flower, Professor Prestwich, and Professor Rolleston, thanking
the Club for their election as honorary members.

Mr. William Russell, the Rev. John Kingscote Hawker, Mr.
Frank Mead, Mr. H. S. Cowdell, Mr. G. H. Hall, and Mr.
William Rowland were balloted for and elected.

The PRESIDENT announced that the Royal Microscopical
Society had lately passed a bye-law by which the council had
power to elect the Presidents of kindred societies Honorary
Fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society. Some time back
the secretary of that society wrote to the committee of this
Club and asked if they would accept the honour on the part of
their President. A reply was sent back to the effect that they
would be pleased to do so, and since the last meeting they had
received an intimation that the President of the Croydon
Microscopical Club for the time being was now entitled to the
privileges of an ex-officio member of the Royal Microscopical
Society. This was a high compliment to the Club, and one
for which they should return their best thanks.

Specimens of the Pill Beetle (Byrrhus pilula), one of which
was alive, were exhibited by the President and Mr. A. D.
Taylor, and the peculiar mode in which these beetles, when
alarmed, draw their legs closely together upon the abdomen, so
as to render them almost invisible, and the singular modifica-
tions of structure which enable them to do this, were described
by the President. This beetle is not uncommon in the
immediate neighbourhood of Croydon.

A paper was read by Mr. W. INGRams on ‘“ Diatomacez,”
(See p. 45).

In the discussion which ensued, Mr. H. Turner asked
whether Mr. Ingrams had examined any mud from the bottom
of the ponds in the neighbourhood of Croydon. He asked the
question because it was well known that deposits of thick mud
accumulated in certain rivers in the northern part of Germany,
obstructing the harbours and causing them to be dredged
rather frequently. It was also known that in this mud there
were considerable deposits formed, almost entirely of diatoms,

Mr. Kuaassen asked if Mr. Ingrams knew who was the
discoverer of diatoms. He believed the discovery had been
credited to Ehrenberg. He also discussed the question whether
diatoms were animals or plants. Some writers asserted that
they were infusoria, and not vegetable organisms at all. But

veo E Proceedings.

it seemed now to be generally admitted that they were plants.
He also mentioned that in some parts they were eaten, with
the mud which contained them, and considered to be a great
delicacy.

Dr. CARPENTER remarked that but few people had any idea
how great a part these minute creatures had played in the
world’s history. It had been shown that silica was taken out
of the water by these organisms, and it was probable that a
large portion of the flint found on our chalk hills was extracted
from the sea water by their agency, and that the mass of flints
was thus indirectly the production of these organisms. It had
been supposed by,many that the formation of flint had long
ceased on the earth, but it was evident that deposits of flints
were now being made in different parts of the earth.

Mr. WaAttis asked whether the flints contained in the box
which Mr. Ingrams had alluded to were the result of his own
personal observations ?

Mr. INGRAms said they were.

Mr. INGRams, in reply, said he had no doubt that a large
quantity of diatoms would be found in any small portion of the
mud at the bottom of Waddon Mill Pond, and there was no
doubt that these diatoms had accumulated and caused the
obstruction he had mentioned at the bridge. Mr. Klaassen had
said something about infusoria. ‘There was, as he had said, a
divided opinion as to these diatoms—some agreed that they
were animal and others that they were vegetable. The micro-
scope of to-day was a far superior instrument to that of bye-
gone times, and modern researches tended to show that these
diatoms were not infusoria, but vegetable.

Mr. E. STrakeER exhibited a piece of palm willow, about 5-ft.
long, around which a honeysuckle had entwined. itself so
tightly as to cut deeply into the bark. The foliage of the
lower part of the tree had been entirely destroyed, but at the
top there were signs of life when the bough was discovered.

Mr. G. CorDEN submitted to the meeting a table of winter
temperatures for twelve years, in comparison with that of
1878-79, similar in plan to one published by Mr. G. J. Symons
in the April number of the ‘‘ Monthly Meteorological Magazine.”
(See p. 53). Mr. Corden pointed out that it appeared from this
table that the mean temperature of those four months of the
past winter was 36°.5 or 4°.6 below the average of the same
months for the twelve previous years, and lower by nearly two
degrees than the lowest mean of any of them. The mean of
the maximum or highest day temperature for the same period
was 40'2 degrees or 5°7 degrees below the average, and the
mean of the minimum or lowest night temperatures was 32°8

Proceedings. XXXI.

degrees, or only 3°4 degrees below the average, thus shewing that
the deficiency of temperature was much more marked by day than
by night. The same excess of deficiency by day was shown
taking each month separately. Although there were 63 frosty
nights during the four months referred to, the frost was not so
severe in character as were the frosts in 1867 and of 1870-71;
for there had been but four nights in which the thermometer fell
to or below 20 degrees, while in 1870-71 there were 10, and in
January alone, in 1867, 10. The quantity of rain which fell was
II inches, as against ‘6 inches on an average of Io years.
The heaviest fall was 1°16 inches, rain and snow, on the rst of
January. Mr. Corden concluded by expressing his opinion
that the long continued low temperature had had little or no
effect upon the insects which were destructive in gardens.

The following members placed their microscopes at Mr.
Ingram’s disposal to illustrate his paper :—The President, Mr.
P. Crowley, Mr. J. S. Johnson, Mr. S. Overton, Mr. G. N.
Price, Mr. E. B. Sturge, Mr. H. Turner, Mr. A. D. Taylor,
and Mr. A. Warner.

The following objects were exhibited:—Mr. P. Crowley,
botanical specimens, beetles from wasp’s nest; Mr. E. Gill,
diatoms; Mr. W. Ingrams, diatoms; Mr. H. M. Klaassen,
marine fossil fish from limestone rock, living marine and
freshwater diatoms ; Mr. W. L. Sarjeant, new form of cell for
showing pond life.

Ordinary Meeting, Sept. 17th, 1879.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. H. C. Hibberdine and Mr. J. G. Cowan were balloted
for and elected.

Dr. CARPENTER exhibited and described a piece of oak,
which looked at first sight as if it had been painted green, but
which was really so coloured by a fungus, which had permeated
the whole of the substance of the wood.

He also described the effect of a river flood which he had
lately witnessed in North Wales.

Mr. E. Loverrt called attention to the number of chalk
flints which were to be found on the shore of the island of
Jersey, and gave reasons for his opinions that they had been
brought to the island as ballast.

Mr. SNELLING exhibited some specimens of pemmican, and
they were referred to Mr. J. S. Johnson to examine, and to
report upon.

aii. Proceedings.

Mr. KiaassEn exhibited under polarized light a thin section
of granite showing its composition (felspar quartz and mica),
and the numerous small and large enclosures in its quartz.
He also explained that microscopical examination proves by
the large enclosures, which contain liquid carbonic acid, that
gases condensed to liquid were present at the formation of
granite, and by the presence of crystals and enclosures that the
molten granitic mass cooled, slowly and under great pressure, at
considerable depth in the earth, where contained gases could
not expand. Modern investigation has taken away from
granite its old title, “ the first formed,” the primitive rock upon
which the aqueous and volcanic rocks were afterwards super-
imposed. It is easily conceived, that besides having an
upward effect, subterranean heat may extend its influence
downwards from the crater of every active volcano to a great
depth, so that the volcanic rock, the rock formed by heat above,
and the plutonic rock, formed by heat below, each different in
texture and sometimes in composition, may now, as in olden
time, originate simultaneously.

The following other objects were exhibited :—J. H. Baldock,
coal sections; A. H. Baldock and A. J. Baldock, collection of
fossils from the chalk and gault, Dover and Folkestone ;
W.H. Beeby, the licerta; J. W. Chisholm, fossils from Cassel
and shells from Dunkirk; J. S. Johnson, Haliomma, Radio-
larian; S. W. Lambert, wasps’ nest; E. Lovett, air vessel of
cockchafer, Lepidodendron and specimens of the rocks of
Jersey; K. McKean, Planorbis marginatus, Limnceus pereger,
Helix rotundata; H. R. Owen, leaf from South Africa; S.
Palmer, red garden spider; A. D. Taylor, eggs of moth; E. B.
Sturge, fungi; H. Turner, shells from Woolwich beds ; J. W.
Wallis, fossils from Blue Lias, Lyme Regis.

Ordinary Meeting, Oct. 15th, 1879.
Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The PresipENT announced that the soiree of the Tower Hill
Microscopical Club was fixed for November 6th.

Mr. W. J. Nation read a paper on ‘“ Wood Sections,”
which was followed by an interesting discussion, in which the
President, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Klaassen, Mr. P. Crowley, Mr.
Berney, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Sturge took part.

Mr. R. G. Rice exhibited a small flint implement, about
four inches in length, found by him, on the surface of the
ground, near the Warehousemen and Clerks’ Schools, Russell
Hill.

Proceedings. XXXIll.

Mr. Cooper exhibited a specimen of the Smew (M. albellus
L.) which was obtained, last winter, at Wallingford, Berks,
and the history of this species, and its occurrence in the British
Isles as a winter migrant only, was explained by the President.

The following objects were also exhibited :—Mr. J. Berney,
various sections of wood, section cutting apparatus; Mr. P.
Crowley, section of fennel ; Mr. J. S. Johnson, striate muscular
fibre and acarus: Mr. H. M. Klaassen, transverse sections of
stems of fern, cane, and sycamore ; Mr. E. Lovett, section of
Pteris aquilina, 96 sections of wood, seeds, nuts, &c.; Mr. K.
McKean, Anodonta cygnea (var anatina), Unio tumidus, Hélix
aculeata; Mr. W. J. Nation, various sections; Mr. H. R.
Owen, beetles, Central Africa; Mr. W. L. Sarjeant, radial
section of pine, polarized ; Mr. E. B. Sturge, various sections;
Mr. A. D. Taylor, specimens of various woods.

Ordinary Meeting, November 1gth, 1879.
Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. William Blades, Rev. E. M. Geldart, and Mr. B. Pud-
dicombe were balloted for and elected.

The PrEsIDENT announced the donation of six slides of wood
sections by Mr. Nation, also that Dr. Lionel Beale had pre-
sented to the Club a copy of the new edition of his book,
“‘How to work with the Microscope,” and the thanks of the
Club were accorded to Mr. Nation and to Mr. Beale.

Mr. THomas CusuHinG, F.R.A.S., read a paper entitled
«* Notes on Barometers, with experiments, illustrative of the
principles on which they are constructed,” and by an elaborate
series of experiments, and numerous instruments, explained,
very clearly, the structure of the various kinds of barometers,
the scientific prineiples involved in their construction, and the
practical uses to which they may be put in scientific investiga-
tion. He further explained the manner in which the principle
of the barometer was first discovered, and the way in which
modern barometers had been gradually developed.

The paper was followed by a discussion, in which the Presi-
dent, Mr. Mawley, and others took part, and a very cordial
vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Cushing for his excellent
paper.

Mr. GeorGr CurLInG called attention to the recent discovery
of a large per centage of copper in the green colouring matter
of some of the wing feathers of the Turako (Corythacola

A 3

xxiv. Proceedings.

cristata) one of the largest of the Helmet Birds of West Africa,
a group which are closely allied to the crows, and exhibited
and described a specimen of Touracine solution, containing the
colouring matters of the feathers.

Mr. A. RussEL WALLACE gave some further particulars as
to the properties of this colouring matter, and mentioned,
amongst other things, that it seemed so far soluble in water,
that much of the colour could be washed out of the feathers.

The PresipEenrT also pointed out that these birds were only
found in a comparatively small part of Africa, and could only
exist where copper was present in the soil. He also expressed
the opinion that in all probability they were only to be found in
districts where some particular plant, or group of plants,
abounded, which contained copper in the seeds or fruit
upon which the birds fed. He also remarked upon the very
singular fact, mentioned by Mr. Curling, that it was only one
or two feathers in the wings of these birds which contained the
copper.

Dr. WiLtiAMs also added some further observations as to the
Turako. :

The PrEsIDENT called attention to a remarkable proof of the
voracity of the Great Black Backed Gull which had lately come
under his observation. (Seep. 56). He also exhibited and
described some minute red earth worms, which he had received
from Mr. J. Chisholm, from the mud of the river Thames,
near North Woolwich, and which were found there in such
numbers that at low water they quite coloured the mud.

Mr. W. N. Coates exhibited and described a variety of
the common snipe (Sc. russata) shot by him in County
Meath, last autumn.

The following objects were also exhibited :—The President,
head of Black Backed Gull (Larus marinus), Common Gull
(Larus canus); Thomas Cushing, standard and wheel and
Aneroid barometers, Sympiesometer, Hypsometer, &c.; Henry
Long, sulphate of alumina; section stalk of Tobacco; Edward
Lovett, Tubes of annelid, microscopic cephalo pod from Ber-
muda; K. McKean, jaw of Helix ericetorum; H. R. Owen,
muscular tissue of Crab; S. Overton, palate of Sting Ray;
W. F. Stanley, six genera of exotic ferns, double stained, also
chrono-barometer; W. Low Sarjeant, circulation in Vallisneria
spiralis ; J. Berney, section-cutting machine,

Proceedings. XXXV.

TENTH ANNUAL SOIREE,
Held on Wednesday, November 26th, 1879.

This was held, as in previous years, in the Large and Small
Public Halls, and the number of persons present was unusually
large, being 135 members, 109 exhibitors (non-members), and
571 visitors ; total 815, as against 795 in 1878,

The following is a list of exhibitors of microscopes :—

Croydon.—The President, Messrs. H. Berney, J. Berney, T.
Bindley, W. H. Beeby, J. H. Baldock, W. Cheshire, T.
Compton, W. Cooper, P. Crowley, A.W. B. Drummond, E. Gill,
R. Hall, J. Harrod, W. Ingrams, J. Joyce, E. F. Jones, R. A.
James, J. S. Johnson, H. Klaassen, T. M. Loftus, E. Lovett,
W. Lee, H. Long, K. McKean, M. D. Northey, H. R. Owen,
S. Palmer, J. Poland, G. Manners, E. R. Moules, H. Moules,
S. Overton, J. C. Oswald, J. C. Swaine, Dr. Strong, W. L.
Sarjeant, E. B. Sturge, J. A. Toms, A. D. Taylor, H. Turner,
F. West, J. Williams, M.D., E. Williams.

South London.—Messrs. C. W. Balls, J.G. B. Brewer, A.
Butt, E. Dadswell, T. D. Errser, George Hardess, F. W.
Hembry, R. G. Hovenden, W. J. Parks, J. Saffery, W. Short,
D. G. Simpson, J. A. Smith, R. A. Smith, W. B. Smith, W. T.
Suffolk, M. Terry, W. West, R. G. West.

Sydenham.—A.]J. E. Arch, E. D. Berkeley, R. E. Crossland,
E. George, E. L. Hardy, S. Milledge, A. Milledge, A. C.
Perrins.

New Cross.—H. A. Auld, A. Bliss, M. Burgess, G. G.
Daniel, D. W. Greenhough, F. Harrison, F. Jy act,
Stanley, F. Stewart, J. H. Swinburn, S. JnPebbitt; So Re
Thackrah, G. Willcocks.

Royal.—Messrs. W. Brindley, F. Bossey, J. W. Goodinge,
and A. C. Goodinge.

Quekett.—Rev. H. M. Clifford, and Messrs. F. W. Andrew,
A. L. Corbett, F. Enock, H. J. Fase, J. H. Hadland, J. J.
Hunter, J. E. Ingpen, G. A. Messenger, J. Nelson, G. T.
Plomer, B. W. Priest, F. Reeve, T. D. Russell, Alpheus
Smith, J. E. Simmonds, and T. P. Watson.

Greenwich.—Messrs. W. H. Collins, G. Dannatt, W. A.
Dannatt, and J. W. Dannatt.

Hackney.—Messtrs. J. K. Crossfield, T. R. Doggan, A. Field-
wick, A. E. Raynes, J. Smith, and C. W. Willmott.

Tower Hill.—Messrs. J. Alstone, J. H. Burn, G. T. Cross-
field, W. Simpson, R. Sedgewick, and W. Vernon.

XXXVI. Proceedings.

Old Change.—Messrs. J. A. Batchelor, R. W. Cockrayne,
and Mr. Gribbell.

Private.—Mr. Bidwell, A. Barker, R. M. Christian, J. Case,
S. Henson, J. W. Justican, Legrand and Sutcliff, G. Payne, E.
Scargill, C. W. Stidstone, J..P. Taylor, C. Thorpe, J. W.
Worster, C. J. N. Yuill.

Makers.—]. W. Bailey, R. and J. Beck, C. Baker, J. Brown-
ing, G. A. Christmas, Dring and Fage, How and Co., Murray
and Heath, W. Moginie, W. F. Stanley.

The following were the principal objects exhibited :—The
President, Mr. J. Flower, contributed a very fine collection of
stone implements and weapons; Mr. A. Russel Wallace
exhibited a large number of skins of tropical birds; Mr. Bid-
well, a series of 264 eggs of the Common Guillemot, shewing
the variations in colour and markings; also a collection of
stuffed birds ‘‘ in the down;” Mr. G. Payne, stone implements
from Sittingbourne, Kent; Mr. E. Bailey, nest. of trap-door
spider; Mr. W. Low Sarjeant, British land and fresh water
shells; Mr. A. A. Cowdell, Bhuddish manuscripts from
Mandalay; Mr. W. Cheshire, a collection illustrating the
process of wood engraving.

Through the kindness of Mr. Philip Crowley, the platform
was beautifully decorated with a large number of choice exotic
plants.

During the evening a band, under the direction of Mr.
George Webb, played a selection of music.

Ordinary Meeting, December 17th, 1879.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. W. H. Burbidge, Mr. J. Bonella, and Mr. J. Emery
were balloted for and elected.

The PresIDENT announced that the Annual Meeting to
receive the report of the committee, and to elect officers for the
ensuing year, would be held on the 21st of January, and would
be exclusively a business meeting.

The PresipENnT further announced that according to the
rules of the Club it was necessary to elect two auditors to audit
the accounts for 1879. Thenames of Mr. J.C. Swaine and Mr.
J. Chisholm were submitted, and they were duly elected auditors.

Dr. CARPENTER expressed a hope that the annual meeting
would be a large one, because he was anxious then to bring

Proceedings. XXXVIl.

before the members the subject of the accommodation pro-
vided for the Club. The Club had become of that important
character that it ought to possess its own library and work-
rooms. He therefore begged to give notice that at the next
meeting he should submit a resolution bearing upon this
matter.

The Rev. E. M. Getpart expressed his surprise that the
rules of the Club did not permit ladies to attend the ordinary
meetings, and gave notice that at the next meeting, with the
object of altering the rules which prevented their attendance, he
would move that Rule 7 as to membership be altered so as
to stand as follows :—

‘«* Any member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, and
the name of such visitor, with that of the member by whom the
visitor is introduced, shall be entered in a book to be kept for that
purpose.”

Mr. W.J. Nation read a paper on * Wood sections,” being
a continuation of the paper read by him at the meeting on
October 15th.

In the discussion which ensued, the PRESIDENT called atten-
tion to the fact that every living being, whether animal or
vegetable, began its existence as a simple cell, such as Mr.
Nation had described, so that, at that stage of their develop-
ment, there was no appreciable difference between a human
being and the commonest weed. In support of this view he
read two passages from Dr. W. B. Carpenter's “ Principles of
Comparative Physiology,” pages 95 and 474, and pointed out
the very important bearing which this fact had upon the
doctrine of evolution.

Mr. E. Lovett read a short paper on ‘ The presence of
chalk flints on a part of the coast of the Island of Jersey,”
which was followed by a discussion, in which the President
and others took part.

The PRESIDENT also read a short paper on a ‘“ Hen
Pheasant,” which had assumed male plumage. (See p. Bs

In the discussion which followed this paper, the Rev. E. M.
GELDART mentioned that some little time ago, when residing in
Cheshire, he caught a female of the Common Orange Tip butter-
fly (A cardamines) which had to some extent the peculiar
colouring of the male of that species. It was well known that in
the male Orange Tip about one-half of each of the fore wings
was coloured a brilliant orange red, whereas, in the female, the
fore wings were very like those of the common garden white,
and had no orange colour at all. The female, however, which
he caught in Cheshire, had on the left fore wing a single streak
of orange, and two little orange spots, which looked as if they

XXXvill. Proceedings.

had been put in with a paint brush. This curious departure
from the normal type had never been satisfactorily explained
to him. He thought it most likely that it could be explained
in this way. It may be that at one time the orange tip was
common to both sexes, and that in course of time it had dis-
appeared from the female, and that in the female which he had
mentioned, we had a case of partial reversion to the original
type. Possibly the same thing had occurred in the case of the
hen pheasant of which the President had spoken.

The PRESIDENT questioned the explanation suggested by
Mr. Geldart. In the case of the pheasant there was no reason
to suppose that the male ‘plumage was ever common to both
sexes, on the contrary, the fact that all young pheasants at first
assumed the plumage of the female, seemed rather to show that
the plumage of the female was probably, at one time, the
plumage of both sexes; and that the peculiar characteristic
plumage of the male did not come into existence till a later
period, and was always peculiar to the male, being associated
with the male sexual organs by the mysterious laws of corre-
lation of growth. It was now well established that a hen
pheasant never put on male plumage so long as her ovaries
were in a healthy condition, and that in these cases the abnor-
mal plumage was always associated with derangement of the
generative organs, and consequently with barrenness. Pro-
bably the peculiar colouring in the female butterfly which had
been described was due to the same cause. Why females
should assume the external characteristics of the male, because
their internal organs were diseased, it was impossible to
explain, but on the other hand it was equally impossible to
explain why males often assumed female characteristics from
a similar cause.

The PresipEnt also exhibited two specimens of Helix
revelata, one of the rarest of the British snails, which he had
found in the island of St. Mary’s, Scilly, in September last.

Mr. K. McKean also exhibited a number of British land
shells, which were distributed amongst those of the members
who wished to have them.

The following objects were also exhibited :—Mr. A. Bennett,
fungus; Mr. E. Lovett, nest of trap-door spider, sections of
rocks and woods; Mr. W. L. Sarjeant, horizontal section of
human foot (foetal); vertical section of scalp, new form of
microtome ; Mr. A. Warner, section of Wellingtonia gigantea;
Mr. E. B. Sturge, various sections of woods; Mr. E.Williams,
sections of woods and coal.

Proceedings. XXXiX.

Annual Meeting, Fanuary 21st, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. W. Adamson, jun., Mr. John Browning, Mr. Arnold
Pye-Smith, Mr. William J. Fuller, Mr. William C. Dade, and
Dr. James T. Hinton, were balloted for and elected.

The PresIDENT announced that the soiree of the New Cross
Microscopical Club was fixed for Tuesday, February 24th.

Referring to the notice given by Dr. Carpenter at the last
meeting, of his intention to bring before this meeting a proposal
to provide permanent quarters for the Club, the PRESIDENT
announced that as Dr. Carpenter was detained in London he
would not be able to lay his proposal before the Club.

The Hon. Secretary then read the report of the committee
and their balance-sheet for the year 1879 as follows :—

REPORT.

The committee have again the pleasure of submitting to the
members of the Club their annual report of its proceedings, and in
doing so draw attention to the fact that this is the tenth annual
meeting which has been held, and that on April 6th next, the Club
will have completed the tenth year of its existence.

During the year 1879, twenty three ordinary members have been
elected, and owing chiefly to the many removals from the neighbour-
hood, twenty-three members have resigned. The committee regret
to add that two members, Mr. W. S. Masterman and Mr. Henry
Sykes have died. The following distinguished men have been
elected honorary members of the Club :—Mr. John Evans, D.C.L.,
F.R.S., Professor W. H. Flower, L.L.D., F.R.S., Professor Joseph
Prestwich, M.A., F.R.S., Professor George Rolleston, D.M., F.R.S.

The total number of members on 31st December, was 238 ordinary
and five honorary members.

The following papers have been read :-—

February 26th.—Mr. Henry Turner, “On Yeast.”

March 19th.-Dr. ALFRED CARPENTER, “On Ants.” The PREsI-
DENT, ‘‘ Ornithological Notes.”

Apvil 16th.—Mr. J. W. Watuts, ‘On Man: his social progress in
Pre-historic Times.” The PREsIDENT, ‘“ On the nesting habits of the
Cuckoo;” and ‘“ On the anatomy and mechanism of the breastbone
‘of the Gannet.”

May 21st.—Mr. Wm. Incrams, ‘“ On Diatomacece.”

Sept. 17th. —Dr. CARPENTER, remarks ‘On a fungoid growth ona
piece of oak, and ‘‘ On some recent floods at Llandula, North Wales.”
Mr. E. Lovett, “ Notes on the Geology of the Island of Jersey.”

Oct. 15th.—Mr. W. J. Nation, “ On wood sections.”

Nov. 19th.—Mr. Tuos. Cusuina, F.R.A.S., ‘“* Notes on barometers,
with experiments, illustrative of the principles on which they are
constructed.”

Dec. 17th.—Mr. W. J. Nation, “ Further remarks in continuation
of his former paper ‘ On wood sections.’”” Mr. E. Lovett, “ On the
presence of chalk flints on a part of the coast of the Island of Jersey,”

xl. Proceedings.

and in addition to these papers numerous objects of Natural History
have been exhibited and described at the various meetings.

An excursion was made on the 17th May to Caterham and God-
stone, to meet the members of the Quekett and South London Clubs,
and the members of the Club were invited to join the Holmesdale
Natural History Society in a botanical ramble on the Addington
Hills on 20th September.

A very interesting visit was also made to Mr. F. J. Horniman’s
Museum at Forest Hill on the 24th May, and the thanks of the
members are due to that gentleman for his courtesy and hospitality
on the occasion.

The tenth annual soiree took place at the Public Hall on Wed-
nesday, 26th November, and was attended by Fellows of the Royal
Microscopical Society, and members of the Quekett, South London,
New Cross, Sydenham, Greenwich, Hackney, Tower Hill, The Old
Change Clubs, and others, by whom and by members of the Club,
175 microscopes were exhibited, besides many other very interesting
objects in Natural History, &c. The number of persons attending
the soiree was as follows :—135 members, 109 exhibitors, non-mem-
bers, and 571 visitors. Total, 815, as against 795 in 1878.

Members of the Club have also attended the Soirees of the Green-
wich, New Cross, South London, Quekett, and Tower Hill Clubs, and
have also given exhibitions of microscopical objects at the Church of
England Young Men’s Society Rooms, North End, and at the Christ
Church School Rooms, Broad Green.

The journals and reports of the Royal Microscopical Society, the
New Cross, Watford, Quekett, Hackney, South London, East Kent,
Berwickshire and Belgian Clubs and Societies, have been received,
and a great honour has been conferred upon the Club by the Royal
Microscopical Society in constituting our President for the time
being an ex-officio Fellow of that society.

The donations to the Club were as follows :—Two slides Phylloxera
devastatrix, by Mr. K. McKean; two slides belemnite from York-
shire, by Mr. E. Gill; three photographs of horse chestnut tree, by
the President ; a large quantity of butterfly wings for mounting, by
Mr. F. J. Horniman; six slides of wings of tropical Lepidoptera, by
Mr. E. Lovett; a list of succulent plants, by Mr. J. J. Peacock; six
slides wood sections, by Mr. W. J. Nation; Dr. Beale’s work on the
Microscope, fifth edition, by the author; ‘‘ Notes on the Flora of
Surrey,” by Arthur Bennett, by the author.

Sub-committees on Meteorology, Geology, and Zoology, have been
appointed in accordance with the recommendation of the committee
in their last report, and are at work on their respective subjects.

The attendance at the ordinary meetings has been up to the usual
average, but the conversational meetings have been so badly attended
that the committee recommend that they should be discontinued.

The balance to the credit of the Club’s account has been increased
during the year, but the report and transactions for 1878 have not yet
been put in the printer’s hands.

The thanks of the Club are again due to the Local Press for the full
reports of the various meetings which have appeared in the columns
of the Croydon Advertiser, Croydon Chronicle, and Creydon Guardian.

Signed on behalf of the Committee,
Croydon, 21st January, 1880. Joun FLower, President.

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xlii. Proceedings.

The PRESIDENT, in moving the adoption of the report, con-
gratulated the Club upon the past year, which he said had been
a year of uninterrupted progress and success. The proceed-
ings at the ordinary meetings had not in any way declined in
interest during the year, and the attendance at those meetings
had been, if anything, larger than in previous years. As the
report pointed out, this was the tenth annual meeting of the club,
and on the 6th April the Club would complete the tenth year of
its existence. With regard to the honorary members who had
been elected during the year, he thought the fact that they had
accepted the honorary membership of the Club was a great
compliment, and the same might be said of the fact that the
Royal Microscopical Society had elected the President of the
Club for the time being an ex-officio Fellow of that society.
With regard to the papers, those read during the past year
were certainly as good and as interesting as they had ever had.
Some of the meetings had been unusually fully attended, and
twice at least the room had been so full that members had not
all been able to find seats. With regard to the soiree, he
thought that also marked the progress of the Club. Notwith-
standing the unfavourable weather, more members and visitors
were present than had ever attended on a similar occasion,
and the number of microscopes and the objects exhibited
were quite as interesting and important as at any previous
soiree. The conversational meetings were started in accor-
dance with the suggestion of some of the members, and purely
as an experiment. It was thought that if the Club had inter-
mediate meetings between the ordinary meetings some good
results might be obtained, but the attendance had been so
meagre that the committee did not see their way to recom-
mending the continuance of those meetings. With regard to
this subject, however, he should tell the members that one or
two suggestions had been made whereby it was hoped that the
conversational meetings could be made more attractive and
useful to members, and perhaps before any formal resolution
was come to to discontinue the meetings, it would be desirable
to see what Dr. Carpenter’s proposal was as to providing per-
manent quarters for the Club, because if the Club ever had
proper quarters it would not be necessary to have these con-
versational meetings at all. They would then have rooms
which every member could come to in the evening, and which
would be very considerably used. In concluding, the Presi-
dent repeated the thanks of the committee to the Local Press,
and moved that the report and balance-sheet be received and
adopted, and that they be printed and circulated amongst the
members.

Proceedings. xliii.

Mr. T. CusHine seconded the motion, and it was carried
unanimously.

Mr. A. R. Wa.taceE then moved the re-appointment of Mr.
John Flower, M.A., F.Z.S., as President of the Club for the
ensuing year.

Mr. C. C. Morvanp seconded the motion, which was put
and carried unanimously, the PresIpDENT briefly acknowledging
the compliment which had been paid to him by his re-election.

Mr. W. J. MELLIs next moved that Mr. Philip Crowley be
re-elected treasurer for the ensuing year.

The motion having been seconded by Mr. C. Henman, jun.,
was carried unanimously.

Mr. CRowLey, in replying, said his office was a sinecure, for
their excellent secretary kept all the accounts. He had simply
to sign the cheques, and the bank took care of the balance.

Mr. MairLanp GARDNER then proposed the re-appointment
of Mr. E. B. Sturge as hon. secretary.

The Rey. J. K. Hawker seconded the motion, which was
carried by acclamation, and Mr. SrurGE briefly acknowledged
the renewed expression of confidence that had been reposed in
him.

Mr. E. WituiAms moved the appointment of the following
gentlemen as the committee :—Dr. Carpenter, Mr. J. Chisholm,
Mr. T. Cushing, Mr. J. S. Johnson, Mr. H. Lee, Mr. G. Man-
ners, Mr. K. McKean, Mr. A. D. Taylor, and Mr. H. Turner.

The motion was seconded by Mr. T. Mircuiner, and carried
unanimously.

The Rev. E. M. Ge.parr then moved, in pursuance of the
notice which he had given atthe meeting on December 17th,
‘‘That Rule 7 as to membership be altered so as to stand as
follows :—

‘ Any member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting, and
the name of such visitor, with that of the member by whom the
visitor is introduced, shall be entered in a book to be kept for that
purpose.’ ”

—and spoke at some length in support of his proposal.

Mr. A. R. WaLLaceE seconded the motion, and also spoke in
favour of the proposed alteration in the rule.

The proposed alteration having been very fully discussed,

The Rev. J. K. HAwxKER moved by way of compromise, and
as an amendment, that a discretionary power be left with the
committee to invite the presence of ladies.

Mr. CuisHoLm seconded the amendment, and stated that if
the original motion of Mr. Geldart was put, he should vote
against it.

The Presipent held that the meeting could not force a

xliv. Proceedings.

discretionary power such as that proposed by the Rev. Mr.
Hawker on the committee, whom, he believed, for reasons.
which he stated, would decline to receive it.

The amendment, therefore, fell to the ground, and the
motion of Mr. GELparRT being put to the meeting, 15 members
voted for it, and the great majority of the meeting (over four-
fifths) voted against it. The motion was therefore lost.

Mr. A. R. WALLACE gave notice that at the meeting on
February 18th, he would move the following addition to the
rules :—

“That the reader of a paper be allowed the privilege of having
lady visitors introduced on the occasion when his paper is read, on
announcing his wish at the previous meeting.”

The following objects were exhibited:—J. S. Johnson,
exuviated shell of Cray-fish from Crystal Palace Aquarium; K.
McKean, larval form of leaf insect (phyllium) from Ceylon ;
J. H. Baldock, double oxalate chromium and potass (polar) ;
H. Long, section of mole’s jaw with teeth in situ; K. McKean,
White ant, worker; H. R. Owen, diatoms, ‘Challenger’
dredgings; S. Palmer, scale of beetle; W. L. Sarjeant, gill of
Mytilus edulis, showing movement of cilia; A. D. Taylor,
wing of moth, (S. populi); A. Warner, tortoiseshell rim of
eyeglass, from India, partly gnawed, supposed by white ants.

Ordinary Meeting, Feb. 18th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Richard Cooper, Mr. Henry Linton, Dr. Charles Dukes,
and Mr. Herbert D. Price, were balloted for and elected.

The PRESIDENT announced that Mr. F. J. Horniman had
kindly sent a few more boxes of butterflies’ wings for distribu-
tion among the members of the Club.

Mr. A. R. WALLACE, in pursuance of notice given at the last
meeting, moved that the following be added to the rules :—

“That the reader of a paper be allowed the privilege of having
lady visitors introduced on the occasion when his paper is read, on
announcing his wish at the previous meeting.”

—and supported the motion in a speech of considerable
length,

Dr. CARPENTER seconded the motion.

The matter having been debated at considerable length,

Mr. WatLAceE replied, and the motion was then put to the
meeting, and negatived by a very large majority, only nine
members voting in favour of the motion.

Proceedings. xlv.

Mr. E. R. Pearce read a paper on ‘“‘ The History and Uses
of British Medicinal Plants,” and therein described the history
and medical properties of the Foxglove (D. purpurea), Early
Purple Orchis (O. mascula), Common Polypody, (P. vulgare),
Hemlock (C. maculatum), Agrimony (A. eupatoria), Henbane
(Hyocyamus niger), Adder’s Tongue (O. vulgatum), Bitter Sweet
(S. dulcamara), Burdock (A. lappa), White Poppy (P. somnife-
tum), Comfrey (S. officinale), Monkshood (A. napellus), Meadow
Saffron (C. autumnale), and the Darnel (Lolium temulentum).
The paper was illustrated by numerous dried specimens of the
plants described. ;

A discussion followed the paper, in which the President,
Mr. P. Crowley, and Dr. Shorthouse took part, the PRESIDENT
calling particular attention to the poisonous qualities of many
of the plants described, and to the remarkable way in which
the same poisons often effected different animals, some animals
being able to eat it with impunity, whilst to others it proved
rapidly fatal. He also pointed out that nearly all the plants
described by Mr. Pearce were to be found wild in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of Croydon.

The following members exhibited objects :—A. Bennett, books
on botany; R. F. Crafton, works on medicinal botany; Thomas
Compton, wing of lace fly, gall fly, illustration of medicinal
plants; E. Gill, Mesogloia virescens; H. M. Klaassen,
transverse section of Scotch fir; E. Lovett, Long-eared Owl,
shot at Shirley, Diatomacee, from London clay, Isle of
Sheppy; W. L. Sarjeant, British land and fresh water shells ;
E. B. Sturge, various works on botany; A. Warner, section of
Tape-worm. :

Ordinary Meeting, March 17th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Mr. ALFRED RussEL WALLACE read an important and
- highly interesting paper ‘‘On the peculiar species of the
British Fauna and Flora.’ (See p. 58).

The following objects were exhibited :—A. R. Wallace, case
of lepidoptera, from the Isle ef Man, showing in some species
a remarkable diminution in the size of the wings as compared
with the members of the same species in England ; P. Crowley,
ser’es of stuffed birds of the peculiar British species ; E. Lovett,
Nephrops Norvegicus, from coast of Northumberland; curious
varieties of thetigermoth ; W. Adamson, specimens of Spence’s
metal; J. H. Baldock, deposit in milk; K. McKean, Planorbis

xlvi. Proceedings.

nautilus; E. Lovett, scales of haddock, showing pigment
cells; W. L. Sarjeant, Carchesium polypinum; E. B. Sturge,
new form ofivory mounting cell; A. Warner, spinarets of spider,
section of cat’s lip, showing sensitive hairs, double stained.

Ordinary Meeting, April 21st, 1880.

Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The PRESIDENT announced in feeling terms the death of Mr.
John Drummond and Mr. Walter Walters, both members of
the Club, which had occurred since the last meeting, and the
hon. secretary was requested to convey to the families of those
gentlemen the sincere sympathy of the members, in the loss
which they had sustained.

Mr. Herbert J. Barnes and Mr. Henry Thomas Smith were
balloted for, and elected.

The PresipENT further announced the receipt from Dr.
Gulliver, of a copy of his Hunterian Oration of 1873 ; and from
Mr. Mawley, of a pamphlet ‘‘ On the weather of 1879 ;” and
called particular attention to the valuable and varied information
which this pamphlet contained.

Mr. E. Lovett read a paper, a few practical suggestions
«© On the preparation of objects for the microscope.” (See p. 61).

The following objects were exhibited :—Mr. E. Wormald,
stuffed birds, viz., a pair of hybrids, bred by him at Woodcote
Hall, being a cross between a golden spangled Hamburgh fowl
and a cock Pheasant, and a cross between a black fowl and a
cock Pheasant, a pair of Cirl Buntings (E. cirlus), caught at
Woodcote last winter, a Hen Pheasant assuming male
plumage, and a Bohemian Pheasant shot at Newdigate, Surrey ;
Mr. J. Flower, pair of Toucans and Bell Bird from Brazil,
Pomatorhine Skua, purchased in Leadenhall Market; Mr. J.C.
Swaine, Bohemian Pheasant, shot in Wiltshire; Mr. E. Straker,
Brassia barbata; Mr. E. B. Sturge, curious variety of Bladder
Wrack, from New Passage, river Severn; J. H. Baldock, young
Silkworm; P. Crowley, vegetable sections, double stained ;
E. Lovett, piece of London clay, containing diatoms ; also new
graduating object glass varying from three to six inches;
W. L. Sarjeant, Melicerta ringens; A. D. Taylor, leaf of
Pelargonium lobatum, showing scent ducts; A. Warner,
section of kitten’s jaw, showing permanent tooth displacing
milk tooth.

Proceedings. xlvii.

Ordinary Meeting, May 19th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Shadforth Morton was balloted for and elected.

A paper was read by the PresIDENT “ On the structure and
Geological History of the Weald, and of the catchment basin
of the river Wandle” (see p. 64), which was followed by a
discussion on many of the points referred to in the paper, in
which Dr. Carpenter, Mr. A. Taylor, Mr. J. Chisholm, Mr.
Turner, and others, took part.

The following objects were exhibited :—Mr. John Berney,
pellet of owl, found at North End; Mr. Berney, jun., nest and
eggs of a bunting, found at Worms Heath; Mr. E. Lovett,
wood from submerged forest, Hastings, Sepia officinalis, fossils
from Wealden formations, ova of Xantho Florida; Mr. H. R.
Owen, fibre of asbestos; Mr. A. Warner, platino cyanide of
magnesium (opaque) ; and sections stained two colours; Mr.
P. Crowley, flowers of Aristolochia ornithocephala.

EXCURSION WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE GEOLOGISTS’
ASSOCIATION, SATURDAY, JUNE IgTH, 1880.

A considerable number of the members of the Club accepted

the invitation of the Geologists’ Association to join this excur-

sion, which was under the direction of J. Logan Lobley, Esq.,
F.G.S. The party started from the East Croydon station,
and passing through the station yard, proceeded to the extensive
gravel-pits in the Fairfield. The fine sections of drift gravel,
with its overlying bed of brick earth which are here exposed,
were inspected, and the chief features of interest were pointed
out and described by Mr. Lobley and John Flower, Esgq., M.A.,
F.Z.S. Attention was particularly called to the presence in this
gravel of a considerable number of rounded pebbles, which must
have been derived from the Oldhaven beds, and to occasional
pieces of very hard sandstone, containing a large quantity of iron,
which were mixed with the flints, and which could only have been
brought there from the Weald. It was also explained by Mr.
Flower that this gravel, which was part of a bed of considerable
extent, upon which the town of Croydon was almost entirely
built, was probably brought down and deposited by an ancient
stream, which flowed out of the Weald, and through the valley
which runs from Merstham to Croydon. The structure of this
valley, between the Fairfield and Duppas Hiil, was explained,
and the process by which, in all probability, this bed of gravel

xlviii. Proceedings.

was at first deposited, and was then left high and dry by the
stream, was briefly sketched. It was also explained that this
bed of gravel rested on sand, which had a very uneven surface,
and seemed to be deposited over the outcrop of the Tertiary
beds which lie immediately over the chalk; the sand on the
south side of the pit being Thanet sand, and that on the north
side part of the Woolwich and Reading series. NNomammalian
remains have been found in the pit.

The party next proceeded by the footpath to the grounds of
Park Hill House, where the springs which supply the orna-
mental water were examined and described. From Park Hill
House the party proceeded across the fields to the Water
Tower, which was’ascended, and from its summit the distant
objects to be seen, and the chief physical features of the district,
including the eastern and western water sheds of the Wandle
basin, were pointed out and described. Attention was parti-
cularly called to the direction and curved shape of the valley
from Merstham, immediately to the south of Croydon, and this
was contrasted with the direction taken by the valley of the
Wandle to the north and north west of Croydon.

The chalk pit in Coombe Lane, with its bed of Thanet sand,
situated on the extreme southern edge of the London basin,
having been examined, and described by Mr. Lobley, the party
went on to Croham Hurst. Here the position and structure of
this hill, as an outlier of the Oldhaven beds, was described by
Mr. Lobley, and the various places and objects of interest to
be seen from the summit of the hill were pointed out.

The next place visited was the chalk pit in the Brighton-
road, near Purley, well known to geologists as the pit in which
was found the granite boulder, apparently of Scandinavian
origin, and supposed to have been dropped into the ancient
chalk sea, from a floating glacier, during the cretaceous period.
The party then proceeded by Riddlesdown along the edge of
the Caterham valley, excavated in the chalk, and well known
as the valley in which, in wet seasons, the Bourne stream
flows. The excavations along the hill side, and the fine chalk
pit near the Rose and Crown having been examined and
described, refreshments were obtained at the Rose and Crown
Inn, and the party returned home, by train, from Kenley station.

Ordinary Meeting, Sept. 15th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Mr. Alfred Tylor, F.G.S., &c., Mr. Alfred William Rich,
and Mr. Albert Bartrum, were balloted for, and elected.

~~.

Proceedings. xlix.

The PRESIDENT announced that Mr. Thomas Cushing had
kindly presented the Club with six volumes of Professor
Symons’ work on ‘British Rainfall” (from 1865 to 1870.) The
thanks of the Club were awarded to Mr. Cushing for his useful
present.

It was further announced that the annual soiree would be
held on November 24th.

A letter was read from a gentleman at Pardubitz, in Bohemia,
who asked to be supplied with the report of the Club’s pro-
ceedings for 1879.

The PREsIDENT exhibited and described a flint, which he had
picked off a heap of gravel dug out on the Friends’ School
estate in Park Lane, Croydon, and which, at first sight, looked
very much like a flint implement. He explained that it was
really nothing more than a natural flint, but was interesting,
because, by comparing it with genuine flint implements, the
points in which worked flints invariably differed from natural
flints could be easily seen. A number of flint implements, much
resembling in shape the natural flint, were also exhibited and
described, and the characteristics of these were pointed out and
explained. The President also pointed out how impossible it
was that these characteristics could ever be imparted to a flint
by natural causes.

The PRESIDENT also exhibited a number of cocoons of the
Common Puss Moth (Dicranura vinula) with specimens of the
moth, and called particular attention to the solidity and
hardness of the cocoons, which were also opaque, admitting
little or no light. He further explained that, hard as they were,
they were composed of nothing but small chips of wood, or
particles of earth, mixed with a secretion from the caterpillar,
and the way in which the cocoon was formed was explained.
The difficulty which many naturalists felt in explaining how it
was that so very soft a creature as the Puss Moth was able to
work its way out of such a very hard envelope was removed on
a careful examination of the cocoons. In every one of them
there was one small part where the shell of the cocoon was
thin and semi-transparent, and through that thin portion
which seemed invariably to be left immediately over the face
of the moth, the inseet made its escape. So strong was the
instinct which impelled the insect to get out in this way, that
from one of the cocoons, which was exhibited, the moth had
still eaten its way out through the thin portion, although a
large part of the cocoon had previously been cut away and
destroyed, and the moth, which came out in broad daylight,
could, apparently, easily have got out of the cocoon without
having to eat its way out at all.

Mr. E. Lovett mentioned the case ofa caterpillar of the

A 4

1. Proceedings.

Puss Moth which had made its cocoon in a tin box. The
caterpillar having no foreign substance to make use of, the
cocoon was entirely transparent.

The Rev. E. M. GEtpart exhibited and described a specimen
of the Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus alexis), captured
by him at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, which seemed, from its
markings, to be hermaphrodite; and a specimen of the Lulworth
Skipper (Pamphila actzon) from Lulworth Cove, Dorsetshire.
He also exhibited and described a specimen of Erebia medusa,
from the Hasenberg, Stuttgart, which had many of the
characteristic markings of an English species (E. blandina), and
a specimen of the Dark Crimson Underwing (C. sponsa) from
Brockenhurst, in the New Forest ; also a specimen of the Poplar
Kitten (D. bifida) taken on a fence in Fairfield Road, on April
23rd last. He further remarked that after the severe winter we
had experienced, it would have been expected that insects would
have appeared later than usual; but the contrary had been the
case, for hibernating insects had been earlier, and the Poplar
Kitten was at least a month earlier than usual. It might be
accounted for by the fact that the cold set in early and was con-
tinuous. When frost was intermittent, and varied by warm
weather, the insects were enticed out, and were destroyed by
the frost which succeeded.

The PRESIDENT mentioned, with reference to Park Hill and
Fairfield Road, that the large number of poplar trees which
had been planted there a few years ago had made a marked
difference in the insects, and many, such as the Poplar Kitten,
and others which he enumerated, were now tolerably common,
which before were scarce or unknown about Park Hill.

Mr. J. S. Jounson stated the result of his examination of the
pemmican which had been handed to him to report upon.

The following objects were exhibited :—Microscopes: Mr.
H. M. Klaassen, pond life; Mr. E. Lovett, ova of Spiny Lobster;
Mr. W. Low, Alcyonilla fungosa ; Plumatella repens; Mr. K.
McKean, section of black coral (Antipathes virgata); Mr. S.
Palmer, leg of garden spider; Mr. E. B. Sturge, section-stem
of Perilla *nankinensis ; ; Mr. A. Warner, section through bud
of lily. —General Objects: Mr. J. S. Johnson, drawings illustra-
ting the anatomy of the Crayfish; Mr. A. Warner, new model
student's microscope ; Mr. H.M. Klaassen, Tenby beetlestone ;
Mr. E. Lovett, 92 species of moths taken this summer between
Addiscombe and Shirley ; also nest of Meadow Pipit, with
ege of cuckoo, from Shirley.

—

Proceedings. li.

Ordinary Meeting, 20th October, 1880.
Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The PresIDENT announced that the Soirée of the Greenwich
Microscopical and Natural History Society was fixed for
Wednesday, 8th December.

He further announced that Mr. William Drummond had

very kindly offered, through Dr. Carpenter, to present to the
Club twelve vols. of the Archceologia of the Society of
Antiquaries, and Catalogue of Broadsides, which had belonged
to his late brother, Mr. John Drummond, and that the Com-
mittee proposed to accept this very handsome gift on behalf
of the Club.
‘=Dr. CARPENTER called attention to an iron cannon ball, about
four inches in diameter, which he exhibited, and which was
dug up in High Street by a man excavating for a sewer. It
was found at a depth of about a foot and-a-half below the
surface of the ground. The ball had been roughly cast, with
a thick rim in relief all round it, and on one side was a deep
indent produced probably by the ball having been discharged
from a cannon. He further stated that he had never heard
that there had been any battle or engagement in Croydon since
the introduction of gunpowder, and he was therefore unable to
account for this cannon ball being found where it was.

Dr. CarPENTER also exhibited and described some teeth
which had been obtained from the beds of drift gravel in
and near Croydon. The first of these consisted of eight
teeth, which were found in the early part of the year in
cutting a sewer down Scarbrook Hill. They were found in
two different places in the gravel, and were embedded in a
portion of the bone of the jaws of the animals to which the
teeth belonged. He did not see the bones as they were
thrown away by the workmen who found them. He also
exhibited and described another tooth which he had found
about eight years ago in the gravel pit in Fairfield; and two
more which had been found in gravel by the side of the
Brighton Road, one near Caterham Junction, and the other
nearer to Croydon. All were teeth of ruminants, perfectly
fossilised, and some quite unworn, but the single specimens ©
appeared to have been rolled and to be slightly waterworn.
The teeth were, in some respects, like those of the rhinoceros,
but differed somewhat from them, as they also did from those
of the horse; they were too large for the latter.

Dr. CaRPENTER further exhibited a small bough of a Sumach
(Rhus Elegans) now growing in a garden adjoining his own
at Duppas Hill. This bough had a remarkable tumour upon

lii. Proceedings.

it which was described by Dr. Carpenter. He also expressed
a hope that if any member of the Club met with .a similar
tumour on a tree he would send him the specimen. Tumours
of this description on plants were in many respects similar to
tumours which were well known to medical men as diseases
in animals, and as he believed that a good deal of valuable
information might be obtained by comparing these tumours in
plants with similar morbid growths in animals, he was very
desirous of taking up this subject and investigating it.

Dr. CARPENTER also exhibited several birds’ nests, taken
from his own garden during the past summer. He said that
his chief reason for calling attention to these was that they
seemed to show that there were what one might call fools
amongst birds as well as amongst human beings. This was
very well shown by the way in which certain birds build their
nests. Four years ago, when he went to his present residence,
there was on the lawn an arbor vite tree, and in that tree a
thrush built its nest, but built it in a very insecure position.
In the very middle of the nest the bird had woven a bit of
white paper, and anyone going along must see that paper as
well as the nest. The nest was a badly built one, and was not
constructed as thrushes generally build their nests, but was
simply perched in a single cleft between two branches. As soon
as the young birds were hatched and began to grow the nest
toppled over, and they tumbled out. In the following season
a similar nest was built precisely in a similar way in the same
arbor vite tree, and a gust of wind blew it out before the eggs
were hatched. Each succeeding year there had been an
increasing number of these kind of insecure nests built in
these trees by thrushes and blackbirds. The arbor vite
being chosen, exposed places and insecure position being taken
in preference. He expressed an opinion that nest building
had its origin in a reasoning power, and was not due to
instinct alone, as instinct was neither progressive nor
retrograde, but was always the same, being independent of
education or experience. It was quite certain that birds
differed in their capacities, and he believed that if we could
see the brains of the birds whose building powers he had
commented upon they would be found defective in some part
of their organization. In a neighbouring garden he found a
thrush’s nest, also with a piece of white paper woven into
it. Why it should be so he could not conceive, unless on the
principle that the reasoning powers of these birds were defec-
tive, and that a brood had been hatched which were propagat-
ing a class of foolish birds.

Dr. CARPENTER next described a large glacial moraine which
he had examined last autumn in the cliff near the village of

Proceedings. liii.

St. Bees in Cumberland, and he exhibited and described
numerous specimens of the various rocks which he had
obtained from it.

The Presipent added some remarks upon the subjects
which Dr. Carpenter had brought before the meeting.

With regard to the cannon ball, he suggested that this
might be a relic of one of the skirmishes which were known
to have taken place at Croydon during some of the old Civil
Wars. Other indications of these existed, There were at
Lambeth Palace several letters which were written to Arch-
bishop Whitgift by the then Vicar of Croydon, during the
building of the Whitgift Hospital, and in these it was
mentioned, that in making the new road on the south side of
the Hospital, which is the modern George Street, a number of
human skeletons were found, and that in consequence of this
the works were stopped for atime. These were believed to be
the remains of some of the men who fell during the Civil
Wars. Quite recently another human skeleton was discovered
in excavating for the new sewer in George Street.

With regard to the teeth to which Dr. Carpenter had
referred, these were of peculiar interest, as very few mam-
malian remains had been found in the Croydon gravels. He
also added that he had himself a fine molar tooth of an
elephant, and some pieces of bone, probably from the same
animal, which had been found in the gravel at Thornton
Heath, and he understood from Mr. Baldwin Latham that
bones of elephants and of extinct deer had lately been
discovered in similar gravel at Mitcham. There was no
reason why these remains should not occur about Croydon,
as similar remains had been found in many places in drift
gravels in the valley of the Thames.

Referring to the nests which had been exhibited, Mr. FLower
dissented from the views expressed by Dr. Carpenter. He
believed that no line of demarcation could be drawn between
instinct and reason. A habit was formed under the influence
of reason, and if that habit became fixed and was inherited it
became an instinct. But even after its formation an instinct
was always capable of a very large amount of modification,
and might even disappear altogether by altered circumstances.
A very good instance of this was shewn in the fear which
most birds and wild animals had of man. That fear, where it
existed, was undoubtedly now due, to a great extent, to
instinct. But the fear was purely an acquired fear, and did
not exist in places like uninhabited islands, where birds had
not been subjected to persecution and ill-treatment from men.
Even in Scotland the same thing might be seen. In the
higher hills in the deer forests, where the Ptarmigan are not

liv. Proceedings.

molested, they have no more fear of man than they have of
sheep or deer, but where they are much shot at and disturbed
they are almost as wild and as wary as Grouse. For these
reasons he thought it much more probable that the failure of
the birds to which Dr. Carpenter had referred was due to the
fact that they had, for some reason, been driven to make
their nests in the arbor vitce trees, which were only lately
introduced, and were in many respects very different from our
native trees and shrubs, and that the birds had not yet learnt
to adapt the building of their nests to their peculiarities. Re-
ferring to the use of pieces of paper by birds as materials for
nesting, Mr. FLower mentioned some curious instances of the
use of this material: by blackbirds and thrushes, which had
come under his own observation.

Mr. Turner thought there was a great deal in Dr.
Carpenter's theory that the birds were deficient in the
intelligence which usually belonged to their species, the
members of which generally selected safe places to build their
nests in. He had no doubt it was the same bird that built the
second and third nests, or the children of the first parents,
who, no doubt, exhibited the deficiency of their parents,
perhaps, in a more exaggerated form.

Mr. Lovett, Mr. Futter, and Mr. SarjEant also spoke
with reference to some of the subjects which had been brought
before the meeting by Dr. Carpenter.

The following objects were also exhibited:—Mr. H. M.
Klaassen, photographs of terminal moraines and of glaciers ;
Mr. H. R. Owen, coralline ; Mr. E. Lovett, ova of shore crab,
mactra glauca striated boulder from river Wansbeck; Mr.
W. L. Sarjeant, quill of porcupine stained, skeleton larva
under polarised light; Mr. A. D. Taylor, section of cactus,
shewing spines.

Ordinary Meeting, Nov. 17th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected :—
Mr. Francis Thompson, jun., Mr. Nathaniel Bogle-French,
Mr. W. F. Footit, Mr. W. Topley, F.G.S., and Mr. Charles
Price Turner.

The PresipENT announced that Mr. P. Crowley had pre-
sented to the Club a copy of Professor Bell’s new edition
of Gilbert White’s Natural History of Selborne, also three
volumes (for 1867, 1868 and 1873) of Professor Symons’

,

Proceedings. lv.

work on “British Rainfall,” and the thanks of the meeting
were accorded to Mr. Crowley for these gifts.

Mr. E. Lovetr exhibited and described a female of the
Drinker Moth (O potatoria) which he had bred from a cater-
pillar, and which had all the distinctive colouring of the male
of that species. He also exhibited and described male and
female specimens of the same moth, with the normal colouring
peculiar to the sexes.

Mr. ALFRED Tytor, F.G.S., read a paper on ‘“ Colouriza-
tion in Animals,” illustrated by a number of skins of various
animals, and by numerous diagrams. After calling particular
attention to the details and peculiarities of the skins exhibited,
he contended that their colours were regulated chiefly by
certain laws of ‘‘Emphasis” and ‘‘ Symbolism,” and that it
was only in a secondary degree that they were made sub-
servient to the purposes of protection or sexual excitement.

Mr. ALFRED RussEL WALLACE, in commenting upon the
views expressed by Mr. Tylor, said the subject which he had
introduced was so vast that it would require an entire evening
to go into it fully. It happened that he had a theory of his
own, which did not agree with Mr. Tylor’s, and he could not
very well express his views without referring to this theory.
In order to explain the great varieties of colour which are to be
seen in nature, it is necessary, in the first place, to consider
the physical nature and origin of colour, for that is the founda-
tion of the whole matter. It is now generally held that the
colour of natural objects is a subjective phenomenon. The
objects themselves are devoid of colour, but they each absorb
some of the different coloured rays of which white light is
composed, and reflect the other rays, and the object appears to
be of the colour of the rays or mixture of rays which it re-
flects. Thus green objects absorb the red rays and reflect the
yellow and the blue, whilst purple objects absorb the yellow
and reflect the red and the blue. The rays which each par-
ticular object will absorb and reflect will depend upon the
nature and constitution and size of the molecules of which it
is made up; and any alteration in these, from any cause, will
probably produce a corresponding alteration in the colour.

As there is every conceivable variety in the molecular struc-
ture of different bodies in nature, there is, necessarily, every
variety of colour. Some colours, or groups of colours, are much
more abundant than others, but, as a rule, in the animal
world, obscure colours predominate.

Mr. Wat.aceE stated that the conclusion at which he had
arrived was, that, primarily, there is no reason why any animal
should be of any particular colour. It may be ofany colour, and
as a matter of fact, every possible variety of colour does exist in

lvi. Proceedings.

nature. But the particular colour which any particular animal
possesses, is the result of an infinite variety of secondary
causes which render certain colours useful and other colours.
hurtful to the animal. In birds, and in some other animals,
the brilliant colouring of the males is usually most intense in
the breeding season, when the animal is in the fullest vigour..
But the one thing of all others which most affects the develop-
ment of colour is the need of protection or concealment.
Almost all animals need concealment because they have
enemies, and those which are too powerful to fear any enemies
still need concealment to enable them to catch their prey. If
there were no need for protection and concealment, the beauti-
ful colours of tropical birds, instead of being exceptional,
would probably be the rule, and there would be brilliant colours
throughout nature. The large Felidce afford good instances
of the advantages to animals of particular colouring. The
Ounce for instance, which passes much of its time in trees, is
spotted, and for this reason cannot be easily seen amongst the
foliage of trees. The Tiger, on the other hand, which lives
mostly in jungle and tall grass, and is never seen in trees, is
striped, and so nearly resembles the grass and jungle in colour,
that in it it is quite invisible at a short distance. Ina similar
way animals that frequent trees of different kinds do not
acquire the colour of any tree in particular, whilst animals
that frequent only one kind of tree, as a rule, acquire the
colour of the tree which they frequent. The same law of con-
cealment applies to birds. The bright colours of birds are
principally on the breast, where they would not be seen when
the birds are sitting on their nests or perched on trees, except
from underneath. The reason why tropical birds have so
much colour is that the vegetation is abundant and the forests.
dense, and hence there is less need for concealment. It is
supposed by a good many people that brilliancy of colour is
due to the intensity of the sun, but that is a mistake, because
in the desert, where the sun is strongest, animals, as a rule,
are of the colour of the sand. Mr. Wallace further disputed
the theory that brilliancy of colour depends on rapidity of
motion, remarking that wings of birds have generally little
brilliancy of colour in them.

Dr. Henry Woopwarp, F.R.S., supported the views ex-
pressed by Mr. Wallace, and fully concurred in his opinion
that the colour of animals was mainly determined by the
necessity for concealment. In connection with this subject
he mentioned that in Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton’s coverts in
Norfolk, white varieties of the common Pheasant were en-
couraged, and were, in consequence, rather numerous. The
gamekeepers, however, did not like them, because, from their

Proceedings. Ivii.

conspicuous colouring, they attracted all the ‘‘ vermin ” in the
neighbourhood, and the gamekeepers had great difficulty in
preserving them from the attacks of Weasels and Stoats, and
Birds of Prey.

Referring to what Mr. Wallace had said as to the colours of
male animals being often brightest when they were most
vigorous, he mentioned that at his own house he had an
aquarium which contained a number of Sticklebacks which
were preparing for spawning. The males were brilliantly
coloured, but, being very pugnacious, were constantly fighting,
and, as each of these was beaten his bright colours faded or
disappeared. One of the larger males for a long time held his
own against the others, but at last he was beaten, and then
his colours also faded.

The Presipent added some remarks as to the object of the
gorgeous plumage of the males of some species of birds at the
breeding season, and described the way in which the males
make use of their brilliant colours at this season, which seemed
to prove that the real object of the colours is to enable the
male to attract and to excite the female. He also referred to a
subject which he thought had not received the attention which
it seemed to deserve. In some of the species of Gallinaceous
birds, such as the Common Pheasant, the female occasionally
assumes the brilliant plumage of the male. Sometimes this
assumption is complete, and the female becomes exactly like
the male, except perhaps that its colours are not quite so
bright; whilst in others only a very slight amount of the male
colouring is taken. Between these two extremes, it would be
possible, he believed, to find every intermediate grade. This
seems to show that the plumage of the male is not, as might
be supposed, a dress essentially distinct in its nature from
the plumage of the female; but that they are both, in all
essentials, the same, and that the gorgeous colours of the
male may be produced by a gradual modification of the more
sober colours of the female. Mr. Flower also mentioned and
described some very remarkable instances of protective
colouring in birds.

Mr. Ty or, in reply, whilst fully admitting the importance
and advantage to animals of protective colouring, pointed out
that this did not in any way affect the theory which he had
advanced, that the external markings of animals corresponded
with their internal structure, nor did it explain why the colour-
ing was almost invariably regular and symmetrical.

The following objects were exhibited:—J. Berney, small
moth ; W. J. Fuller, head of horse fly in fluid ; H. M. Klaassen,
pigment cells in skin of fish; E. Lovett, exuviated skin of
chameleon ; also sand tubes of Pectinaria belgica, from The

Iviii. Proceedings.

Nore; W. Low-Serjeant, pond life; also nail embedded in
oak; A. D. Taylor, gold tail moth—Porthesia auriflua; A.
Warner, pediculus pubis about to cast its skin; E. Straker,
dried specimens of thirty-seven species of plants in flower
gathered in the present month.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL SOIREE.
Held on Wednesday, November 24th, 1880.

This was held, as in past years, in the Large and Small
Public Halls. 146.members and 675 visitors were present,
making a total of 821. 163 microscopes were exhibited.

The stage was again beautifully decorated with a choice
collection of plants from the conservatories of Mr. Philip
Crowley, and the walls of the large hall were hung with a
series of valuable drawings from the collection of Mr. Geo.
Butterworth. The music performed during the evening was
under the direction of Mr. Geo. Webb.

Among the nnmerous objects exhibited were a large and
varied collection of shells which were sent by the President,
anda large and very fine collection of Humming Birds exhibited
by Mr. W. F. Footit. The latter, which occupied nearly the
whole of one side of the small Hall, from the great brilliancy
of their colours, deservedly attracted a great deal of attention.

In the Old School of Art Room a set of Crookes’ Radiant
Matter Tubes, kindly lent by Mr. L. P. Casella, of London,
were exhibited by Mr. T. Cushing, and were very ably described
by him from time to time during the evening.

Mr. E. Lovett exhibited about 250 specimens of British
Stalk Eyed Crustacea, obtained and prepared by himself, and
the Rev. E. W. Field an interesting collection of seals and
brasses. Mr. H. M. Klaassen exhibited a chameleon, sent by
Mr. John H. Ley; also, a collection of mosses, ferns, and
lichens under a large graphoscope, and specimens of Alpine
plants, with English plants of the same genus. Mr. A. F.
Sealy, of Cambridge, exhibited a complete collection of British
Butterflies ; and collections of Lepidoptera were also shewn
by Mr. J. Berney, the Rev. E. M. Geldart, and Mr. H. A.
Auld. Mr. A. D. Taylor exhibited a micro-aquarium; Mr.
Alfred Russel Wallace a number of interesting objects of Malay
manufacture; Mr. E. W. Foss, a number of objects from
Japan; Mr. A. Barker, Zulu weapons, dresses, and ornaments.
Mr. A. H. Hinton sent a collection of chalk fossils; Mr. John
Drage, a case of birds obtained at the Lizard Point, Cornwall ;
Dr. Morton, a collection of shells; and Mr. T. D. Russell, a

Proceedings. lix.

collection of minerals. Dr. Strong exhibited some bones
which had been found in drift gravel, at depths varying from
ro to 16 feet, at Mitcham ; also, an instrument for detecting a
peculiar defect in the eye, known to medical men as “ Astigma-
tism;” Mr. C. R. Holt, model of Cingalese canoe ; and Mr.
E. Mawley, sunshine recorder, cards, and diagrams.

Microscopes and objects of interests were exhibited by the
following members and visitors :—

Croydon Club.—J. H. Baldock, W. H. Beeby, J. Berney,
Theo. Bindley, Wm. Cheshire, J. Corry, P. Crowley, Thos.
Cushing, Jno. Drage, A. W. Drummond, H. S. Eaton, Jno.
Flower, W. F. Footit, W. J. Fuller, Rev. E. M. Geldart, Wm.
Ingrams, J. S. Johnson, E. F, Jones, H. M. Klaassen, Wm.
Lee, H. Lee, H. Linton, T. M. Loftus, H. Long, E. Lovett,
K. McKean, Geo. Manners, Chas. Manners, E. Mawley, Dr.
Morton, E. R. Moules, H. Moules, J. C. Oswald, S. Overton,
H. R. Owen, S. Palmer, W. J. Russell, W. L. Sarjeant, W.
F. Stanley, E. Straker, Dr. Strong, E. B. Sturge, A. D.
Taylor, F. Thompson, J. Toms, H. Turner, C. P. Turner, A.
R. Wallace, F. West, E. Williams.

Royal Microscopical Society..—A. C. Cole, M. J. Cole, J. W.
Fairey, J. W. Goodinge, J. R. Williams.

Quekett Club.—_W. Adkins, F. W. Andrew, J. W. Bailey,
W. J. Brown, G. D. Colsell, A.-L. Corbett, Rev. H. M.
Clifford, A. Fieldwick, A. C. Goodinge, H. R. Gregory, J. H.
Hadland,G. Hind, F. H. P. Hind, J. J. Hunter, Dr. Matthews,
G. A. Messenger, J. Nelson, J. W. Reed, F. Reeve, T. D.
Russell, J. E. Simmonds, A. Smith, A. J. Winney, Dr.
Charters White.

South London—J. G. Brewer, E. Dadswell, T. D. Ersser,
F. W. Hembrey, R. G. Hovenden, W. J. Parks, J. Saffery,
Wm. Short, D. G. Simpson, C. W. Stidstone, W. T. Suffolk,
Jno. Terry, W. West, R. West, J. W. Worster.

Sydenham and Forest Hill.—J. E. Arch, H. Blanch, C. W.
Burt, R. E. Crossland, E. George, E. L. Hardy, C. J. Soltan.

New Cross.—F. Alexander, A. Bliss, M. Burgess, Jno.
Burgess, G. F. Collingwood, H. T. J. Hart, E. A. Lewes, W.
F. Manger, J. Ramage, Rev. S. Thackrah, Geo. Wilcocks.

Hackney.—T. K. Crossfield, M. Fairservice, O. Goldthwaite,
A. H. Hinton, R. J. Larking.

Tower Hill.—Jno. Alstone, Jno. Puddy, R. Sedgewick, W.
C. Vernon.

Greenwich—C. E. Blomfield, Geo. Dannatt, W. Trickett,
W. 5S. Scarr.

Makers and Private—-H. A. Auld, Dr. Bossey, A. Barker,
R. and I. Beck, Dr. Beeby, C. Baker, J. Carpenter, F. R.
Cheeswright, H. Crouch, Dring & Fage, Rev. E. W. Field, E.

Ix. Proceedings.

W. Foss, C. R. Holt, J. How & Co., J. W. Justican, Col.
R. D. Knight, Le Grand & Sutcliffy A. Lightwood, W.
Moginie, Geo. Payne, H. B. Pim, J. H. Pepler, G. Rodman,
Jas. Rymer, G. Yuill, E. S. Whealler.

Ordinary Meeting, December 15th, 1880.
Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected :—
Mr. W. T. Malleson, Mr. A. Morris, Mr. John Frith, Mr.
John George Bracher Brewer, Mr. John George Marks,
Mr. George Newberry, Mr. Frederick Cheeswright, and Mr.
Matthew Mawson.

The PRESIDENT announced that the twelve volumes of the
Archeeologia, and the Catalogue of Broadsides which were
mentioned at the last meeting, had been received from Mr.
William Drummond; also that Professor Rupert Jones had
sent a box of fossils for distribution among the members of
the Club; and that a box of zoophytes had been received from
Mr. Henry Lee for distribution. Letters from Professor
Rupert Jones and Mr. Lee, which accompanied the boxes,
were also read.

Mr. H. M. Klaassen and Mr. E. Lovett were appointed to
audit the accounts for the current year.

Mr. E. Lovett read a paper on “ Preparing and Mounting
for exhibition Crustacea and similar objects” (see p. 78), being
a description of the way in which the specimens which he
exhibited at the last Soiree were prepared and preserved.

Mr. E. StrakeER laid before the meeting a ‘“ Table of the
Girths, Positions, and Estimated Ages of Churchyard Yew
Trees in the eastern half of the County of Surrey.” ~(See p.
80. )

The PrReEsIDENT called attention to a peculiarity which he
had noticed in the claw of the middle toe in birds. (See p. 82).

The following objects were also exhibited :—Mr. J. Berney,
Star Fish; Mr. W. J. Fuller, Acarus sacharina (sugar mite
from moist sugar); Mr. H. M. Klaassen, rocksalt crystals from
Cheshire mines; Mr. E. Lovett, specimens of British stalk-
eyed Crustacea, preserved so as to retain their natural colour,
Pisa Gibsii, Paloemonide in a young state; Mr. W. L. Sarjeant,
cocoanut three-quarters of an inch in diameter, group of
Vorticelle; Mr. E. B. Sturge, glass and pith slides for use
with opaque objects.

Proceedings. Ixi.

Annual Meeting, fanuary 19th, 1881.
Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. E. S. Whealler, Mr. James A. Carter, Mr. James
Phillips, Mr. Percy Budd, Mr. Willie James Epps, and Mr.
James Rymer were balloted for and elected.

The PresipEeNnT read a letter from the Hon. Sec. of the
Hackney Microscopical and Natural History Society, an-
nouncing that the first Soiree of that Society would be held at
the Morley Hall, Triangle, Hackney, on February 24th. A
letter was read from Mr. Edward Mawley, sent with four
numbers of the Rosarian’s Year Book which he presented to
the Club.

The Hon. Sec. having been prevented by indisposition from
attending the meeting, the PRESIDENT, in his absence, read the
report of the Committee and their balance-sheet for the year
1880 as follows :—

REPORT.

The Committee have again the pleasure of submitting to the
members of the Club their annual report.

During the year 1880 thirty new members have been elected,
twenty-two members (most of whom have removed from the neigh-
bourhood of Croydon) have resigned. The Committee regret to
add that five members, Mr. John Drummond, Mr. Walter Walters,
Mr. J. W. Baillie, Dr. Williams, and Mr. George Cooper have died.

The total number of members on 31st December was two hundred
and forty-one ordinary, and five honorary members.

The following papers have been read :—

February 18th.—Mr. E. R. Pearce, “On the History and Uses of
British Medicinal Plants.”

March 17th—Mr. A. Russ—EL WALLACE, ELS. cs) On» the
Peculiar Species of the British Fauna and Flora.”

April 21st.—Mr. E. Lovett, “ Practical Suggestions on Mounting
Objects for the Microscope.”

May 19th.—The Presipent (Mr. Jno. Flower, M.A.) ‘On the
Structure and Geological History of the Weald, and of the Catch-
ment Basin of the river Wandle.”

September 15th—The Presipent, ‘On some Cocoons of the
common Puss Moth, and Mr. J. S. Jounson, M.R.C.S., ‘“‘On some
Specimens of Pemmican.”

Octobey 20th—Dr. ALFRED CARPENTER, ‘‘On Birds’ Nests at
Duppas House,” “On Fossil Teeth from the Gravel at Scarbrook
eee “On Specimens of Rocks found near St. Bees Head, Cumber-
and.”

_ November 17th.—Mr. ALFRED TyLor, F.G.S., &c., ‘On Colorization
in Animals.”

December 15th.—Mr. E. Lovett, “‘On Preparing and Mounting for
Exhibition Crustacea and similar objects,” and an interesting table
* showing the girths, positions, and estimated ages of Churchyard

Ixil. Proceedings.

Yew Trees in the eastern half of the county of Surrey, prepared by
Mr. E. Straker. :

In addition to the papers above mentioned, numerous objects of
interest, many of them connected with the Natural History of the
district, have been brought before the members, and have been
discussed at the various meetings.

An excursion was made on 12th June to Caterham, White Hill,
and Godstone, in conjunction with the members of the Quekett and
South London Microscopical Clubs, and on Saturday, rgth June, the
members, by invitation from the Geologists’ Association of London,
joined the members of that society in a geological examination of
the district between Croydon and Riddlesdown.

Mr. F. J. Horniman, of Forest Hill, having kindly given the
members a second invitation to visit his museum, a party of twenty-

one attended on 18th December, and were exceedingly interested in .

the inspection of the collection.

The eleventh annual soiree was held at the Public Hall, on
Wednesday, 24th November, and was attended by Fellows of the
Royal Microscopical Society, and members of the Quekett, South
London, Sydenham, New Cross, Hackney, Greenwich, and Tower
Hill Clubs, also by private exhibitors, by whom and by members of
the Club one hundred and sixty-three microscopes were exhibited,
together with many interesting works of art and antiquities, and
numerous objects connected with Natural History and Microscopy.
The attendance was as follows :—One hundred and forty-six members,
ninety-four exhibitors (non-members), and five hundred and eighty-
one visitors. Total, eight hundred and twenty-one, as against eight
hundred and fifteen in 1879.

Members of the Club have also attended the soirees of the New
Cross and Greenwich Clubs, and have also given exhibitions of
microscopical objects at the Church of England Young Men’s
Society’s meetings at North End, and at the Public Hall, besides
assisting at exhibitions for the Mitcham Working Men’s Institute,
and the South Norwood Orphanage.

The Journals and Reports of the Royal Microscopical Society, the
Quekett, Watford, New Cross, Hackney, East Kent, South London,
Eastbourne, Brighton and Sussex, and Belgian Clubs and Societies,
have been received.

The following donations were made to the Club :—

“The Hunterian Oration”’ for February, 1863, second section, 1880,
by Dr. Gulliver, F.R.S., from the author; ‘‘ Notes on the weather of
1879,” by Mr. Edward Mawley, F.M.S., by the author; Six vols.
‘‘ British Rainfall,” by G. T. Symons, for the years 1865, 1866, 1867,
1868, 1869, 1870; by Mr. Thomas Cushing, F.R.A.S., ten vols.—35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. Part 1, vol. 46, and one Cata-
logue of Broadsides of the “ Archzologia,” published by the Society
of Antiquaries of London, by Mr. William Drummond, as a memento
of his brother, Mr. John Drummond, deceased; Professor Bell’s
edition of Gilbert White’s ‘‘ Natural History ot Selborne,” 2 vols;
and 3 vols. ‘‘ British Rainfall,’ by Mr. Philip Crowley, F.Z.S.3
Report of Excursion of Geologists’ Association to Camberley, Surrey,
by Professor T. Rupert Jones; ‘‘ Science Gossip,” monthly, from the
Publisher, Mr. D. Bogue; Duplicate copies of the Quekett Club

——

Proceedings. Ixiii.

Journal, by Mr. A. Warner; a Box of Fossils, by Professor T.
Rupert Jones; a quantity of Butterfly Wings, by Mr. F. J. Horni-
man; a box of Zoophytes, by Mr. H. Lee, F.G.S., &c.

The attendance at the meetings has been slightly in excess of last
year.

In conclusion, the Committee consider that notwithstanding the
small nett increase in the number of members, the interest in the
Club continues undiminished, the continual changes taking place in
a large population like that of Croydon fully accounting for the some-
what numerous withdrawals from membership.

The thanks of the Club are again due to the Local Press for the
reports of the various meetings which have appeared in the columns
of the Croydon Advertiser, Croydon Chronicle, and Croydon Guardian.

Signed on behalf of the Committee,

Joun FLowenr, President.
Croydon, January 19th, 188r.

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Proceedings. Ixv.

The PreEsIDENT, in moving the adoption of the Report,
expressed his great satisfaction at the continued prosperity of
the Club, and that the last two years, the term of his Presi-
dency, had been years of uninterrupted progress and success.
Referring to the Report, it showed that the number of new
members elected in 1880 was rather above the average. As in
1879 they had lost more members than usual by resignation,
but it was satisfactory to know that nearly all the members
who had resigned had done so in consequence of their removal
from Croydon. With regard to the papers which had been
read, and the various matters which had been brought before
and discussed by the members of the Club, the President
further remarked that they certainly showed no falling off,
either in number, or variety, or importance, and congratulated
the members that so large a proportion of the papers and
matters which had been brought before them had been con-
nected with the natural history of the district, or were the
results of the personal observations and work of members of
the Club. They could never hope to rival the large London
Societies, nor was it desirable that they should make the
attempt. Their province was rather to make themselves
masters of their own district, to see that it was properly and
systematically examined, and that every fact of value was
carefully investigated and accurately recorded. He appealed
to the members not to assume, as too many people did, that
every thing which they saw was unimportant, or that it must
necessarily have been observed before. That was very far from
being the case, and if they would bring before the Club more
often the objects which they met with in their walks and
excursions, and any fact of interest which they had observed,
it would tend much to the success and usefulness of their
meetings, and would materially help forward the objects for
which the Club was founded. Seeing that all the members of
the Club were learners, there was really no fact, nor any
subject, which any member should hesitate to bring forward if
he thought it to be of interest, and particularly if it was con-
nected with the natural history of the district.

Another cause for satisfaction was the number of other
societies and clubs with which they were in correspondence,
and with which they exchanged reports, and the President
expressed a hope that the time was not far distant when some-
thing like co-operation would be established among the various
clubs and societies in the south of England, so that they »
might all work upon a common plan, and for a common object.
After remarking upon the last soirée, which was one of the
most interesting, if not the best, that the Club had ever had,
and the local societies which they had been able to help, and

Ixvi. Proceedings.

referring to the donations to the Club during the past year, and
particularly to the very handsome donation of Mr. Wm.
Drummond, the President took the opportunity of thanking the
Committee, Officers, and Members of the Club for their
invariable courtesy to himself, and for the support which they
had always accorded to him, and moved ‘‘ That the Report and
Accounts, as read to the Meeting, be received and adopted, and
that they be printed and circulated among the Members.”

Mr. Manners having seconded the motion, it was carried
unanimously.

Before the motion was put, Mr. H. T. MENNELL referred
to the small number of the field meetings of the Club, and the
small attendance at them, which he was unable to account for.
He attached great importance to these meetings, and thought
that if they were well planned, and well led, they were among
the most valuable of the Club’s proceedings. Probably a great
deal might be done to improve these meetings, if people, who
were not members of the Club, but who resided in and were
acquainted with the localities which were visited, were
associated with the members of the Club, and suggested that
the country clergy might give valuable aid.

Mr. TuRNER supported the views expressed by Mr. Mennell,
and suggested that two of the causes which prevented the field
meetings from being successful were, that they started too late
and went too far from home.

The Rev. E. M. Getparr agreed with Mr. Turner, except
that he did not consider that they went far enough for their
excursions.

Mr. H. M. KtaasseEn pointed out that the late hour at which
they started for their excursions was unavoidable, as most of
the members had business engagements which prevented their
starting earlier, and he urged the desirability of joining with
other clubs, and so increasing the numbers joining in the
excursions,

The PresipENT cordially supported the views which had
been expressed as to the importance of the field meetings,
and expressed the opinion that the chief reason why theirs had
not been successful was that they had not been properly
organised. He thought that every excursion should be made
to a particular place for definite objects, which should be fully
announced before hand, and that some one of the members,
whose name should be duly announced, should be responsible
for the expedition, and should see that the objects of interest
were properly pointed out and explained. If this were done
he had little doubt that the meetings would be well attended,
and would be of great value to the members.

The PRESIDENT next moved the appointment of Mr. Philip

Proceedings. Ixvii,

Crowley as President of the Club for the ensuing year. Mr.
Lone having seconded the motion, it was carried unanimously,
and Mr. Crow ey expressed his thanks to the members for
the compliment which they had paid him.

Dr. THompson proposed that Mr. John Flower be elected to
the office of Treasurer, vacated by Mr. Crowley.

This proposal was seconded by Mr. CutsHo.m, and carried.

The PRESIDENT next announced the resignation by Mr.
E. B. Sturge of the office of Honorary Secretary of the Club,
and in doing so regretted that Mr. Sturge was prevented by
indisposition from being present at that meeting. Mr. Sturge
had acted for five years as Honorary Secretary of the Club,
and during that time had discharged the onerous duties of the
office most ‘admirably and conscientiously. He had now
resigned because he felt that he should not be able, in the year
to come, to devote sufficient time to enable him properly to
discharge the duties of Secretary.

Upon the motion of Mr. Manners, seconded by Dr. THomp-
son, Mr. K. McKean was elected Honorary Secretary in the
place of Mr. Sturge.

The PReEsIDENT read a letter from Mr. Henry Lee, an-
nouncing his wish, in consequence of his removal from Croydon,
to retire from the Committee, but expressing his unabated
interest in all that related to the Club. He also pointed out
that as Mr. K. McKean had been elected Honorary Secretary
there were thus two vacancies on the Committee.

It was proposed by Mr. H. M. KraasseEn, and seconded by
Mr. Lona, and carried unanimously, that Dr. Carpenter, Mr.
J. Chisholm, Mr. T. Cushing, Mr. J. S. Johnson, Mr. G.
Manners, Mr. A. D. Taylor, and Mr. H. Turner (members of
the old Committee), and Mr. H. T. Mennell and Mr. E.
Lovett be appointed the Committee for the ensuing year.

Cordial votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring Presi-
dent and Honorary Secretary, and on the motion of the Prest-
DENT, a vote of thanks was also accorded to the Local Press
for their reports of the proceedings of the Club.

Mr., John Drage exhibited a white variety of the common
Thrush (Turdus musicus) which was shot near the Lizard
Point, Cornwall, in the autumn of 1880, and a specimen of
the purple Sand-piper (Tringa striata) shot in the winter of
1880, in the same locality. The thrush was a remarkably
white specimen, having only a few very faintly coloured
feathers on the head and on the left wing.

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TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

Cropdon Microscopical and Datural
History Club.

ee

I. — On THE NatuRAL History oF HarpD WATER, AND ON
ITS SOFTENING BY CLARK’S PROCESS.

By ALFRED CARPENTER, Esq., M.D., President.
[Read October 16th, 1878.]

Dr. CARPENTER first produced three samples of pure rain
water, also some water as supplied from the Board’s well in the
town, and he poured three portions of each into test bottles. He
explained that the rain which descended on to the chalk hills
round Croydon, which hills were the source from which the
Croydon water supply was derived, necessarily passed through
the chalk, and in so doing dissolved certain of its ingredients
which had an attraction for water. There were very few
things in nature that water would not dissolve, but it had its
preferences, and some of the things it preferred most were to
be found in the water which we drank. Dr. Carpenter then
poured into one phial of rain water some nitrate of silver ;
into a second some oxalate of ammonia; and into the third
some chloride of barium. None of these re-agents or tests
appeared to have any effect in the rain water, but on pouring
them, in the same order, into the phials containing the
Board’s water it was found that, in the one containing nitrate
of silver, the presence of chlorides was detected in the water ;
in that containing oxalate of ammonia the presence of lime
was indicated; and in the sample to which the chloride of
barium had been added it was shown that the sulphates were
present. He further explained that the tests also showed the
presence of carbonates. When the rain water descended on
to the hills and then passed deep into the ground, it absorbed
carbonate of lime out of the chalk. ‘Two grains only of car-
bonate of lime were taken up by each gallon of water, but as
the rain water descended it carried with it carbonic acid, which
was always present in the air, and this carbonic acid enabled

BI

2 Dr. Carpenter

the water to take up a much larger quantity of lime, as a
bicarbonate, which was much more soluble than the carbonate.
The ordinary constituents of chalk water in this district were
22 grains of bi-carbonate of lime to a gallon. Sometimes this
quantity was exceeded—z8 grains were not unusual in some
places, and in others even a greater proportion. The water
having thus absorbed this carbonate and bi-carbonate, also
became charged with a certain amount of sulphate of lime,
which was more soluble even than bi-carbonate of lime. Cold
water would take up 150 grains of it per gallon. In the chalk
there was also salt in small quantities, and hence the presence
of chlorides in the water. In the water supplied to this town
there was always found, when it was pure, two grains of
common salt (which was a chloride of sodium) to the gallon,
but if that quantity was exceeded by say eight, ten, or twelve
grains to the gallon, it was quite certain that the water had
been rendered impure by the admixture of sewage. Bi-car-
bonate of lime existed in water while it was cold, but if the
water was boiled much of the carbonic acid was driven off
from the lime, and passed again into the air from whence it
came, whilst the lime was set free as a carbonate and was
deposited. It was from this effect of boiling chalk water that
a quantity of carbonate of lime was found in our kettles,
boilers, hot water pipes, &c. Dr. Carpenter exhibited speci-
mens of pipes, the apertures of which had been almost
completely closed by the lime deposits. He then explained
at some length how carbonate of lime forms a large part of
the solid strata of which the globe is made up, and exhibited
on the table a large number of specimens of minerals of which
lime formed part. Sometimes the lime is obtained in trans-
parent crystals, but it is generally mixed with other earths,
with metals, &c., and in these various states it is known by
the names of chalk, limestone, stalactites, marble, calcite,
aragonite, &c. Dr. Carpenter then went on to say that the
presence of lime in our water enabled us to have it in a pure
state for drinking purposes. Water, in all parts of the world
seemed to have a preference for lime, and wherever it trickled
through ground containing lime, it dissolved the lime in con-
siderable quantities. This was one of the means adopted by
Providence to provide us with pure water. If we had water
too pure, it would more easily absorb metals of a poisonous
nature, but the presence of lime in water prevented the easy
admission of much poisonous material. Our housekeepers
found that boiling water was a much better solvent than cold
water, because, in the process of boiling, about 20 grains of
lime were thrown out, leaving only two grains, more or less,
in the liquid. It had been proposed to separate lime from

On Hard Water. 3

water, and thus have a purer beverage for drinking purposes,
which was considered by some to be a more satisfactory
article to drink than water which was charged with large
quantities of lime. When water was boiled it became com-
paratively pure; the only disadvantage was the destruction of
the boilers and the stoppage of the pipes. Some years ago,
Dr. Clark, of Aberdeen, propounded a plan for softening chalk
water; that system was improved by Mr. Porter, and the
process is now known as Clark and Porter’s. For those who
wished to prevent incrustation in boilers and pipes, Clark’s
process was simple. First, they must provide themselves
with a cistern or reservoir capable of containing 540 gallons.
Mix g-ozs. of caustic lime with 40 gallons of water, which
will make a milk of lime, then pour it into the cistern, con-
taining 500 gallons of water. By this process the water will
become pure. Two pounds of lime will sink to the bottom,
and the boilers and pipes will no longer be furred up. Dr.
Carpenter proceeded to explain that he would not argue that
water from which the chalk had been removed was better to
drink; he preferred the water as they got it from the well. It was
known that when carbonic acid was prevalent in the atmosphere,
fungus germs developed in a most remarkable manner, and
when the carbonic acid was washed by the rain into the soil,
it would give rise to conditions in the atmosphere of the soil
which would promote the spread of epidemic diseases, unless
it was absorbed by the chalk. But, so long as there were
only 22 grains of bi-carbonate of lime in our water, it would
be impossible for it to retain carbonic acid, and consequently
it would be impossible for these germs to be developed which
existed in a carbonic acid atmosphere, or for any injurious
element to be introduced into the water, for the water is not
supersaturated with lime and a carbonic acid atmosphere
cannot exist. Dr. Carpenter then referred to the wonderful
changes that had taken place in the structure of the earth,
more especially with regard to the mineral kingdom. An
immense mass of matter had been removed from our chalk
hills, and they were gradually being lowered by the rain water
which flowed over them. Water, in the shape of rain, rivers,
or waves of the sea, denuded stone down, even more quickly
than simple exposure to the air; hence there was no rocky
mountain which was not constantly getting lower or less, by
the disintegrating cause; but this law was balanced by the
elevating cause, which seemed to depend upon the working of
fire under the crust of the earth. By it the rocks at the
bottom of the sea were raised, either by sudden convulsions,
or gradually, above the level of the sea, so that they became
dry land, and this was the reason why sea shells were found in

4 Dr. Carpenter on Hard Water.

the chalk hills in this neighbourhood far above the present
level of the sea. When new land was thus thrown up, it
immediately became liable to be worn away again by air and
water, and carried back into the sea; so that nature might be
said to keep up a constant system of change on the face of
the globe. The main object, however, of his paper was to
point out that nature did not leave man unprotected from his
own acts. He might foul his supply of drinking water, but
Providence turned the ammonia compounds into nitrates and
nitrides, and prevented a carbonic acid atmosphere in the under-
ground air by providing an abundance of lime. The under-
ground air is purified by it in those places in which vegetation
does not take up the carbonic acid, and thus the spread of such
diseases as typhoid by drinking water is limited, Dr. Carpenter
contending that typhoid germs cannot vegetate in the absence
of carbonic acid.

Mr. $ohn Flower—Chain in Horse-Chestnut Tree. 5

2.—On A PorTION OF THE TRUNK OF A HorsE-CHESTNUT
TREE IN WHICH AN IRON CHAIN HAS BECOME
IMBEDDED.

By Joun Frower, M.A., F.Z.S.
[Read Nov. 20th, 1878.]

When I first went to live at Park Hill, in April, 1844, there
were two large horse-chestnut trees, a few yards apart, growing
close to the house. One is still growing there ; but the other
(from which this piece was taken) was cut down in the spring
of the present year. Previous to 1844, an iron chain had been
put round this tree, sometwenty feet, or perhaps rather more, from
the ground, and to this chain another iron chain was attached,
and passed round a bough of the tree which is now standing,
with the object, apparently, of preventing that bough from
breaking off and falling on some farm buildings over which it
hung. I can quite well remember seeing this chain between
the two trees, but many years ago it broke in two places, and
nearly the whole of it fell down; and from that time little more
was thought about it. About 1854, but it may have been a
little earlier, it was noticed that the upper part of the tree from
which this piece was cut was weak. The leaves were much
smaller on that part of it, and there was an evident want of
vigour about it. This was the subject of constant remark in
the summer, but no one knew exactly what was the cause of
it. Later on several large and vigorous boughs began to
show themselves about fifteen feet from the ground, and below
the place where the chain had been put round the tree. These
continued to grow very freely up to the time when the tree was
cut down, but the upper part never recovered itself. It seemed
to get rather stronger for some years before the tree was cut
down, but it was never really strong, and the leaves on it con-
tinued to the last to be unusually small. For some years
past I have had but little doubt in my own mind that the iron
chain had become embedded in the trunk, and that that was
the cause of the tree’s singular behaviour. After it was cut
down a careful examination proved beyond doubt that this was
the case, and so interesting did it appear to me to be that I
had an entire section of the trunk cut out, from about eight
inches above the chain to below the point from which the
large and vigorous boughs previously mentioned took their
origin. That section, 34 inches in height, is now in the Small
Hall, where it can be inspected by any one who chooses to
examine it, but it is too big to move upstairs. I ought,

6 Mr. Fohn Flower.

perhaps, here to explain, for the benefit of those who have not
studied botany, how it is that trees like the horse-chestnut
grow and are nourished. The materials by which the tree is
nourished are contained in the sap, which may be termed the
blood of the tree, and which passes up, from the root to the
branches, through the sap vessels, which lie immediately under
the outside bark, and between that and the solid wood of the tree.
The solid wood, again, is increased in diameter every year, by
the addition of a layer of wood, which is formed by the sap
vessels, and in this way the tree increases annually in bulk.
If we bear these facts in mind, we shall have no difficulty in
seeing exactly what has happened in the tree which we are
considering. ‘The chain having been placed round it, all went
well until, by the growth of the tree, the chain began to get
tight; then it began to press hard upon the bark and, as a
necessary consequence, upon the sap-vessels under it. This
stopped the free circulation of the sap to the upper boughs, and
the result was that the upper part of the tree got weak and
shabby, it being in fact, half starved. Ifthe chain had pressed
equally on all parts of the trunk at the same time, as a broad
iron band would have done, in all probability the upper part of
the tree would have died outright ; but, having arough outline, the
chain was not able to stop the flow of the sap altogether, and
so some portion of it managed to get past the chain and kept
the upper boughs alive. The trunk, therefore, continued to
grow, whilst, on the other hand, the chain remained stationary,
and so, by degrees, the solid wood was formed completely over
the chain, and then, the full supply of sap having been restored,
the upper part of the tree was gradually recovering itself when
it was cut down. I have cut a hole in the wood where the
chain is nearest to the surface, and through that hole the chain
can be seen. The position which it occupies can be seen very
well in two ways—horizontally by the scar made in the bark
when it grew over the chain, and by the different colour of the
wood of the trunk, as seen from above; the dark part of the
wood corresponding to the part which is enclosed within the
chain, and the brighter part to that which is outside of it. At
the nearest point it is about an inch from the edge of the wood,
but in one place it must be embedded to a depth of four or five
inches. The vigorous boughs which sprung out of the trunk
a short distance below the chain were formed because the sap
was compelled, by its nature, to employ itself in the formation
of new wood, and, being unable to get up to the top of the tree,
it expended its energy in throwing out these boughs as close
as possible to the point where the free flow of the sap was
obstructed by the chain. These, therefore, took to themselves
more than their proper share of the sap, increased rapidly in

Chain in Horse-Chestnut Tree. | 7

size, and, by thus drawing off the strength of the tree, helped
to keep back the healing process which was going on over the
chain, and to starve the upper boughs. It is remarkable that
these boughs did not spring from the side which was nearest
to the other tree, nor from the side which was furthest from
it, but from the other sides. As regards the dimensions of
the tree, when the chain was first put round it it must have
been about 40 inches in circumference. Its circumference is
now, taken about eight inches above the chain, 67 inches; but,
taken about 26 inches below the chain, it is g6 inches. It
would be possible, I think, to ascertain from the rings in the
tree, approximately, the number of years which were occupied
in effecting the changes which I have pointed out. I
hope to be able to find time to do this, and lay the result
before the members of the club on a future occasion. The
number of rings appearing at the bottom of the trunk would
give the entire age of the tree. On the other hand, the rings
in the centre of the upper part of the trunk, would represent
the years which elapsed before the chain began to strangle the
tree; then comes a number of confused rings, very close
together, which represent the years of the tree’s struggle with
the chain, and when the free flow of the sap upwards was
obstructed ; and then come a number of broader and more
distinct rings, which represent the years which have past since,
the chain having become embedded by the steady growth of
the tree, the free flow of the sap was once more restored. It
is a very interesting fact that the part of the chain which was
put round the tree which is still standing has also become
embedded in the bough which it was intended to support, and
can no longer be seen; but a piece of the chain which was
attached to the part which is embedded is still to be seen
hanging from it. The part of this bough which is above the
chain is very weak and shabby, and, on the other hand, two
boughs, which spring just below the chain, have abnormally
increased in size.

NotTEe.—The piece of the tree which was the subject of the above paper
is now in the Museum of the Royal Gardens at Kew. It has been admira-
bly photographed by Mr. Mason, the well-known photographer, of George
hee Croydon, who will supply copies to any one who may wish to have
them.—J. F.

8 Botanical Report.

3.—_First REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL Sus-ComMITTEE.
[Read Dec. 18th, 1878.]

It will be within the recollection of most of you that at our
usual monthly meeting, on Dec. 1gth, 1877, the hon. secretary
laid before the members of the Club a list of the wild plants
found in the immediate neighbourhood of Croydon, which had
been prepared and forwarded to him by one of our members,
Mr. W. F. Miller. That list extends only to the tract of
country which lies within a radius of about eight miles from
Croydon, and the. number of species which Mr. Miller had
found within that district is about 400. These, however, did
not comprise any of the members of those numerous and
important families—the rushes, the sedges, and the grasses.
Mr. Miller did not put forward this list as being by any means
a complete one, but, on the contrary, he gave it only as the
result of his own observation, and he communicated it to the
Club in the hope that others of our members might be induced
to co-operate with him, and help to complete the list which he
had begun.

Mr. Miller was not, however, the only member of the Club
who had been at work in this field. Mr. Beeby, Mr. Bennett,
and Mr. Flower, had, for some years past, spent a considerable
amount of time in investigating the botany of the district, and
had compiled a large number of notes as to our local wild
flowers, and, before Dec. 19th, 1877, had had under considera-
tion the best way of working, systematically, the wild plants
of our neighbourhood. As it was felt that Mr. Miller’s object
was one which well deserved support, and one, moreover,
which came peculiarly with the province of our Club, at the
meeting on Dec. 19th, 1877, Mr. Miller, Mr. Beeby, Mr.
Bennett, and Mr. Flower were formed into a Sub-Committee,
to investigate the botany of our district, and to prepare a
complete list of its plants. In this way the Botanical Sub-
Committee came into existence. They now submit their report
of this their first year’s work.

The first thing which the Sub-Committee had to consider
was the district to be investigated, and after full consideration,
the following was adopted, as being on the whole, the most
convenient, and for botanical purposes, the most complete.
The northern boundary of the district selected is the river
Thames, from the mouth of the river Darenth, near Dartford,
in Kent, to the mouth of the river Mole, near East Moulsey,
in Surrey. The eastern boundary is the river Darenth, and
the western is the river Mole. The southern boundary is the

Botanical Report. 9

northern edge of the Gault. The chief reasons which induced
the Sub-Committee to adopt this district are as follows :—In
the first place it is a tolerably large area (it comprises about
500 square miles of land), it is also very compact, and is very
well defined by natural boundaries. In the next place
Croydon, as you will see from the one-inch Ordnance
geological map, lies, as nearly as possible, in the very centre of
this district. To the north, our town is distant from the Thames
eight miles to Battersea, and ten miles to London Bridge,
while from the edge of the Gault to the south it is also distant
eight miles. It is also sixteen miles from the bend in the
Darenth, which forms the extreme eastern boundary, and six-
teen miles from the bend in the Mole, which is our extreme
western limit. But above all, this district is very complete
geologically, and therefore, necessarily, very complete for
botanical purposes, plants being of course, dependent for their
existence, to a great extent, upon particular soils.

The strata which exist in the district are six in number, and
when in their natural position, they occur in the following
order :—

Tertiary {Lesdon Beds.

: London Clay.

(Lower eocene). Lower London Tertiaries.
Secondary. foe Greensand

(Upper Cretaceous). con :

Above these, and scattered about in no regular order, come
the alluvial soil, which is, of course, at the top, and numerous
surface beds of gravel, sand, and brick earth. As Professor
Morris has very fully described the geological history of these
strata in his lecture, it will not be necessary now to describe
them more fully.

The most important of them for our present purpose is
undoubtedly the chalk. The strata which overlie it having
been removed the chalk has become exposed over a large part
of the district, that is, over that part of it which is uncoloured
on the map, and which lies immediately to the S. S.E. and
S.W. of Croydon. In the same way the Lower London
Tertiaries, which are made up for the most part of gravels,
sands, and clays lie exposed to the N.E., and they also form a
line along the N. boundary of the chalk. The London clay
lies exposed immediately to the N. and N.W., and one piece
of Bagshot sand is found to the extreme W. Along the
southern boundary of the district the Upper Greensand
extends over a very small and narrow area, and below that, to
the south, comes the Gault, which is a very stiff blue clay.

IO Botanical Report.

Speaking roughly, therefore, about one half of the district is
Chalk, of the other half about one fourth is London clay, and
the remaining one fourth is made up of sands, clays, and
gravels.

The Sub-Committee have been thus particular as to the
reasons which induced them to select this particular district,
because, some little time after they had chosen it, they learnt
that the South London Microscopical and Natural History Club
had adopted one which seems to be almost identical with it,
and it appears from the map, with Mr. Jackson’s description
annexed, which was laid before the Club at the meeting on
Oct. 16th, that the district which they have selected is exactly
the same as our own, except towards the south. We make
our southern boundary, as we have seen, the northern edge of
the Gault, whilst their boundary is the northern edge of the
Upper Greensand. As the Upper Greensand seems to go
naturally with the chalk, whilst the gault, on the other hand,
differs much from both these strata, there seems no sufficient
reason for excluding the Upper Greensand.

The Sub-Committee first heard that the South London Club
had selected this district in this way. Directly after they were
appointed they made overtures for help and co-operation to
some of the members of the various Natural History Clubs
which had been established in the neighbourhood of Croydon,
and amongst others, to some of the members of the South
London Club. They, however, expressed themselves as
unable to co-operate with us, as they were themselves working
the same district. It is not, of course, intended to question
the right of the South London or any other Club to work any
district which in their opinion is the most convenient and
most desirable for them, but the Sub-Committee cannot but
feel that the result which both Clubs desire would have been
better attained if the South London Club had communicated
with us before they selected for themselves a district which lies
so immediately around our town, and made arrangements for an
independent investigation of it.

With regard to that part of the district which lies in the
county of Kent, the Sub-Committee have thought it better not
to deal with that in this report. A Flora of Kent is now being
prepared by Mr. F. J. Hanbury, and when that is completed it
will probably prove a complete and exhaustive Flora of the
county. In addition to this the Sub-Committee feel that the
Surrey part of the district will require all the time which they
can bestow upon it, and therefore, that, for the present, at all
events, it will be better to confine their work to our own
county.

Having thus settled the area of ground to be worked the

Botanical Report. II

Sub-Committee proceeded to compile a complete list of all the
plants which they had themselves observed in that district ; to
look up and examine fresh localities ; and to make a complete
record of all the places in which they have found the rarer
species; and the result has been that a large mass of in-
formation as to our local wild flowers has been accumulated.

Annexed to this report is a complete list of all the species of
Phanerogamic, or flowering plants, and of the Filices, Lyco-
podiaceze, Marsileacee, Equisetacee, and Characez, of the
Cryptogamic plants which have been thus observed, and their
total number is 754. ‘These do not, however, include a con-
siderable number of species like the Spruce Fir, Lime, and
Sycamore, which, although they are common enough in parks,
woods, and plantations, cannot properly be considered to be
wild.

Of the 754 species nearly 700 are to be found within four
miles of the place where we are now assembled. This list is
of course as yet but a very incomplete one. The district will
require a great deal more attention than it has yet received,
before it will be possible to compile a complete catalogue of
its plants. In Mr. Brewer’s Flora of Surrey—which is any-
thing but an exhaustive Flora of the country round Croydon—
and in other works, a number of additional species are
recorded as occurring at various places in our district; but as
the Sub-Committee have not yet been able to ascertain whether
these species are still to be found in the localities given they
have, for the present, omitted them from the list. Still the
results which have been obtained thus far are satisfactory,
considering the short time during which the Sub-Committee
have been at work. Now that attention has been called to
this subject, and the matter has been taken up systematically,
there can be little doubt that a large number of fresh species
will be added to this list, and when this has been done the
Croydon district will be shown to possess a Flora, which, for
the number and variety of its species, will compare favourably
with that of other districts of the same size, and which affords
very ample materials for the study of English Botany.

In the seventh, which is the last edition of ‘‘ The London
‘Catalogue of British Plants” (published in 1874), and which
‘standard authority has been followed in all matters of classi-
fication and scientific nomenclature, the total number of
‘species of flowering plants and of the five families of Crypto-
gamic plants, above mentioned, which are found wild in the
British Islands, is stated to be 1680. It will be seen, therefore,
that the plants already observed by the Sub-Committee in
our district comprise nearly one half of the total number of
‘species in the London Catalogue. Further than this, the 754

12 Botanical Report.

species above mentioned are of a very varied character, for
they are representatives of no less than 83 out of the 94
Natural Orders into which the 1680 species which are com-
prised in the London Catalogue are divided.

The families which are not known to occur wild in our
district, excluding the limes (Tiliacez) are 11 in number :-—

1. Frankeniacez, which contains but one species (F. levis),
the Sea Heath.

2. Tamariscacez, which also contains but one species (T.
Anglica), the Tamarisc.

3. Elatinacez, which has two species, the Waterpeppers.

. Polemoniacez, which has but one species (P. ceruleum),
the Jacob’s Ladder.
Pinguiculacez, which has eight species, the Butterworts
and Bladderworts.

6. Plumbaginacee, which contains six species, the Sea
Lavenders and Thrifts.

7. Elzagnacez, which has but one species (H. rhamnoides),.
the Sea Buckthorn.

8. Asaracez, in which are two species, the Asarabacca.
and the Common Birthwort.

g. Empetracee, with a single species (E. nigrum), the:
Crowberry.

10. Eriocaulonacez, which also has but one species, (E..
septangulare), the Pipewort, and

11. Marsileacez, also containing one species (P. globu-
lifera), the Creeping Pillwort.

The last-named species was formerly found on Esher
Common, and may still grow there, but there is but little chance
of any of the other excepted families being represented in our
Flora, except, possibly, the Elatinaceez and Pinguiculacee..
The two species which are comprised in the first of these two
families are both found in our county; and of the Pingui-
culacez one species of Butterwort occurs in the south east of
England, and two species of Bladderwort are included in the
Flora of Surrey.

On the other hand the Frankeniacee, Tamariscacez, and
Elceagnacee are confined to the sea coast; and the same
remark applies to the Plumbaginacez, except as to one species
of Thrift which is found on the top of some of the Scotch
mountains. The Jacob’s Ladder, again, is hardly a wild flower
at all. Wherever it is found it has probably escaped from
cultivation. Both the species of Asaracez are also considered
by many to be introduced plants, the Birthwort being confined
to the south and south-east of England, and being found only
near old ruins. This is to be explained by the fact that this.
plant was much cultivated in gardens in olden times, on

Botanical Report. 13

account of its supposed medical properties, which were believed
to be very great. The old herbalists had a belief that every
plant was given to man by his Creator for some special
purpose, and that that purpose—on what was called the doctrine
of signatures—was indicated by the external appearance of
the plant: and, accordingly, the shape of the corolla of this
species was supposed to show that it was good for women at
the time of childbirth. It was also believed to be good for
snake bites, and for ‘‘ plague, small-pox, measles, and such
like malign and contagious diseases.”

Of the two remaining of the eleven excepted families the
Crowberry is not now found in the South of England, and the
Pipewort is found only in the Isle of Skye, and in one or two
of the adjoining islands, and on the west coast of Ireland. It
is a North American species, which has contrived to find its
way, as only plants seem to be able to do, to our western
shores, and it is found in no other part of Europe.

With regard to the localities in which the rarer species
have been found, the Sub-Committee have thought it better, for
the present at all events, to withhold these altogether, because
experience has shown that to disclose these localities too often
leads to the extermination of many of these plants, and every
plant thus exterminated is a loss, which cannot be repaired, to
all those who study wild flowers in the only place in which
they can be properly studied—their native woods and fields.
The members of the Sub-Committee, however, will always be
ready to give any assistance in their power to anyone who is
really interested in wild flowers, or is desirous of studying
botany, either by communicating to them the places where
they can find any particular plants which they may require, or
in any other way, and if, as it is hoped will be the case, a new
edition should be published of Mr. Brewer’s ‘Flora of
Surrey,” all the knowledge of our local wild flowers which the
Sub-Committee have acquired will be freely placed at the
disposal of the editor.

It now only remains to appeal to the members of the Club
generally to assist in completing the task which has been
commenced. Those who are botanists can assist greatly if
they will by communicating to any member of the Sub-
Committee the localities where any of the rarer species have
been found ; and to those who are not botanists, even a slight
acquaintance with the subject will be sufficient to prove to
them that botany is not a hard dull science, as many believe it
to be, but that it is a science which is full of interest to all,
and one which will amply repay any time and labour which
may be devoted to it.

14 Botanical Report.

List oF PHANEROGAMIC PLANTS, AND OF FILicEs, Lycopo-
DIACEZ, MARSILEACEZ, EQUISETACEZ, AND CHARACE,
oF CRYPTOGAMIC PLANTS, OBSERVED IN THE CROYDON

DIsTRICT.

I. RANUNCULACEZ.

Clematis.
I Vitalba, Linn.

Anemone.
8 nemorosa, Linn.
9 apennina, Linn.

Myosurus.
II minimus, Linn.

Ranunculus.

I2 circinatus, Sibth.

14 peltatus, Fries.
var. truncatus.
var. floribundus.
var. elongatus.

15 diversifolius, Gilib.
var. radians..,

16 Drouetii, Schultz.

21 hederaceus, Linn.

22 sceleratus, Linn.

24 Flammula, Linn.

var. pseudo-reptans.

27 auricomus, Linn.

28 acris, Linn.

29 repens, Linn.

30 bulbosus, Linn.

33 parviflorus, Linn.

34 arvensis, Linn.

35 Ficaria, Linn.
Caltha.

36 palustris, Linn.

var. Guerangerii.

Helleborus.
41 foetidus, Linn.

Aquilegia.
42 vulgaris, Linn.

Delphinium.
43 Ajacis, Reich.

2. BERBERACE.
Berberis.
46 vulgaris, Linn.
3. NYMPH@ACEZ,

Nuphar.
48 lutea, Sm.

4. PAPAVERACEZ.
Papaver.

50 somniferum, Linn.
var. hispidum.
51 Rheeas, Linn.
var. strigosum.
52 dubium, Linn.
var. Lamottei.
53 Argemone, Linn.
54 hybridum, Linn.

Chelidonium.
57 majus, Linn.

4*. FUMARIACE.

Corydalis.
58 lutea, DC.

Fumaria.
60 pallidiflora, Jord.
var. Borei.
63 densiflora, DC.
64 officinalis, Linn.
66 parviflora, Lam.

5. CRUCIFERZ.

Raphanus.

69 Raphanistrum, Linn.
Sinapis.

71 arvensis, Linn.

72 alba, Linn.

73 nigra, Linn.
Diplotaxis.

81 tenuifolia, DC.

82 muralis, DC.

Sisymbrium.
83 officinale, Scop.
86 Alliaria, Scop.

Erysimum.
87 cheiranthoides, Linn.

Cardamine.
94 pratensis, Linn.
95 hirsuta, Linn.
g6 sylvatica, Link.

Arabis.
98 thaliana, Linn.
to2 hirsuta, Brown.

——

Botanical Report. 15

Barbarea. ~
105 vulgaris, Brown.
107 stricta, Andrz.

Nasturtium.
110 officinale, Brown.
111 sylvestre, Brown.
112 palustre, DC.
113 amphibium, Brown

Draba.
118 verna, Linn.
var. brachycarpa

Alyssum.
124 calycinum, Linn.

Camelina.
126 sativa, Crantz.

Thlasfi.

128 arvense, Linn.
Capsella.

134 Bursa-pastoris, Moench.
Lepidium.

137 sativum, Linn.

138 campestre, Brown.

139 Smithii, Hook.

140 Draba, Linn.

Senebiera.
142 Coronopus, Poir.

6. RESEDACE2.

Reseda.
144 lutea, Linn.
145 Luteola, Linn.

7. CISTACE.

Helianthemum.
149 vulgare, Gaert.

8. VIOLACE2.

Viola.
151 palustris, Linn.
152 odorata, Linn.
var. alba.
153 permixta, Jord.
var. sepincola.
154 hirta, Linn.
var. calcarea
155 sylvatica, Fries.
var. Riviniana.
var. Reichenbachiana.
157 canina, Auct.
var. flavicornis, Sm.
160 tricolor, Linn.
var. arvensis.

g.- DROSERACE&.

Drosera.
163 rotundifolia, Linn.
165 intermedia, Hayne.

10. POLYGALACEZ.

Polygala.
166 vulgaris, Linn.
168 depressa, Wender.
169 calcarea, Schultz.

It. FRANKENIACE2.

I2. CARYOPHYLLACE&.

Dianthus.
172 Armeria.—Linn.
173 deltoides, Linn.
var. glaucus.

Saponaria.
177 officinalis, Linn.

Silene.
178 inflata, Sm.
var. puberula.

Lychnis.
188 vespertina, Sibth.
189 diurna, Sibth.
tgo Flos-cuculi, Linn.
193 Githago, Lam.
Menchia,
Ig5 erecta, Sm.

Cerastium.
198 semidecandrum, Linn.
I99 glomeratum, Thuil.
200 triviale, Link.
203 arvense, Linn.

Stellaria.
205 aquatica, Scop.
207 media, With.
208 Holostea, Linn.
210 graminea, Linn.
211 uliginosa, Murr.

Arenaria.
212 trinervis. Linn.
213 serpyllifolia, Linn.
var. leptoclados.
220 tenuifolia, Crantz.
Sagina.
223 apetala, Linn.
224 ciliata, Fries.
225 procumbens, Linn.
229 nodosa, Meyer.

Spergula.
230 arvensis, Linns

16 Botanical Report.

Spergularia.
231 rubra, Fenzl.

12*. ILLECEBRACEA.

Scleranthus.
240 annuus, Linn.
var. biennis.

13. PORTULACACEZ.

Montia.
242 fontana, Linn.

14. TAMARISCACEZ.

15. ELATINACEZ.

16. HyPERICACE.

Hypericum.
248 Androsemum, Linn.
249 calycinum, Linn.
250 perforatum, Linn.
252 tetrapterum, Fries.
254 humifusum, Linn.
256 pulchrum, Linn.
257 hirsutum, Linn.
258 montanum, Linn.
259 eleodes, Linn.

17. MALVACE2.

Malva.
262 moschata, Linn.
263 sylvestris, Linn.
264 rotundifolia, Linn.

18. TILIACEZ.
Ig. LINACE#.

Radiola.
268 millegrana, Sm.

Linum.
269 catharticum, Linn.

272 usitatissimum, Linn.

20. GERANIACE.

Geranium.
274 phceum, Linn.
277 pyrenaicum, Linn.
278 molle, Linn.
279 pusillum, Linn.
281 dissectum, Linn.
282 columbinum, Linn.
284 Robertianum, Linn.

Erodium.
285 cicutarium, Herit.

Oxalis.
288 Acetosella, Linn.
290 stricta, Linn.

21. ILICACEZ.

Ilex.
294 Aquifolium, Linn.

22. CELASTRACEZ.

Euonymus.
295 europzus, Linn.

23. RHAMNACEZ.

Rhamnus.
296 catharticus, Linn.
297 Frangula, Linn.

24. SAPINDACE.

Acer.
299 campestre, Linn.

25. LEGUMINIFERA.

Ulex.
300 europzus, Linn.
302 nanus, Forster.

Genista.
303 anglica, Linn.
305 tinctoria, Linn.
Sarothamnus.
306 scoparius, Koch.

Ononis.
307 spinosa, Linn.
308 arvensis, Auct.

Anthylilis.
310 vulneraria, Linn.

Medicago.
311 sativa, Linn.
314 lupulina, Linn.
316 Maculata, Sibth.
Melilotus.
318 officinalis, Willd.
319 alba, Lam.
320 arvensis, Wallr.

Trifolium.
322 subterraneum, Linn.
323 pratense, Linn.
var. sylvestre.
324 medium, Linn.
327 incarnatum, Linn.
329 arvense, Linn.
331 striatum, Linn.

Botanical Report.

Trifolium.
332 scabrum, Linn.
333 glomeratum, Linn.
336 hybridum, Linn.
337 repens, Linn.
338 fragiferum, Linn.
339 procumbens, Linn.
340 minus, Relban.
341 filiforme, Linn.

Lotus.
342 corniculatus, Linn.
344 major, Scop.
Astragalus.
351 glycyphyllus, Linn.

Ornithopus.

352 perpusillus, Linn.
Hippocrepis.

354 comosa, Linn.

Onobrychis.
355 sativa, Lam.
Vicia.
356 hirsuta, Koch.
357 tetrasperma, Moench.
359 Cracca, Linn.
362 sepium, Linn.
364 sativa, Linn.
365 augustifolia, Roth.
var. Bobartii.

Lathyrus.
369 Nissolia, Linn.
370 hirsutus, Linn.
371 pratensis, Linn.
373 sylvestris, Linn.

Orobus.
376 tuberosus, Linn.
var. tenuifolius.

26. ROSACEA.

Prunus.

378 spinosa, Linn.

379 insititia, Linn.

38z Avium, Linn.

382 Cerasus, Linn.
Spirea.

385 Ulmaria, Linn.

386 Filipendula, Linn.
Agrimonia.

387 Eupatoria, Linn.
Poterium.

390 Sanguisorba, Linn.

391 muricatum, Spach.

Alchemilla.
392 arvensis, Scop.

B2

Potentilla.
397 Fragariastrum, Ehrh.
400 Tormentilla, Schenk.
402 reptans, Linn.
403 anserina, Linn.
405 argentea, Linn.

Fragaria.
408 vesca, Linn.

Rubus.
410 Idzus, Linn.
413 plicatus, W. & N.
420 discolor, W. & N.
451 czsius, Linn.
var. umbrosus.

Geum.
454 urbanum, Linn.

Rosa.
464 Tomentosa, Sm.
465 rubiginosa, Linn.
466 micrantha, Sm.
468 canina, Linn.
var. lutetiana.
470 arvensis, Huds.

Crategus.
473 Oxyacantha, Linn.
var. monogyna.

Pyrus.

475 Aria, Hooker.

480 Aucuparia, Gaert.

48I communis, Linn.
var. Achras.

482 Malus, Linn.
var. acerba.
var. mitis.

27. LYTHRACEZ.
Lythrum.
483 Salicaria, Linn.
Peplis.
485 Portula, Linn.

28. ONAGRACE.

Epilobium.
486 angustifolium, Linn.
487 hirsutum, Linn.
488 parviflorum, Schreb.
489 montanum, Linn.
490 lanceolatum, S. & M.
491 roseum, Schreb.
492 tetragonum, Linn.
493 obscurum, Schreb.
494 palustre, Linn.

Circea.
sor lutetiana, Linn.

18 Botanical Report.

28*. HALORAGIACE.
Myriophyllum.
504 spicatum, Linn.
505 alternifloruam, DC.
Callitriche.
508 obtusangula, Le Gal.
509 stagnalis, Scop.
var. platycarpa.
510 hamulata, Kirtz.
var. pedunculata.

29. CUCURBITACES.

Bryonia.
513 dioica, Linn.

30. GROSSULARIACES.
Ribes.
514 Grossularia.
517 nigrum, Linn.

31. CRASSULACE.
Sedum.
520 Telephium, Linn.
var. purpurascens.
525 acre, Linn.
527 reflexum, Linn.
Sempervivum.
530 tectorum, Linn.

32. SAXIFRAGACEZ.
Saxifraga.
540 tridactylites, Linn.
543 granulata, Linn.

33. UMBELLIFER2.

Hydrocotyle.

552 vulgaris, Linn.
Sanicula.

554 europza, Linn.
Helosciadium.

559 nodiflorum, Koch.

560 inundatum, Koch.

Petroselinum.
562 segetum, Koch.

Sison.

563 Amomum, Linn.
Aigopodium.

565 Podagraria, Linn.
Bunium.

569 flexuosum, With.
Pimpinella.

570 Saxifraga, Linn.

571 magna, Linn.

Sium.

573 angustifolium, Linn.
CGnanthe.

578 fistulosa, Linn.

581 Lachenalii, Gmel.
Feniculum.

586 vulgare, Gaert.
Silaus.

589 pratensis, Bess.
Angelica.

592 sylvestris, Linn.
Pastinaca.

596 sativa, Linn.
Heracleum.

597 Sphondylium, Linn.
Daucus.

599 Carota, Linn.
Caucalis.

600 daucoides, Linn.
Torilis.

6o1 infesta, Spreng.

602 Anthriscus, Gaert.

603 nodosa, Gaert.
Cherophyllum.

604 Anthriscus, Lam.

605 sativum, Lam.

606 sylvestre, Linn.

607 temulum, Linn.
Scandix.

609 Pecten-Veneris, Linn.
Conium.

610 maculatum, Linn.

34. ARALIACEZ.

Hedera.
614 Helix, Linn.

35. CORNACE.

Cornus.
616 sanguinea, Linn.

36. LORANTHACE.

Viscum.
617 album, Linn.

37. CAPRIFOLIACE.

Adoxa.

618 Moschatellina, Linn.
Sambucus.

619 nigra, Linn.

620 Ebulus, Linn.

— - -_-

Botanical Report. 1g

Viburnum.
621 Opulus, Linn.
622 Lantana, Linn.

Lonicera.
624 Periclymenum, Linn.

38. RUBIACEZ.

Galium.
629 cruciatum, With.
630 verum, Linn.
631 erectum, Huds.
632 Mollugo, Linn.
var. elatum.
var. insubricum.
633 saxatile, Linn.
635 palustre, Linn.
639 Aparine, Linn.
640 tricorne, With.
Asperula.
641 odorata, Linn.
642 cynanchica, Linn.
Sherardia.
643 arvensis, Linn.

39. VALERIANACEZ.

Centranthus.
644 ruber, DC.

Valeriana.

646 officinalis, Linn.
var. Mikanii.
var. sambucifolia.

Valerianella.

648 olitoria, Moench.

651 dentata, Koch.
var. mixta.

40. DIPSACE.
Dipsacus.
652 sylvestris, Linn.
653 pilosus, Linn.
Scabiosa.
654 succisa, Linn.
655 columbaria, Linn.
656 arvensis, Linn.

41. COMPOSIT2.
A. Cynarocephalee.
Onopordum.
657 Acanthium, Linn.

Silybum.
658 Marianum, Gaert.

Carduus.

660 nutans, Linn.

661 crispus, Linn.
var. litigiosus.

662 lanceolatus, Linn.

664 palustris, Linn.

668 acaulis, Linn.

669 arvensis, Curt.
var. setosus.

Carlina.
671 vulgaris, Linn.

Arctium.
672 majus, Schkuhr.
673 minus, Schkuhr.
674 intermedium, Lange.

Serratula.
677 tinctoria, Linn.

Centaurea.
678 nigra, Linn.
679 Scabiosa, Linn.
680 Cyanus, Linn.

B. Corymbiferce.

Chrysanthemum.
684 segetum, Linn.
685 Leucanthemum, Linn.

Matricaria.
686 Parthenium, Linn.
687 inodora, Linn.
688 Chamomilla, Linn.

Tanacetum.
689 vulgare, Linn.

Anthemis.
690 Cotula, Linn.
691 arvensis, Linn.
692 nobilis, Linn.
Achillea.
694 Millefolium, Linn.
695 Ptarmica, Linn.

Artemisia.
697 vulgaris, Linn.
Filago.
700 germanica, Linn.
702 spathulata, Presl.
703 minima, Fries.
Gnaphalium.
705 uliginosum, Linn.
707 sylvaticum, Linn.
Senecio.
712 vulgaris, Linn.
713 sylvaticus, Linn.
716 erucifolius, Linn.
717 Jacobza, Linn.
718 aquaticus, Huds.

20 Botanical. Report.

Bidens.
725 cernua, Linn.
726 tripartita, Linn,

Galinsoga.
727 parviflora, Cav.

Inula.
729 Conyza, DC.
732 dysenterica, Linn.

Bellis.
734 perennis, Linn.

Erigeron.
735 canadensis, Linn.
736 acris, Linn.

Solidago.
740 Virga-aurea, Linn.

Tussilago.
741 Farfara, Linn.

Petasites.
742 vulgaris, Desf.

Eupatorium. :
743 cannabinum, Linn.

C. Liguliflorce.

Cichorium.
744 Intybus, Linn.

Lapsana. ; ;
745 communis, Linn.

Hypocheris. q
748 radicata, Linn.

Leontodon.
750 hirtus, Linn.
751 hispidus, Linn.
752 autumnalis, Linn.
Picris. ’
753 hieracioides, Linn.

Helminthia.
754 echioides, Gaert.

Tragopogon.
755 pratensis, Linn.
var. minor.
var. grandiflorus.
756 porrifolius Linn.

Taraxacum. f
757 officinale, Wigg.
var. Dens-leonis.

var. erythrospermum.

Lactuca.
760 saligna, Linn.
761 muralis, Fresen.
Sonchus.
763 oleraceus, Linn.
764 asper, Hoffm.
765 arvensis, Linn.

Crepis.
768 taraxacifolia, Thuil.
769 setosa, Hall. fil.
770 virens, Linn.
Hieracium.
774 Pilosella, Linn.
795 Murorum, Linn, pt.
799 vulgatumi, Fries.
802 tridentatum, Fries.
805 umbellatum, Linn.
808 boreale, Fries.

42. CAMPANULACE.

Fasione.

811 montana, Linn.
Phyteuma.

812 orbiculare, Linn.
Campanula.

814 glomerata, Linn.

815 Trachelium, Linn.

816 latifolia, Linn.

818 rotundifolia, Linn.
Specularia.

822 hybrida, A.DC.

43. ERICACE.
Vaccinium.
827 Myrtillus, Linn.

Erica.
836 Tetralix, Linn.
837 cinerea, Linn.
Calluna.
840 vulgaris, Salisb.

Monotropa.
846 Hypopitys, Linn.

44. JASMINACEZ.
Fraxinus.
847 excelsior, Linn.
Ligustrum.
848 vulgare, Linn.

45. APOCYNACE.

Vinca.
849 major, Linn.
850 minor, Linn.

46. GENTIANACE.

Erythrea.
853 Centaurium, Pers.
854 pulchella, Fries.

Chlora.
857 perfoliata, Linn.

Botanical Report.

Gentiana.
86x Amarella, Linn.

Menyanthes.
863 trifoliata, Linn.

Limnanthemum.

864 nympheoides, Link.

47- POLEMONIACE.

48. CONVOLVULACE4.

Convolvulus.
866 arvensis, Linn.
867 sepium, Linn.
Cuscuta.
870 europza, Murr.

871 Epithymum, Murr.

872 Trifolii, Bab.

49. SOLANACE.

Solanum.
873 Dulcamara, Linn.
874 nigrum, Linn.
Atropa.
875 Belladonna, Linn.

Hyoscyamus.
876 niger, Linn.

50. SCROPHULARIACE&.

Verbascum.
877 Thapsus, Linn.
879 Lychnitis, Linn.
880 nigrum, Linn.
881 virgatum, With.
882 Blattaria, Linn.
883 Hybrida.

4 Nigro-Lychnitis.

Scrophularia.

884 Balbisii, Hornem.

886 nodosa, Linn.
Digitalis.

889 purpurea, Linn.
Antirrhinum.

890 majus, Linn.

891 Orontium, Linn.
Linaria.

892 Cymbalaria, Mill.

893 Elatine, Mill.

894 spuria, Mill.

897 vulgaris, Mill.

898 minor, Desf.

Veronica.
go2 hederifolia, Linn.
903 polita, Fries.
g04 agrestis, Linn.
go5 Buxbaumii, Ten.
go8 arvensis, Linn.

gog serpyllifolia, Linn.

915 officinalis, Linn.

g16 Chameedrys, Linn.

g17 montana, Linn.
g18 scutellata, Linn.
gig Anagallis, Linn.

920 Beccabunga, Linn.

Euphrasia.
g21 officinalis, Linn.

Bartsia.
922 Odontites, Huds.
var. verna.
var. serotina.

Pedicularis.
925 palustris, Linn.
926 sylvatica, Linn.

Rhinanthus.

927 Crista-galli, Linn.
Melampryum.

930 pratense, Linn.

51. OROBANCHACE.

Lathrea.
932 squamaria, Linn.

Orobanche.
935 major, Linn.
938 elatior, Sutton.
941 minor, Linn.

52. VERBENACE.

Verbena.
942 officinalis, Linn.

53. LABIAT2.

Lycopus.
943 europzus, Linn.
Mentha.
946 sylvestris, Linn.
var. nemorosa.
948 Piperita, Huds.
var. officinalis.
951 hirsuta, Linn.
var. subglabra.
953 Ttubra, Sm.
957 arvensis, Linn.
var. przcox.
958 Pulegium, Linn.

21

22 Botanical Report.

Thymus.
959 Serpyllum, Fries.
g6o Chameedrys, Fries.

Origanum.
g6r vulgare, Linn.

Calamintha.

g62 Clinopodium, Spenn.

963 Acinos, Clairv.

965 menthifolia, Host.
Mellissa.

967 officinalis, Linn.
Nefeta.

968 Cataria, Linn.

g69 Glechoma, Benth.

Salvia.
970 Verbenaca, Linn.

Prunella.
972 vulgaris, Linn.

Scutellaria.

973 galericulata, Linn.
974 minor, Linn.

Marrubium.
976 vulgare, Linn.

Ballota.
977 nigra, Linn.
var. foetida.
Stachys.
978 Betonica, Bent.
980 palustris, Linn.
982 sylvatica, Linn.
983 arvensis, Linn.

Galeopsis.
984 Ladanum, Linn.
987 Tetrahit, Linn.

Lamium.
989 amplexicaule, Linn:
gg incisum, Willd.
g92 purpureum, Linn.
var. decipiens.
993 maculatum, Linn.
994 album, Linn.
995 Galeobdolon, Crantz.
Ajuga.
g96 reptans, Linn.
998 Chamepitys, Schreb.

Teucrium.
g99 Botrys, Linn.
1002 Scorodonia, Linn.

54. BORAGINACE.

Echium.
1003 vulgare, Linn.

Lithospermum.
1009 officinale, Linn.
Ioro arvense, Linn.
Myosotis.
IOII cespitosa, Schultz.
Io12 palustris, With.
to15 sylvatica, Ehrh.
1016 arvensis, Hoffm.
var. umbrosa.
to17 collina, Reich.
1o18 versicolor, Reich.

Anchusa.

IorIg arvensis, Bieb.
Symphytum.

1023 officinale, Linn.
Cynoglossum.

1025 officinale, Linn.

Asperugo.
1027 Procumbens, Linn.

55. PINGUICULACE2.

56. PRIMULACE&.

Primula.
1037 vulgaris, Huds.
var. caulescens.
1038 officinalis, Linn.
Lysimachia.
1045 vulgaris, Linn.
1047 Nummularia, Linn.
1048 nemorum, Linn.

Anagallis.
1049 arvensis, Linn.
1050 cerulea, Sm.
1051 tenella, Linn.

57. PLUMBAGINACEZ.

58. PLANTAGINACE&.

Plantago.
ro61 major, Linn.
1062 media, Linn.

1063 lanceolata, Linn.
var. Timbali.
1065 coronopus, Linn.

59. ILLECEBRACEZ.
(Removed to Order 12*.)

Botanical Report. 23

61. CHENOPODIACE2.

Chenopodium.

1073 polyspermum, Linn.
var. spicatum.
var. cymosum.

1075 album, Linn.
var. candicans.
var. viride.
var. paganum.

1076 ficifolium, Sm.

1077 murale, Linn.

1079 urbicum, Linn.
var. intermedium.

1080 rubrum, Linn.

1083 B. Henricus, Linn.

Atriplex.
1085 angustifolia, Sm.
1086 erecta, Huds.
var. erecta (Bab Man.)
1087 deltoidea, Bab.
1088 Smithii, Syme.

62. POLYGONACE2.

Rumex.

1094 conglomeratus, Murr.

1095 nemorosus, Schrad.
var. viridis.

1097 palustris, Sm.

rog8 pulcher, Linn.

Iogg obtusifolius, Auct.
var. Friesii.
var. sylvestris.

1100 pratensis, M. & K.

I1o2 crispus, Linn.

1104 Hydrolapathum, Huds.

1107 Acetosa, Linn.

1108 Acetosella, Linn.

Polygonum.
1110 Fagopyrum, Linn.
1111 Convolvulus, Linn.
1113 aviculare, Linn.
var. agrestinum.
var. vulgatum.
var. arenastrum.
var. microspermum.
var. rurivagum.
1116 Hydropiper, Linn.
1118 mite, Schrank.
111g Persicaria, Linn.
1120 lapathifolium, Linn.
1122 amphibium, Linn.

63. EL AGNACEZ.

64. THYMELEACEZ.

Daphne.
1127 Laureola, Linn.

65. SANTALACE.

Thesium.
1128 humifusum, DC.

66. ASARACE2.

67. EMPETRACE2.

68. EUPHORBIACE.

Buxus.

1132 sempervirens, Linn.
Euphorbia.

1134 Helioscopia, Linn.

1138 amygdaloides, Linn.

1143 Peplus, Linn.

1144 exigua, Linn.
Mercurialis.

1146 perennis, Linn.

69. CALLITRICHACE.
(See Order 28.*)

7o. CERATOPHYLLACE2.

Ceratophyllum.
1148 aquaticum, E. B. 3.
var. demersum.

71. URTICACE2.

Parietaria.
1149 diffusa, Koch.

Urtica.
1150 dioica, Linn.
1152 urens, Linn.
Humulus.
1153 Lupulus, Linn.

Ulmus.
1154 suberosa, Ehrh.

72. AMENTIFERZ.

Quercus.
1156 Robur, Linn.
var. pedunculata.
var. sessiliflora.

Castanea.
1157 vulgaris, Linn.

24 Botanical Report.

Fagus.
1158 sylvatica, Linn.

Corylus.
1159 Avellana, Linn.

Carpinus.
1160 Betulus, Linn.

Alnus.
1161 glutinosa, Linn.

Betula.
1162 alba, Linn.
Salix.
1170 fragilis, Linn.
1172 alba, Linn.
1173 undulata, Ehrh.
1178 viminalis, Linn.
1183 cinerea, Linn.
var. aquatica.
var. oleifolia.
1184 aurita, Linn.
var. minor.
1185 caprea, Linn.
I1go repens. Linn.
var. genuina.

73- CONIFERZ.

Pinus.
I1g9 sylvestris, Linn.

Funiperus.
I20I communis, Linn.

Taxus.
1203 baccata, Linn.

74- TYPHACE2.

Typha.
1204 latifolia, Linn.
1205 angustifolia, Linn.

Sparganium,
1206 ramosum, Huds.
1207 simplex, Huds.

75. ARACEA.

Acorus.
1210 Calamus, Linn.

Arum.
I21rI maculatum, Linn.

76. LEMNACEZ.

Lemna.
1213 trisulca, Linn.
1214 minor, Linn.
1215 gibba, Linn.
1216 polyrhiza, Linn.

77. NAIADACE2.

Potamogeton.

1218 natans, Linn.

1219 polygonifolius, Pour.
1230 perfoliatus, Linn.
1231 crispus, Linn.

1232 densus, Linn.

1237 pusillus, Linn.

1239 pectinatus, Linn.

Zannichellia.
1241 palustris, Linn.

78. ALISMACEZ.

Triglochin.
1249 palustre, Linn.

Sagittaria.
1252 sagittifolia, Linn.

Alisma.
1253 Plantago, Linn.
var. lanceolatum.
1254 ranunculoides, Linn.

Actinocarpus.
1256 Damasonium, Hook.

Butomus.
1257 umbellatus, Linn.

79. HyDROCHARIDACE.

Hy drocharis.
1258 Morsus-rane, Linn.

Elodia.
1260 canadensis, Mich.

80. ORCHIDACE.
Aceras.

1261 anthropophora, Brown.

Orchis.
1263 pyramidalis, Linn.
1264 ustulata, Linn.
1268 Morio, Linn.
1269 mascula, Linn.
1273 maculata, Linn.

Gymnadenia.
1274 conopsea, Brown.

Habenaria.
1277 bifolia, Bab. Man.
1278 chlorantha, Bab.

Herminium.
1280 Monorchis, Brown.
Ophrys.
1281 apifera, Huds.
1283 muscifera, Huds.

Botanical Report.

Spiranthes.
1284 autumnalis, Rich.

Listera.

1289 ovata, Brown.
Neottia.

1290 Nidus-avis, Rich.
Epipactis.

12g1 latifolia, Auct.

1293 violacea, D. Dug.

Cephalanthera.
1297 grandiflora, Bab.
81. IRIDACE.
Iris.
1307 Pseudacorus, Linn.
82. AMARYLLIDACEZ.
Narcissus.

1311 Pseudo-narcissus, Linn.

Galanthus.
1316 nivalis, Linn.

83. DIOSCOREACEZ.

Tamus.
1317 communis, Linn.

83*. TRILLIACEZ.

Paris.
1318 quadrifolia, Linn.

84. LILIACE2.
Convallaria.
1323: majalis, Linn.
Ruscus.
1325 aculeatus, Linn.
Lilium.
1326 Martagon, Linn.
Ornithogalum.
1331 nutans, Linn.
1332 umbellatum, Linn.
Scilla.
1336 nutans, Sm.
Allium.
1341 vineale, Linn.
var. bulbiferum.
var. compactum.
1342 oleraceum, Linn.
Narthecium.
1348 ossifragum, Huds.

85. ERIOCAULONACE&.

86. JUNCACEZ.

Luzula.
1352 Forsteri, DC.
1353 pilosa, Willd.
1355 campestris, DC.
1356 multiflora, Koch.
var. congesta.
Funcus.
1365 conglomeratus, Linn.
1366 effusus, Linn.
1368 glaucus, Sibth.
1371 obtusiflorus, Ehrh.
1372 acutiflorus, Ehrh.
1373 lamprocarpus, Ehrh.
1374 supinus, Moench.
1377 bufonius, Linn.
1380 squarrosus, Linn.

87. CYPERACEZ.

Blysmus.
1387 compressus, Panz.

Scirpus.

1389 acicularis, Linn.
1390 palustris, Linn.
1392 multicaulis, Sm.
1394 cespitosus, Linn.
1390 fluitans, Linn.
1398 setaceus, Linn.
1400 lacustris, Linn.
140r Tabernemontani, Gmel.
1402 carinatus, Sm.
1403 triqueter, Linn.
1405 maritimus, Linn.

Eriophorum.
1409 angustifolium, Roth.

Carex.
1414 pulicaris, Linn.
1423 paniculata, Linn.
1424 vulpina, Linn.
1425 muricata, Linn.
var. pseudo-divulsa.
1426 divulsa, Good.
1427 stellulata, Good.
1428 remota, Linn.
1429 axillaris, Good.
1434 ovalis, Good.
var. bracteata.
1439 acuta, Linn.
1442 vulgaris, Fries.
1443 glauca, Scop.
1450 pilulifera, Linn.
1452 precox, Jacq.
1455 panicea, Linn.
1459 pendula, Huds.
1462 sylvatica, Huds.
1464 binervis, Sm.

26 Botanical Report.

Carex.
1469 flava, Linn.
var. lepidocarpa.
1472 hirta, Linn.
1473 Pseudo-cyperus, Linn.
1474 paludosa, Good.
1475 Tiparia, Curtis.

88. GRAMINA.

Setaria.
1486 viridis, Beauv.

Anthoxanthum.
1488 odoratum, Linn.

Digvraphis.
1489 arundinacea, Trin.

Phalaris.
1490 canariensis, Linn.

Alopecurus.
I49I agrestis, Linn.
1493 geniculatus, Linn.
1495 pratensis, Linn.

Phleum.
1498 pratense, Linn.

Agrostis.
1506 Spica-venti, Linn.
1509 canina, Linn.
1510 alba, Linn.
1511 vulgaris, With.

Phragmites.
1517 communis, Trin.

Milium.
1518 effusum, Linn.
Aira.
1520 czspitosa, Linn.
1523 flexuosa, Linn.
1524 caryophyllea, Linn.
1525 preecox, Linn.
Avena.
1526 flavescens, Linn.
1527 pubescens, Linn.
1528 pratensis, Linn.
1530 fatua, Linn.
1531 elatior, Linn.
var. nodosum.

Holcus.

1532 mollis, Linn.

1533 lanatus, Linn.
Triodia.

1534 decumbens, Beauv.

_Koeleria.
1535 cristata, Pers.

Molinia.
1536 cerulea, Moench.

Melica.
1538 uniflora, Retz.

Catabrosa.
1539 aquatica, Beauv.

Glyceria.
1540 fluitans, Brown.
1541 plicata, Fries.
1542 aquatica, Sm.

Sclerochloa.
1547 rigida, Link.
Poa.
1549 annua, Linn.
1556 nemoralis, Linn.
1557 compressa, Linn.
1558 pratensis, Linn.
1559 trivialis, Linn.

Briza.
1560 media, Linn.
1561 minor, Linn.

Cynosurus.
1562 cristatus, Linn.

Dactylis.
1564 glomerata, Linn.

Festuca.
1567 Pseudo-myurus, Soyer.
1568 sciuroides, Roth.
1569 ovina. Linn.
var. tenuifolia.
1570 rubra, Linn.
var. duriuscula,
1573 pratensis, Huds.

Bromus.

1574 giganteus, Linn.
1575 asper, Murr.

var. serotinus.
1576 erectus, Huds.
1579 sterilis, Linn.
1580 secalinus, Linn.
1582 commutatus, Schrad.
1583 mollis, Linn.

Brachypodium.

1385 sylvaticum, R. & S.
1586 pinnatum, Beauv.

Triticum.
1588 repens, Linn.

Lolium.
1592 perenne, Linn.
1593 italicum, Braun.
1594 temulentum, Linn.

Botanical Report. 27

Hordeum.
1598 pratense, Huds.
1599 murinum, Linn.

Nardus.
1601 stricta, Linn.

89. FILICcEs.

Pteris.

1606 aquilina, Linn.
Lomaria.

1608 spicant, Desv.

Asplenium.

1609 Ruta-muraria, Linn.
Athyrium.

1617 Filix-foemina, Bernh.
Nephrodium.

1629 Filix-mas, Rich.

1634 dilatatum, Desv.

Polypodium.
1638 vulgare, Linn.

Ophioglossum.
1645 vulgatum, Linn.

go. LycOPODIACE2.

Lycopodium.
1651 inundatum, Linn.

gi. MARSILEACE2.

92. EQUISETACE2.

Equisetum.
1660 maximum, Lam.
1662 palustre, Linn.
1663 Limosum, Linn.

93. CHARACEZ.

Chara. (Ex Bab. Man.)
1667 syncarpa, Thuil.
1668 translucens, Pers.
1676 feetida, Braun.

28 Notes on Plants

4.—NoTES AND REMARKS AS TO A FEW OF THE More
REMARKABLE AND INTERESTING OF THE PLANTS
MENTIONED IN THE BOTANICAL SuUB-COMMITTEE’S
First Report.

[Read, with the Report, December 18th, 1878.]

42. Common Columbine (A. vulgaris).— This well-known
garden species is tolerably common near Croydon, and is of
peculiar interest, because Surrey is one of the very few English
counties in which itis found in a truly wild state. When growing
freely, and in full bloom, it forms a very beautiful object in
many of our woods and copses.

163. Common Sun Dew (D., rotundifolia).—This exceedingly
interesting plant is found in one place only near Croydon. Its
singular carnivorous habits, and general history, have been
most ably and minutely described by Mr. Darwin, in his late
work on “Insectivorous Plants.’”” Those who care to do so
can easily procure plants for themselves, and observe their
habits, with the aid of Mr. Darwin’s book.

The family Geraniacee is very fairly represented, as we
have seven out of the 12 British species of geraniums.

The family Crassulacee, which comprises the Stone Crops,
is not well represented in the district. Out of its 14 species
five only occur, and these, with the exception of the Biting Stone
Crop (S. acre), only very sparingly. 520—The Orpine Sedum
(S. telephium) has been found only in one place, on the side of
a hill, by the edge of a wood, when the Thanet sand comes to
the surface. This plant, like many others, hasa curious supersti-
tion attached to it. Brande, in his ‘‘ Popular Antiquities”’ says,
that it is a habit with girls on Midsummer Eve to set up two
plants of it, one for the girl, another for her lover, upon a slate
or trencher, and if the lover’s plant lives and turns to the girl’s,
it is held to be a proof that he will be faithful.

The Saxifrages are another badly represented family. Out
of its 20 species only 2 occur. 543—The Meadow Saxifrage (S.
granulata) occurs in great abundance in the meadows at and
about Park Hill, and, 540—the Rue-leaved Saxifrage (S.
tridactylites) is found on walls at and about Mitcham.

658. Milk Thistle (S. Marianum).—This handsome species,
with glossy green leaves with milk-white veins, grew wild at
Smitham Bottom before it was enclosed, but I doubt whether
it is now to be found in the district, except here and there, as a
stray plant escaped from a garden. It is interesting on
account of its name, which it acquired in a very singular way.
The Greeks had a myth, that Jupiter, to make his son, the

In Botanical Report. 29

infant Hercules, immortal, put him to the breast of Juno while
she was asleep, and that the milk which was spilt, as the child
withdrew from her, formed the Milky Way in the heavens, and
gave rise to the white lily upon earth, which, consequently,
went by the name of Juno’s Rose. This myth found its way
naturally into the old herbals, and came in that way to be
known generally in connection with the plant. The monks
seem to have turned this myth to account, in the interest of
their church, and to get rid of the old myth, which was Pagan,
they substituted a new one, and hence arose the myth, that the
veins of the leaves of this thistle were rendered white by the
milk of the Virgin Mary, which fell upon it while she was
nursing the infant Jesus. The plant in this way acquired the
names of the Milk Thistle, the Holy Thistle, and Our Lady’s
Thistle. The transfer, to the Roman Catholic mythology, of
a Pagan myth in connection with aflower is not uncommon ;
there are many similar instances.

744. Chicory (C. intybus).—This plant is found in many of
our hedge banks, and edges of fields. It is best known as being
extensively used to adulterate coffee ; it has also some medical
properties. The name is an English form of the Greek name,
‘« kichora,” which was derived from ancient Egypt.

875. Deadly Nightshade (A. belladonna).—This species, one
of the family Solanacee, has been found in two places within
four miles of Croydon, and at Coulsdon. In the Flora of
Surrey it is also stated to occur near Chipstead, and along the
entire range of the chalk hills. The medical and poisonous
properties of the berries of this plant are well known, and a
preparation made from them is also largely used as a cosmetic.
There are but three other British members of the family, viz.,
the two Nightshades, which are both, to some extent, poisonous,
and the Common Henbane, which is very poisonous. All these
are to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of Croydon ;
the Henbane being cultivated at Mitcham for medical purposes.
It is a very remarkable thing that a family which contains
Many poisonous plants as the Solanacez does, should also
contain two such harmless and wholesome vegetables as the
Potato and Tomato. The Tobacco, Petunia, Stramonium,
Mandrake, Winter Cherry, and Cayenne Pepper, are also
members of this family.

942. Common vervain (V. officinalis).—This plant is to be
thet with on many of our sunny banks and dry chalky pastures,
and common-place and uninteresting as it is in appearance,
there are few plants which have such a remarkable history.
By the Druids it was venerated almost as much as the Mistletoe,
and it was dedicated by them to the service of the altar and
the decoration of their priesthood. In its honour one of their

30 Notes on Plants

great annual festivals, the Verbenalia, was named after it. In
later times it was regarded as a powerful charm against witch-
craft and sorcery, and as a cure for the plague and many other
diseases. Volumes have been written as to its virtues. In
Germany, and in many parts of France, it was gathered. with
many unintelligible cabalistic ejaculations, during certain phases
of the moon, and was believed to work miracles of a very sur-
prising kind. In Greek and in Latin literature it is mentioned
constantly as used, on various occasions, by priests, ambassa-
dors, sorcerers, and heralds. The plant however, like a great
many more, is a sad impostor. In itself it has no efficacy or
medical value whatever.

999. Cut-leaved Germander (T. botrys).—The discovery in
the neighbourhood of Croydon of this rare and peculiarly
Surrey species was communicated to the club at the meeting
on December 1gth, 1877. This summer the plant has been
very abundant in the field where it was first found in 1875.
There has been, apparently, no crop except grass in the field
this season, and the weeds have not therefore been cleaned
off it. The plants have this year been more numerous, but
smaller in size, than in 1875.

Of the family, Plantaginacee we have four out of the six
known species, all of which are common. One of these, the
Common Ribwort Plaintain (P. Lanceolata), is the plant which
produces the long flower stalks which children are so fond of
playing with, fighting them one against another. The origin
of this game is, fortunately, recorded for us in one of the local
names of the plant. In the northern counties the flower stalks
of this species go by the name of ‘‘ Kemps,” a word believed
to be derived from the Danish ‘“‘kcemp,” a warrior, and as the
same game is still commonly played by children in Sweden,
where flower stalks are called ‘‘kampar,’”’ there can be no
reasonable doubt that it is of considerable antiquity, and was
learnt from the Danes, being, in fact, a relic of their invasions,
which were not uncommon before the Norman conquest.

Another very remarkable survival of an ancient word is
found in the name of, 1185,--The Common Sallow (Salix Caprea).
This plant belongs to a group in which the sexes are distinct,
there being male trees and female trees. It is very common in
our neighbourhood, and the male tree, which in spring has
yellow flowers, which come out before the leaves, is commonly
called a ‘*Palm.” The word Sallow is said to be the same as
the Greek ‘‘elix,” and the Latin ‘‘salix;”’ and a corresponding
word is found in a considerable number of the languages in the
Aryan group. In all of them it implies a shrub or tree which
is fit for withes, from which are made hurdles or wattles. Now
this word seems to take us back into the far past, to the early

In Botanical Report. <P

infancy of the human race, when our very remote ancestors.
dwelt, as a pastoral people, probably in Central Asia, and
lived, rich and poor, in wattled huts, made of wicker work,
which would naturally be named from the material of which
they were composed. Theold word which signified the withes.
with which the huts were made still survives, as we have seen,
in a large number of languages, and retains its old meaning ;
but most remarkably the word is still used, also, to signify a
house or hall, which is only a developed form and a modern
representative of the huts of our ancestors. It is seen in the
German word, ‘‘saal,” a house, and in the French, “salle,” a
hall or room, from which comes our English word, “saloon,”
and the Greek, ‘“‘aule,” a court, hall, or dwelling, and the
Latin, ‘‘aula,” a court, hall, palace, or castle, may possibly
have the same origin.

The family Orchidacez, which, from the singular shape and
great beauty of the flowers of many of the species, is perhaps,
the most generally interesting of all the natural orders, is
very well represented in our district. Our chalk soil suits them
well, and they are consequently abundant. Within four miles
of Croydon are found 13 species, viz., the man orchis, pyramidal
orchis, green-winged meadow orchis, early purple orchis, spotted
orchis, fragrant orchis, lesser butterfly orchis, bee orchis, fly
orchis, tway blade, bird’s nest orchis, broad-leaved helleborine,
and white helleborine, whilst in the district are five more species,
viz., the dwarf dark-winged orchis, greater butterfly orchis,
musk orchis, ladies’ tresses, and the narrow-leaved helleborine.

1318. Herb Paris (P. quadrifolia).—This plant, the “ herba
paris” (that is herb of a pair, or betrothed couple) of the old
herbals, is not common in Surrey. It seems to be rather plen-
tiful near Reigate, Merstham and Gatton, but it is found only
in one place, in one wood near Croydon. Its four leaves, set on
the stalk like a true lover’s knot, were held to be emblematical
of an engagement, hence the name of the plant.

If time permitted, it would be easy enough to extend these
few remarks and to call your attention to many matters of
interest connected with other species which are included in the
list. It may be confidently said that there is nothing about a
plant which is not interesting. The structure of the various
parts of plants, the functions which these parts perform, and
their endless modifications to suit the requirements of each
particular species, are all matters of deep interest; whilst on
the other hand, the ideas and superstitions connected with
plants, and even the names which they bear, when properly
investigated, throw a good deal of light, not only upon our
national history, and the manners and customs and family life
of our more immediate ancestors, but even upon the early
history of the human race.

32 Letter from Mr. George Corden.

5.—Copry oF A LETTER FROM MR. GEORGE CORDEN TO THE “‘ CROYDON
ADVERTISER” AS TO THE STORM AT CROYDON ON SuNDAY,
JUNE 23RD, 1878.
[Read February 26th, 1879.|

S1r,—As the thunder storm of Sunday last, June 23rd, was of
such an extraordinary nature, and of such unprecedented violence
in this town, I venture to give your readers a few of the results of
my observations during its progress.

In the first place, it appeared to me to be a succession of storms,
four in number, three of which broke immediately over this town,
and the fourth raged furiously to the S.E. of this place from 3.45 to
4-30 p.m

The clouds appeared to me to come up, in each of the three first
instances, from the W.S.W., and pass over to the E.N.E., and in the
case of the fourth to travel from N.E. to S.E. without passing over here.

The lower stratum of air, directly after the first storm commenced,
changed suddenly from S.W. to N., then N.E., and at the period of
the fourth storm to S.E., eventually passing to South later on.

The barometer scarcely indicated that any change was in progress ;
at Io a.m. it stood at 30.16; just before the storm commenced it fell
to 30.14; it again rose to 30.16 as the storm progressed, and fell
again to 30.14 after it was over; it then fell to 30.13 by night, and
the next day it gradually rose.

The temperature of the air in the shade (thermometer on a board
with its back to a wall facing north,) was 81° at 12 o’clock a.m.; it
then fell two or three degrees before the storm commenced, and at
4.45, after all was over, it had fallen to 65°, or a difference of 16°; it
then rose to 68°, where it remained most part of the evening.

The first part of the storm raged from 1.30 to 2 p.m. during which
time, though the lightning was more vivid and the claps of thunder
more deafening perhaps than at any other time during the storm,
the rainfall only amounted to 0.15 of aninch.’ A lull here occurred
giving me an opportunity to empty the gauge.

At 2.5 the storm re-commenced, and at 2.20 a lull enabled me to
measure again, this time 0°31 of an inch in 15 minutes.

At 2.20 hail stones commenced falling, and as I thought at the
time, of an unusual size (§ an inch in diameter), and of peculiar
shapes. I took the opportunity to roughly sketch the most striking
forms, and there were some pear shaped, some bowl shaped, and some
formed like stars. The rainfall for this part of the storm was
measured at 2.35, and represented 0°41 of an inch in 15 minutes.

From 2.35 to 2.50 only o'06 of an inch (rain and hail) was
measured, and no rain fell from 2.50 to 3.5; but at 3.5 commenced the
most extraordinary feature in the whole storm, in the shape of a fall
of hail stones r-inch in diameter; the noise they made in falling
resembling the sound of workmen hammering on the roof.

These stones fell widely apart, I should say a foot, and very few,
if any, entered the rain gauges, and as they bounced up two or three
feet when they reached the ground they looked very much like
dancing eggs. I sketched one of the most perfect of them, and it
was somewhat of a white granular appearance, like frozen snow,
and a small portion clear ice.

The fall of 1-inch hailstones soon gave place to a perfect deluge

———

Storm on Fune 23rd, 1878. 33

of smaller hail and rain. Ina few minutes the roads were rushing
rivers; the hilly streets became like mountain torrents, the beds of
which were torn up and deposited on the level ground at the bottom,
a notable instance being seen in Coombe-street, where the surface of
the road was totally destroyed and converted into a series of deep
trenches and hillocks of sand and stones.

At 3.45, or 40 minutes after this portion of the storm commenced,
I emptied the gauge again, and found that there had fallen in that
time 0°89 of an inch.

After this I only measured 0°02, which fell in the form of slight rain,
while the fourth and last part of the storm exerted its fury in the S.E.

The total fall of rain in the 23 hours from 1.30 to 3.45 p.m. was
1°82 inches, and o'o2 from 3.45 to 4.45 made a total of 1°84.

1.30 to 2.0 p.m. = o'15 in. ... ist storm.
az hours }2.5 , 2.35 , Or 2s) loves 2G yee
1°82 inches } 2.35 , 2.50 , (eholoy pam eae as
Dhl eal ie OSG nesses 3rd *
SAS) AA o7o2 , «.. 4thinS.E.

io tt tl

Total ... .». 1°84 inches.

The fall fron 2.5 to 3.45 p.m., a space of 1 hour and 4o minutes,
was 1°67 inches.

I find that at Waddon House (P. Crowley, Esq.), 2°15 was
registered; at Tanfield Lodge, Southbridge (J. Weston, Esq.), 1°90;
and at Addiscombe only 1°41, or a difference between Waddon and
Addiscombe of 0°74 of an inch.

The tremendous force of such an enormous weight of water
falling in so short a space of time will be best realised by comparing
it with the heavy fall on the roth and 11th of April last, when a
great deal of flooding was caused by a fall of 1°95 inches in 19
hours. On this occasion we have had nearly as much in two hours
and a quarter.

On the 3oth of July, 1872, there fell 1°14 inches during a storm
which lasted half-an-hour ; on the 23rd of the same month 0°55 fell
in 20 minutes, and on the r1th of the same month 0°46 in 20 minutes.

On the 24th of September, 1875, there fell in 14 hour during a
thunderstorm 1°13 inches.

On the 25th and 26th of July, 1867, in 24 hours there fell 2°58 inches.

On the r1th and rath July, 1868, in 24 hours there fell 2‘03 inches.
; a the 23rd of September, 1871, there fell in the night 1°55
inches.

During the whole of this remarkable storm the horizon to the
south of Croydon appeared to be almost clear, and I understand
that at Caterham Junction, two miles to the south, no rain fell.

At Camden Town, N.W. of London, full three inches of rain fell
in the three hours.

‘I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGE CORDEN.

16, Wandle Road, Croydon,

June 25th, 1878.

At Nantwich House (Park Hill Rise) the fall was only 1°28, whilst
that at the Filter Works at Brimstone Barn, to the west of the town,
was 2°22 or a difference of nearly an inch.

3

34 Mr. Fohn Flower.

6.—ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTEs.
By the President, Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S.
[Read March 19th, 1879.]

Sterile Grey Hen (T. tetrix) partly in male plumage.—This
bird, which has been preserved by Burton, of Wardour Street,
I bought in Leadenhall Market, on September aist last. It
came up, with a number of other game birds, from Girvan, in
Ayrshire. Sterile Grey Hens, in this sort of plumage, are not
uncommon. Some of them are said to be old birds which
have ceased to lay, whilst others appear to be young, but,
whether old or young, this abnormal plumage seems to be
always due to one cause, viz., a diseased state of the ovaries.
It is a most remarkable thing that this cause should produce
such a change in the plumage, but that it does do so, not only
in this species, but in pheasants, and other allied birds, is now
thoroughly well established. Sterility seems, further, to have
had the effect, in this case, of considerably increasing the size
of the bird. A very large Grey Hen will weigh about 2-lbs.,
but this bird, which was not in particularly good condition,
weighed 2-lb. 44-0oz. The bones, too, which are on the table,
are considerably larger than those of an ordinary Grey Hen,
they are also somewhat softer in texture, and the processes are
not so well developed. These peculiarities all seem to indicate
that the defective constitutional condition which produced
the sterility was developed at an early period, and before the
bird was fully grown, and it seems probable, therefore, that
this hen never was anything but sterile. Birds are not the only
animals in which this singular phenomenon occurs, of the
female assuming male characteristics. In the deer tribe, with
the exception of the reindeer, the females have no horns. But
a few cases are on record of the does of fallow deer, and, I
believe, also of the hinds of red deer, developing horns, and
these cases have also been proved to be due to a diseased state
of the ovaries. Like all departures from the ordinary course
of nature, these abnormal growths are of great interest
physiologically. They show, what probably few people would
suspect without some such proof, that many of what we are
accustomed to regard as essential characteristics of the male
and female sexes, are really, comparatively speaking,
superficial, and that they are connected by the mysterious

laws of correlation of growth, with the generative organs. If

the testes of the young male be removed, many of the most
prominent characteristics of the male sex are not developed,
and, on the other hand, a diseased state of the ovaries of the

Ornithological Notes. 35

female (which correspond physiologically with the testes)
which is sufficient to produce sterility, will often cause the
female, as in this case, to assume some of the characteristics
of the male.

Cirl Bunting (E. cirlus L.)—I have here a nest and eggs
of this species, which I found in a plantation at Woodcote,
near Croydon, on July 15th last. The nest was about two
feet from the ground, and was placed between the trunk of a
small tree and the boughs of some ivy which was climbing
up it. Ihave also a single egg which I took from a nest ina
thorn bush in Gatton Park, on July 2oth, 1873. There was
another egg in this nest, which, unfortunately, was broken.
All these eggs, notwithstanding the late date at which they
were found, were fresh laid. The Cirl Bunting is not by any
means a common bird. Like its near connection, the common
Yellow Bunting, it is resident, but its breeding area is restricted
and peculiar. It is said never to have bred in Kent, in any ot
the eastern counties, or in Wales. It is most abundant in the
counties, other than Kent, which extend along our south coast;
and it has also been known to breed in most of the counties
which lie to the north of these, up to, and including Warwick-
shire. Surrey, for some reason or other, seems to be rather a
favourite county with this species.

Stock Dove (Columba enas).—There can, I think, be no
doubt, that this species has of late years increased in numbers
in our county. Like the closely-allied species, the common
Ring Dove, or Wood Pigeon (C. palumbus), the Stock Dove
not unfrequently selects for its breeding place a tree which is
quite close to human habitations, whereas, at any other season
of the year both species are very shy, and difficult to approach.
A pair of Stock Doves have bred regularly for many years in the
yew tree which stands close to the front door at Pendell Court,
near Bletchingley, and last year I was greatly interested in
watching a pair of these birds, which nested so close to our
town as the grounds attached to Park Hill House. They first
appeared in the middle of March, 1877, and took possession of
a hollow and decayed bough of an elm tree not thirty yards
from the house. They remained about the place for some
days, and no doubt would have bred there, but they were
eventually driven away by a pair of Jackdaws, which took
possession of the hole, and reared a brood in it. In the middle
of February, 1878, both the Doves and the Jackdaws reap-
peared, but I shot one of the Jackdaws, and the Doves were
then left in possession of the hole. They reared two broods
in it: On May rgth I found one of the old birds sitting on

36 Mr. $ohn Flower.

two eggs, and on July 21st I found two young birds, about
half grown, in the nest. This year, I am glad to say, they
have returned, and no doubt they will breed again in the same
hollow bough. The two nests above mentioned were unusually
late, as the Stock Dove is an early breeder. I have a pair of
the eggs of this species here this evening, which I took from
a fine old yew tree in Challock churchyard, near Ashford, Kent,
on April 17th, 1876, and these had been incubated for some
days when I took them. I found another, much smaller egg,
and what appeared to be the remains of an abandoned nest,
lower down in the same bough. I have reason to believe that
the above is not the only instance of the breeding of this
species near Croydon. For some years a pair has frequented
some large elm trees still nearer to the town, and I have no
doubt have bred in one of them, though I have never actually
seen the nest. I have seen them constantly for the last three
weeks on the same bough of the same tree. When once they
have selected a breeding place they seem to remain as firmly
attached to it as our tame pigeons do to their dovecot.
Though it may be seen occasionally, the stock dove is anything
but a common bird in our neighbourhood, probably because we
have not any large number of the old and hollow trees which
these birds require, and in which they breed. In parts of
Norfolk and Suffolk, where there are few trees, Stock Doves
breed in considerable numbers in the warrens, in deserted
rabbit holes, and even on the ground, in the rabbit runs, under
thick furze bushes. The breeding range of this species is
peculiar, and is very much more restricted than that of the
common Wood Pigeon. This common species is abundant in
all parts of the British islands, and at all seasons of the year.
The Stock Dove, on the other hand, has been known, on one
occasion, to breed as far north as Northumberland, but in the
British islands it very rarely breeds beyond lat. 54, or further
west than long. 3 W. It has never occurred in Ireland, nor,
with one doubtful exception, in Scotland. It is most abundant
in some of the midland and eastern counties, and it occurs
but sparingly in most of our southern counties, including
Surrey.

Foot of Cock Pheasant (Ph. colchicus L.) with an extra toe.
—This, which is the right foot of a bird which was shot near
Edenbridge, in Kent, by Mr. A. Eastty, one of our members,
is like the foot of an ordinary pheasant from the tarsal joint
downwards. But above the tarsal joint, and growing, ap-
parently, from the inner side of the tibia, is an additional toe,
growing in an upward direction. This seems to spring from
the tibia, about an inch and a-half above the tarsal joint, and

Ornithological Notes. 37

the scaly skin of the tarsus is continued up to it. Without
taking the leg to pieces, or at least soaking and softening the
parts, it is impossible to say, confidently, how this departure
from the ordinary form is to be explained. It will probably
turn out that this is a somewhat parallel case to the extra toe
which we see in Dorking fowls, though why the toe has grown
as it has, instead of in its proper place, below the tarsal joint,
is difficult to explain.

38 Nesting Habits of Cuckoo.

7.—NotTeEs on A CoLLecTION oF Nests oF BritisH Birps,
WHICH HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE COMMON
Cuckoo (CucuLus CANoRUS) FOR THE DEPOSIT OF
ITs Eacs.

Exhibited by Puitrp Crow ey, Esq.
[Read April 16th, 1879.]

This remarkable and interesting collection was exhibited at
our last meeting, but as Mr. Crowley did not announce before-
hand that he intended to exhibit it, it was not done full justice
to. At my suggestion, he has brought the collection again for
inspection by the members of the Club, and as in the interval
which has elapsed since the last meeting, Mr. Crowley has
very kindly given me the opportunity of more carefully
examining the nests and the eggs, I am enabled to lay before
you the following particulars as to them.

The collection is made up of 47 nests, belonging to 15,
different species, viz. :—

Red Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)...

Spotted Flycatcher (Musicapa grisola)

Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modularis)

Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula) ... ... ...

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus) ... ... «..
Dartford Warbler (Melizophilus undatus)... ... «..
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) =... ss. ase wee we
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris) ... .. .
Yellow Wagtail (M. raii) on. wee ae

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)...
Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis)

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) ... ...
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella)
Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris) ... «2. s+. eee ee
Linnet (Linaria cannabina) ...

ABO RAE COR | | Ceo CTR OCS

ls | H
“I WWHNHHHO RWH DAH OND HH

In addition to these, Mr. Crowley has also brought several
Cuckoo’s eggs, which are not with the nests in which they
were found. The 47 nests above mentioned all contain eggs.
of the Cuckoo, except in one instance, one of the nests of the
tree pipit, which contains a young bird. This last mentioned
nest is the only one which was found by Mr. Crowley himself.
All the others were procured by various persons whom he
employed to collect eggs for him, and who resided chiefly in
the neighbourhood of Frensham, which is in the extreme
western part of the county of Surrey ; but the names of the
persons who sent the various nests, and the dates when they

Nesting Habits of Cuckoo. 39

were sent, have been recorded. It would no doubt have been
more satisfactory, in some respects, if we could have had here
this evening the persons who actually found these nests, but
these persons had nothing to gain by deceiving Mr. Crowley,
and there seems no reason at all to doubt that the nests were
found, with the eggs of the Cuckoo in them, as they were stated
to have been.

As regards the breeding habits of the Common Cuckoo, the
bird is entirely parasite. It never, under any circumstances,
builds a nest for itself, but deposits its egg in the nest of some
other bird, generally. of a Wagtail, Hedge Sparrow, or Pipit,
and leaves that bird to hatch the egg and bring up the young
cuckoo. The propensity of this little monster to eject from the
nest all the eggs and the other young birds which the nest may
contain, and thus to secure for itself the undivided attention of
its foster parents is well known.

The nests which the cuckoo has been known to select for the
deposit of its eggs are of a very varied character. Mr. H. E.
Dresser, in Nos. 69 and 70 of his well known work ‘A History
ot the birds of Europe”’ (which number was issued as recently as
August, 1878) has an exhaustive article on the Cuckoo, and in
it he gives a list of all the species of birds to which the female
cuckoo has been known to entrust her eggs. These are 92
in number, and all of them, except four, belong to the order
Passeres, or perching birds. The four exceptions are a species
of Turtle Dove, the common Wood Pigeon, the Stock Dove,
and last, not the least remarkable, the Little Grebe. Mr.
Dresser’s list also comprises, amongst others, the Magpie and
the Jay.

Mr. Crowley’s collection of nests all belong to birds of the
Passerine order, but some of them are of great interest. His
two nests of the Dartford Warbler are the only nests of this
rare species, in which the Cuckoo’s egg has been found. With
the exception of Middlesex, the Dartford warbler does not
breed, except as a rare straggler, in any county north of the
Thames. Its great stronghold is that large series of commons
' which lie in the extreme west of Surrey, and the extreme east
of Hampshire, and it is just from that district that Mr. Crowley
has received nearly all the nests which he has exhibited this
evening. He has received from there, from time to time, no
less than 84 nests of the Dartford Warbler; the two which
contain the Cuckoos’ eggs was sent to him by a man named
Smithers, who lived at Churt; one was sent in the summer of
1860, and the other in the summer of 1869. The three Green-
finches’ nests again, are the only instances on record of the
Cuckoo having used the nest of this species in the British Isles.
These were also found and sent by Smithers, one in 1862,

40 Nesting Habits of Cuckoo.

another in 1864, and the third in 1865. It appears also from
Mr. Dressers’ list that there is only one other recorded instance
of the use by the cuckoo of the nest of the Blackcap, Yellow
Wagtail, or Linnet; all these nests were found by Smithers, the
Blackcap’s in 1860, the Yellow Wagtails’ in 1860, and the
Linnets’ in 1863, 1866, and 1869. The nest of the Yellow Bunt-
ing is one which is very rarely used by the Cuckoo, the two
nests of this species which are in Mr. Crowley’s collection,
were both found by Smithers in the summer of 1864.

As will be seen from the specimens here this evening, the
eggs of the Cuckoo differ very much in color, and in the number
and character of their markings, as well as in size. As far as is
known, however, it would appear that all the eggs laid by any
particular female are alike. Some females have even been
known to lay blue eggs. It will be seen, too, that the eggs of
the species of birds to which the cuckoo entrusts its eggs also
differ very widely. Strange as it may appear, it has been
proved, in many instances, that the egg of the Cuckoo bears a
remarkable general resemblance to the eggs of the bird in whose
nest it is placed; and it would appear from this, that the Cuckoo
does not deposit its egg at random in the first nest that comes,
but that, as a rule, each female selects a nest the eggs in
which resemble its own. Some very remarkable instances are
on record of this resemblance, the best of which perhaps is in
the case of the Redstart (R. phcenicurus). The eggs of this
species are blue, and in several instances, blue Cuckoo’s eggs
have been found in the nest of the redstart. How far this
resemblance goes is a matter of controversy. Some authors
maintain that it is the rule for the eggs of the Cuckoo to
resemble the eggs of the bird to which it is entrusted, whilst
others maintain that this is exceptional. This difference of
opinion may, perhaps, to some extent, be due to the fact that
the authors would not, in all probability, agree as to what con-
stitutes a resemblance. The object of this assimilation in
color must be to render the egg of the cuckoo less easily
recognized as a substituted one by the foster parents, and for
this and other reasons it would seem probable that it is the rule
for the eggs to agree in colour, and not the exception. Cer-
tainly this collection seems to favour this view, for, of the 46
nests, in twenty-nine cases the eggs agree fairly well in colour
and markings, and in seventeen cases they differ. The seven-
teen exceptions are Red Backed Shrike, one; Hedge Sparrow,
two; Redbreast, three ; Dartford Warbler, two; Tree Pipit,
one; Meadow Pipit, two; Yellow Bunting, one; Greenfinch,
two; and Linnet, three.

In one or two instances the resemblance between the two
eggs is very striking, as, for instance, in the nest of the Yellow

Nesting Habits of Cuckoo. 41

Wagtail; but, on the other hand, and as if to caution us against
forming a hasty judgment, there is a Cuckoo’s egg very similar
to that in the Yellow Wagtail’s nest, in the nest of one of the
Dartford Warblers, whose eggs it does not at all resemble.
These two cuckoos’ eggs are quite unlike any of the others in
the collection, but, as they bear a strong family resemblance to
each other, and were found in the same district, and in the
same month, (May, 1860) they were, in all probability, laid by
the same bird.

There is a similar and very remarkable family likeness
bet ween the Cuckoos’ eggs in two of the Robins’ nests, and i
the Flycatchers’ nest, and one of the separate eggs. These
four eggs all came from the neighbourhood of Frensham in
May, 1860, and no doubt were laid by the same bird.

In one of the Wagtail’s nests is a Cuckoo’s egg which is
marked something like the egg of a Yellow Bunting.

The peculiarity in the size of the egg of the Cuckoo is well
seen in this collection. It is in almost every case rather larger
than the eggs of the species in whose nest it is placed, but it
is, nevertheless, very small for the size of the Cuckoo. This,
no doubt, is due to the very small ovaries of the bird. The
Cuckoo is rather a large bird, rather larger than a Missel
Thrush, but its ovaries are only as large as those of the Common
Brown Wren, and its eggs are not larger than those of the
Common House Sparrow. The object of this peculiarity in the
size of the eggs of the Cuckoo can of course only be to assimilate
them to the eggs of the birds in whose nests they are laid.

It is now well established that the Cuckoo does not always
lay its egg in the nest which it selects in the ordinary way, but
that it often lays its egg on the ground, and then deposits it in
the nest with its beak. Judging from the places which are
usually selected by the species whose nests are before us, and
the character of their nests, there can, I think, be little doubt
that, in some of them, the Cuckoo’s egg was placed with the
beak, as above described, but as we have no particulars as to
how and where these nests were placed, it is, of course, not
possible to say, with certainty, in what way the cuckoo’s eggs
were deposited in them.

42 Mr. Fohn Flower.

8.—ON A PECULIARITY, HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED, IN THE
BrEAST-BONE OF THE GANNET (SULA BASSANA).

By the President, Joun Fiower, M.A., F.Z.S.
[Read April 16th, 1879.]

When at Stornaway, in the Outer Hebrides, in August,
1876, I had an opportunity, for the first time, of seeing Gannets
fishing, and a very remarkable and astonishing performance
it seemed to me to be. This bird flies over the sea at a
considerable distance from the water and as soon as it dis-
covers a fish it turns in the air, sometimes first mounting a
short distance higher, and then giving one or two powerful
strokes with its wings, it flies straight downwards, closes its
wings, and drops into the water like a stone, and with great
velocity. It seems very rarely to miss its aim, for it almost
invariably reappears in about 15 seconds with the fish in its
mouth. The height from which the plunge is taken is said to
vary according to the depth at which the fish happens to be
in the water, the deeper the fish the greater being the height
to which the bird ascends before turning to commence its
plunge, the object of the increased height being, of course, to
take the bird deeper into the water. The whole proceeding
is a very striking one, as the Gannet is a large and heavy bird.
The length of a full-grown one is about 3-ft. 2-in., and its
weight is about 7-lbs., and yet it enters the water with hardly
any splash. Whilst watching the Gannets at Stornaway it struck
me that there must be some very remarkable provision in their
structure to enable them to take these tremendous plunges with
impunity especially in rough weather. In the following December
the body of a Gannet was sent to me, and it was while dissect-
ing that that I first became aware of the curious and beautiful
arrangement which I am about to describe to you, but I was not
aware till a few months ago that this arrangement has never
yet been described; it seems, strangely enough, to have been
entirely overlooked. During the plunge the neck of the bird is
stretched straight out from the body. The long, strong, and
wedge-shaped beak first enters the water, and makes a hole
through which passes the head and neck, and, as the neck
gradually increases in thickness as it approaches the body, and
finally passes into the body much in the same way as the
neck of a hock bottle passes into the body of the bottle, it is
obvious that there would be nothing to offer any great amount
of resistance to the water if it were not for the wings of the
bird. ‘These are necessarily large to sustain so heavy a bird,
and they measure over six feet from tip to tip. When folded

—_-

Breast-Bone of the Gannet. 43

they project somewhat from the sides, and during the plunge
they are forced by the pressure of the water tightly against
the body, and backwards towards the tail. Nearly the whole
of the strain which is thus caused, and which must often be
very considerable, especially when the Gannet is fishing in
rough weather, is necessarily thrown upon the shoulder joint,
and but for the arrangement next to be described it would
probably often be sufficient to disable the bird. From the
front part of the body of the sternum is developed a very large
and powerful wedge of bone, and on the sides of this wedge
the coracoids are articulated, not, as in nearly all other birds,
at right angles, or nearly at right angles with the axis of the
sternum, but in a direction nearly parallel with the axis.
When, therefore, the strain begins to be felt at the shoulder
joint the coracoids slide slowly backwards down the sides of
the wedge of bone and ease the strain. This allows the wings
to perform a similar movement along the sides of the body,
the front part of which forms a flattened cone, round the sides
of which the wings are wrapped. By this exceedingly simple
and yet beautiful mechanical contrivance of a wedge within a
cone the pressure of the water is gradually eased off and
reduced to nothing, and this without any undue or dangerous
strain being placed upon a single muscle or ligament. The
very strong clavicles and the thick coating of feathers which lies
between the wing and the body must both play an important
part in easing off the effect of the blow caused by the bird
striking the water. The clavicles, being fused to the end of the
ridge of the sternum, would act as a spring, much in the same
way as the top joint of a salmon rod, whilst the feathers
would act as padding and help to prevent any jar. The
breastbone of the Gannet which I have here is the one which
I took out of the Gannet which I dissected in December, 1876.
I gave this to Dr. Rolleston for the University Museum at
Oxford, and he has very kindly lent it to me for exhibition this
evening.

44 Mr. Philip Crowley.

g.—NoTES AS TO THE FLow oF SAP FROM THE CuT BRANCH
oF A Bircw TREE (B. ALBA).

By Puitip CRowLEY.
[Read April 16th, 1879.]

At 7 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, March 2gth last,
a small branch about one inch in diameter was cut off a birch
tree in my garden by my gardener. The tree from which it
was cut was about six inches in diameter at a height of five
feet from the ground. About 9.30 I noticed that the tree was
bleeding freely from the cut branch, and in the afternoon I
showed the tree to our President, Mr. Flower. At 10.40 a.m.
on March 30th I placed a vessel to catch the sap that dripped
from the bough. Between 10.40 a.m. and 1.40 p.m. I0 ozs.
had flowed into the vessel, and by 9.40 p.m. 16} ozs. more.
I recorded daily the quantity of sap which flowed from the
tree up to the morning of April 6th, when the flow was much
lessened, and rain prevented my measuring it correctly. Even
now, more than 18 days after the branch was cut off, there is
some drip from it, but not much. The following is my record
of the quantity of sap :—

March 30_ ... 10.40 a.m. to 9.40 p.m. ... 264 ozs.
Pe Oa ae OO DP Dls) goa. Sate
April 1 4 OL O° pie tea: sees
Be 2 7 OO _pim Booty
” 3 , 6 0 p.m Blah ee
> 4 y 6. 0 pm ABs 5
a 5 FAO. PORP Meena Sore
6 pilOn Ova. iil. 31 ~

Add from the period from 7 a.m. on March
29th, when the bough was cut, to 10.40
a.m. on March 30th, when I first began to
measure the sap ... ae bed VOD LES

Total 46 woe peat Og aaa
—Taking 20 ozs. to a pint, this would be equal to 21 33 pints,
or from 2} to 3 pints every 24 hours. On April 7th, in three
hours of fine weather, the flow of sap was 40zs. On April
8th and gth it was only about 15 ozs. in the 24 hours.

Mr. William Ingrams—Diatomacee. 45

10.—DIATOMACE&.
By Wittiam INnGRAMs.
[Read May 21st, 1879.]

Patience, I have heard more than once, is a virtue which
few women are possessed of and no men. Whether this be
so or not is a matter that can be settled by each individual for
himself. -The subject for this evening is one that requires
great patience, and I could not write a paper on it without
much consideration as to the method of treating it. It is a
subject that has engaged the attention of the finest minds;
volumes have been written on it; and from these volumes, in
which the subject is discussed in a most able manner, one
might have put together a paper which would have been
thought a tolerably fair exposition of the subject. Such a
course, however, would, I am satisfied, have caused disappoint-
ment to some; and hereafter, perhaps, expressions manifesting
the absence of the great virtue from others.

Gentlemen, be good enough to read the books in which the
subject is discussed. You can do this at your leisure. In the
short time I have at my disposal, I prefer rather for the sake
of the younger members of the Club, to give you such a paper
as will, I trust, result in an enthusiastic and persevering course
of systematic study of—not books merely, but of the great
book which an omniscient Creator has left open for the
perusal of all who have eyes to see.

Some years since my attention was arrested by the marvel-
lous beauty of some of the diatomaceous forms. This was
followed by a desire to know something of the nature of such
remarkable organisms, and, if possible, to have slides of my own
which would serve to indicate the part which such exceedingly
minuteforms played in the great cosmical laboratory. My first
efforts were presumptuous. I began with guano. Some slides
were mounted containing many varieties ; others—specimens
picked out according to books with a bristle from the shaving
brush. All were beautiful; but I was sometimes not a little
mortified that I could not, to my own satisfaction, in answer to
the oft-repeated question, ‘‘ What are they?” say more than,
‘Well, some say they are the solid parts of very small plants,
and others the solid parts of very small animals. They were
obtained from guano. Guano is the excrement of sea birds,
deposited on the mountains of the western coast of America.”’
As a rule, these answers were satisfactory to all but myself.
One had read of the philosophical reasonings of Owen on

46 Mr. William Ingrams.

other skeletons, but these diatomaceous skeletons—what of
them, their envelopes, their contained parts? How could one
supply them so as to be able to form an adequate conception of
the perfect forms? The guano supplied, and will supply all who
will take the trouble to clean them, large numbers of beautiful
forms; and alsoa great quantity of silica. Where did that
come from? I had seen some certainly in the gizzards of
birds, where it formed a good substitute for teeth, but of what
earthly use could be such flinty particles as were contained in
my residuum of guano, after washing in water for weeks, and
boiling in hydrochloric and nitric acids? What could they have
to do with crushing the food of sea birds? Hundreds of
them, thousands, could have passed at one time through the
eye of a needle, and millions had to be elutriated before one
could get the coveted prize—a good slide of the smaller
diatoms.

These forms were, of course, all marine; and as a sys-
tematic study of them, before passing through the intestines
of the sea bird, was out of the question, one was naturally led
to investigate the nature of the diatoms of our own waters.
In these you can find all that is necessary to enable you to
form an adequate conception of these deeply interesting and
remarkable organisms; and of the part they take in the
system which keeps the earth as it is—a beautiful whole. I
do not say there are no difficulties. There are many great ones;
and so there are in everything that is worth doing, but I do
say that, in our local waters, we have great facilities for
successfully prosecuting our study of the diatom, its habitat,
nature, development, mode of increase, and preservation.

First, as to its habitat. Itis found in all rivers, ponds, pools,
and ditches, and sometimes manifests its presence in a manner
not altogether agreeable to the nasal organs. This, however,
is owing not to anything offensive in itself, but to the
negligence or the want of forethought in man. Diatoms, for
the most part young ones, together with rising generations of
plants of a confervoid character, may be nowhere seen to such
advantage as on the Waddon mill pond. At certain seasons
the surface of the pond is clear; at others, a thin whitish
film, showing the direction of the current towards the mill,
and another film, from the mill to the outlet to the backwater,
may be seen forming a curve from one side of the pond to the
other. The gentle current carries it slowly and surely toa
bridge contrived to stop circulation. Here it is stopped, and
other portions of the film, which sometimes covers half the
surface of the pond, are brought in succession to the same
spot; and, finding no mode of exit at the time, form by pres-
sure a corrugated mass assuming many colours, and evolving

Diatomacee. 47

the odour peculiar to obstructions. Such films may also
occasionally be seen in all ditches with a gentle current,
where a temporary obstruction impedes circulation ; on water-
cress beds, and even on water with a rapid current when
water weeds rise to the surface.

The nature of such films can, of course, only be seen by the aid
of the microscope. They are so delicate, so gossamer-like, that
they cannot be handled without altogether altering the form.
The substance breaks up easily, and this no doubt was the origin
of the term diatoms, which in times past were called brittleworts
or brittleweeds. The film may be collected in a bottle in the
usual way, but sometimes one will be observed when the neces-
sary apparatus is athome. The best plan then is to walk in, if
the water be not too deep, carry it home on the end of the
stick or umbrella, and allow a very small quantity of water to
wash it from the stick into a small glass. It will in a short
time be found on the surface ready for examination, and will
be found to consist of diatoms of various sizes, conferve and
infusoria, the last revelling in the rich banquet which nature
has provided them. I have mounted roughly a slide or two at
numbers 1 and 2. They are not very beautiful, but they are
very interesting. You will find, growing together, young
diatoms and conferve—the diatoms, in many cases, attached
to a confer.

Passing now from what presents itself on the surface
and from what is sometimes unpleasant — from surface
growth to undergrowth—you cannot fail to observe two things,
the extraordinary beauty of the subaqueous scenery, and the
apparently repulsive appearance which a portion of it presents
when removed from the water. This beautiful miniature
scenery is, in a great measure, due to the presence of the
diatom. I may indeed venture to say that, but for the diatom,
much that excites admiration would disappear, and nothing be
left but bare stone. Remove any of these undergrowths—the
velvety cushion from the stone, or the long lines of freely
flowing ‘“silkweed of the country” from the water, how
different they appear! Many a person has turned from them
in disgust, but this must not be the case with the student.
He must take them home, put them into a glass, add water,
stir them, allow the heavier particles to subside, take a small
quantity with a tube, place it on a slide, and then he will find
that he has robbed the water of some of its treasures. In
some of these experiments some diatoms will be found quite
- free; others united end to end, so as to form a filament;
while others will be seen firmly attached to conferve. Speci-
mens of various kinds may be seen at 3, 4, 5, in their
natural state. At 6, 7,8, you have the part coveted by the

48 Mr. William Ingrams.

microscopist, after all have been cleaned and mounted in the
usual way. I have dealt somewhat at length on this part of
the subject. One would have liked to have said a little more,
but, perhaps, enough has been said to help our younger members
to find the diatom.

The nature of the diatom and a few particulars respecting it
will be the next division of our subject. It has at different times,
as observers have discovered or have fancied they have disco-
vered, certain peculiarities, been frequently handed over, at one
time to the animal, at another to the vegetable kingdom. It is
scarcely worth while to go over the same ground again now.
What remains to be said appears to be conclusive evidence that
its proper place is the vegetable kingdom. One point, a most
important one, is that sunlight causes it to evolve oxygen, which
may be seen in bubbles like so many pins’ heads on a velvet
cushion, and these may help you in your search for some of the
more beautiful forms. The free forms have powers of motion
which render it difficult to believe that they are not animals, but
all are due to vital processes and the nature of the element in
which they live. Some of these motions may be seen at 9.
The varieties are numerous, varying in size from the seventieth
to about the twelve hundredth part of an inch. Many, of
these dimensions, may be seen on nearly all the slides.

In its natural state, fixed or free, the diatom consists of two
parts—the solid and the liquid—the cell—for such it is—and the
cell contents. The contents are two, one coloured called endo-
chrome ; the other, colourless. The latter is sometimes called
the protoplasm, and by slightly touching the end of one of the
larger forms with a fine-pointed needle, it is possible to discharge
both. The colouring particles will diffuse themselves over a
considerable space under the microscope, and form minute
raised granules which infusoria tell me are very nice, and the pro-
toplasm will form a globule having much the same consistence
as oil.

It is very difficult to find out what becomes of these
contents. When confined in the cell, they assume different
forms at different seasons, but in what must be called the final
stage the free forms, laden with their precious freight of
granules and globules, move hither and thither as if in quest
of a spot suitable for their deposition. Unfortunately for the
microscopist, in diatomaceous gatherings, too many of these
are to be found on the surface of the drop under examination.
They suit the diatoms nevertheless, and many may be ob-
served relieved of their granular contents. Many an hour’s
patient watching, at different times, will not, perhaps, be
rewarded by a glimpse of what takes places; but by great
good fortune, I have seen this phenomenon more than once,

Diatomacee. 49

and it led toa further examination of some fine scum—not
Waddon scum, there is too much there for the purpose, but
scum from undergrowths placed in glasses of water—and it
also led to the discovery of two kinds of cells. These were
carefully tended and watched; and, in a short time, two other
bodies appeared in considerable numbers, one kind having the
appearance of spores, beautifully bright, with a faint tinge of
green; the other, by far the most numerous, rapidly moving
animalcule-like creatures, colourless, and so exceedingly
minute that with a }-power and number 2 eyepiece, nothing
could be made of them. They swarmed in large numbers round
the cells and ultimately disappeared. The whole phenomenon
was analogous to what takes place in the germ frond of the
fern. The germ frond of a fern is produced by a spore, and
the what I take to be spores or z66spores in question, in a
very short time settled down, and formed around them ina
plane, a coherent, nearly transparent mucous frond, in which
could be seen the new forms like in all respects their parents,
the diatoms.

Now, as regards these cells. Are they both produced
from the same granular particle as in the fern, or does
the fertiliser reside in a different looking plant as in some
other vegetable forms? Permit me to call your attention to a
matter of singular interest. I said that the diatom might be
found on all water plants. Thereis an exception, and a most
remarkable one it is. I don’t remember to have seen a single
gathering that did not contain specimens of some members of
the Oscillatoriacece, and not one of them has had a diatom.
These consist of tubular filaments which have movements analo-
gous to those of the diatom. They are always associated with
the diatom, and without the diatom appear to be very busy in
the manufacture of flint. With the diatom, although some
nodules are produced, the plants flourish ; without it, they be-
come weaker and weaker. I commend this part of the subject
to your consideration; one pairof eyes is hardly sufficient for it.

The silicious covering of the cell, however, is the chief object
of interest to microscopists. Nothing is more beautiful. I shall
say nothing whatever as to its perfection of form or the beauty
of its striae and dots. You will find these all fully described
in such excellent works as Carpenter's, Smith’s, and others ;
but it is necessary to dwell for a few moments on its structure.
It is composed of silica secreted from the water. The
contents of this box forty years ago were in the chalk hills.
Water percolated from the chalk through an artificial
. obstruction, where evaporation was going on to a great
extent, and the obstruction became enamelled with what
we have here,—flint deposited from the water. This

B 4

50 Mr. William Ingrams.

stone, found in the neighbourhood, in our underground
circulation contains many pebbles, and also, owing to an
obstruction, a great quantity of the same material which
has cemented into a consolidated matrix the whole of
what were centuries since free pebbles. This will be quite
sufficient to show that water which has percolated through the
earth contains silex in solution. The water issues from
springs perfectly clear and pure, and from it the diatom
secretes what is held in invisible solution—the silex which
forms the epiderm of the cell. The silex secreted consists of
two parts called valves, separated by a line. The valves at °
times separate, and what appears to be a line becomes a band
or hoop, wider and wider, till at length it is, in some cases,
cast off, leaving two separate individual cells. This process
is called binary sub-division. It is not peculiar to the diatom,
but exists also in confervoid and other growths. This may be
called a system by which the species is increased by gemmina-
tion in contradistinction to that above described by germination.

There is yet another peculiarity by which the species is dis-
tinguished. Two individual cells in contact open, and the
whole contents of each flow out, become amalgamated, and
form a cell twice the size of the parent cells. This process
is called conjugation. It is very remarkable, and if it were
the ordinary mode of increase would lead to the production of.
a giant race. Time would fail to go into this part of the
subject. It is fascinating certainly, but it does not account for
the presence of the infant diatoms.

One word more as to the provision for the preservation of the
species. At certain seasons, none better than April and May,
the microscopist will be watching with curious eyes the move-
ments in his drop of water of the naviculoid forms and their
cargoes, and it may be also the vibrations of Gomphonema or
Synedra splendens, and will be much disappointed when, just as
he is about, he thinks, to see what he has so long watched for
take place, the discharge of endochromous granular particles,
to find his drop of water has evaporated. He should, just
before this takes place, when what little water remains is drawn
by attraction to the diatoms and surrounds them, so that he
cannot see them distinctly, do one of two things, and each with
a different object in view. He should, if he would:see his pets
a little longer, with a delicate touch, allow a small drop of water
to issue from a very fine-pointed dipping tube to the circular
space occupied by the first drop; or notice, with thrilling
interest, the provision made for the preservation of the species.
Slowly but surely, the anxiously-expected, long-looked-for
granules and bubbles of protoplasm will retreat, if the species
be straight and tubular, as in Synedra splendens, and attached

Diatomacee. 51

to a kind of cushion, as it very frequently is—not to the highest
point by the cushion, but to the lowest, the part in contact
with the slide, which is for the time the bed of its pond or ditch,
leaving its upper part a perfectly transparent skeleton with all
its markings visible, and having at its lower part all its
granules closely packed in the oily protoplasmic contents.
If the species be naviculoid, the contents will go half to one
end, and half to the other, and be packed in a similar manner.
Tribes of men and animals become extinct, but so long as the
present circulation of water between earth and air continues,
so long the diatom will continue to exist, to store up, and to
secrete the matter which the intelligent traveller who has
climbed nature’s fairest peaks knows once formed an integral
portion of the mighty masses on which he has gazed with
admiration and awe, but which has by this circulation found
its way into all our rivers, ponds, and ditches.

I feel I have already taxed too much your powers of endurance,
but will, if you wish it, say a few words on the mounting and pre-
servation of the diatoms when collected. This branch of the
subject assumes different proportions, according to the object
in view. If the skeleton only be wanted, the collection should
be placed in a small glass of water and stirred. Weighty
particles will soon subside, and the water should be poured
into a large glass. This process may be repeated till the
larger glass be full. Allow it to stand three or four hours or
more. Pour off the liquid and you will have what you want
at the bottom. Refill the vessel with water and allow a
second settlement of the same duration. One or more
washings might also be made, but when you have poured off
nearly all the water from the last, return the gathering to the
smaller glass, and allow it to subside in the same way. Pour
off the water and add slowly a small quantity of hydrochloric
acid. There will, in all probability, be effervescence, and the
contained matter will rise to the surface. When the action
has nearly ceased, add a little more acid. Let it remain ina
safe place till the whole has subsided. You may then—it will
take some time—place the glass over the flame of a spirit
lamp till you see that all action has ceased. Allow time to
subside, pour off the acid, and repeat the process with nitric
acid, testing occasionally by taking, with a small tube, a small
quantity for observation under the microscope. This is the
most troublesome part of the whole business, and requires
great care. It should be performed in some outhouse, and the
- operator should remember that these acids, employed to destroy
vegetable and other matter, will also destroy cloth. If the
outhouse be supplied with gas, so much the better. The
glass containing all can be placed on wire gauze, at a safe

52 Mr. William Ingrams.

distance from the flame, and the process watched. Fumes
will soon rise, and the operator will have to retreat unless he
has some contrivance over the glass to allow them to escape.
When satisfied by testing that the skeletons are clean, pour
off the acid after a proper time has elapsed, and-wash with
distilled water, if you can, four or five times, taking care not
to be in too much of a hurry in pouring off the liquid.

The next step is the separation of the flinty particles from the
diatoms. This is rather a tedious business, but the end is
near. Have five or six glasses, each about four times the
size of the small glass, in which the diatoms have been boiled.
Have about four washings, at intervals of half-an-hour,
pouring off into one of your vessels each washing. This gets
rid of a multitude of the smaller particles. Repeat the process
at different intervals till all the glasses are filled, testing as you
goon. It is quite possible to have diatoms ready for mounting
before all the glasses are full. When quite ready, a small
quantity should be placed on a slide with the tube. The slide
should be put away for a time out of the dust, to allow the
water to evaporate. Do not dry it too quickly. The thin film
on the surface should then be mounted, either dry or in balsam.

This is a brief sketch of the process for skeletons; that
for the parasitic form is simpler. The chief difficulty being
getting the plant, the object, into position. The lesson
should be learnt at the riverside. All I can say now
is that a small portion of the conferva, which is known
to have the diatom, should be placed on the slide, and retained
in position with the thumb nail. A small quantity of
water should be allowed to run from a tap to the first joint of
the thumb. It will diffuse itself over the slide, and the fibres
of the confer will separate. The water should then be
turned off, and the slide examined. If the fibres be well
separated and the specimen worth preserving, it should be
kept free from dust till the water has evaporated, and then
mounted either in the dry state or in some preservative
liquid. Both methods are very easy. I shall therefore say
nothing more about them, but will answer questions that may
be put respecting either.

I thank you very sincerely for your attention, and the next
time I hear the uncharitable observation respecting patience,
I shall invite the individual who makes it to attend a meeting
of the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club.

Mr. George Corden—Weather Temperatures.

iTeewWwheTe es TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED AT
16, WANDLE ROAD, CROYDON,

By GEO. CORDEN.
[Read May 21st, 1879.]

NovEMBER.

Winters. |Extremes Mean daily.

Max.| Min.| Max. Min. | Mean.

51°8 | 36°6 | 44°2

48°3 | 32°2 | 403

35°4 | 40°8

38'9

46°3

49°5 44°2

47°7 | 362 | 419

33°1 | 38°5

50°5 | 41°9 | 46-2

49°8 | 39°4 | 44°6

37°E | 42°4

47°3 | 39°38 | 43°5

40°3 | 44°6

41.1 | 46°1

| | —

419g | 46.2

32°2 | 385

Mean |58°4|26'5| 48°6 | 37°7 | 43-2

DECEMBER.

53

50

Max.

Extremes

Min.

54°4| 20°4

Max. | Min.

48:0 | 36°4
42°2 | 30°4
50°0 | 39°70
42°0 | 36°0

38°0 | 28°5

42°4 | 343
47°6 | 40°0
| 45°4 | 364
37°8 | 28°4
42°8 | 35°4

47°7 | 40°7

45°9 | 363

50°0 | 41°7

37°8 | 284

44°2 | 35°2

1878—79 36°0 | 40°0
Diff. from

mean

53 | 29 | 44°

a Above the mean.

Sit

14

37°8 | 30°6

} 5°4b| 2°5a| 4°56 | 1°75 | 3°10 0°4b|6:4b| 6°46 | 4°6b | 5°58

b Below the mean.

Mean daily.

Mean.

42°2

36°3

44°7

33°

39°7

34°2

Mr. George Corden.

WiCN DE RYOTE MP E RAT URES

(continued ).
JANUARY. FEBRUARY.
Winters. |Extremes| Mean daily. Extremes Mean daily.
Max.|Min.| Max. | Min. | Mean. |Max.| Min. Max. | Min. | Mean.§
1866—67 | 55 o | 39°8 | 26.6 | 33°2 | 57 | 25) 50°1 | 380 | 44°0 J
|
1867—68 | 51 | 22 | 41°r | 31°9 | 36°5 | 60 | 23 | 49°6 | 3671 | 42°8
1868—6g9 | 54 | 26 | 46:2 | 36:0 | 41°1 | 58 29 | 50°5 | 40°2 | 45°3 |
1869—70 | 50 | 21 | 42°6 | 35°3 | 389 | 54 20 | 40°6 | 33°6 | 371 }
|
1870—71 | 45 | 19 | 37°5 | 30°3 | 33°9 | 55.| 26 49°%6 | 388 | 44°2
187I—72 | 52 | 29 | 46°8 | 38:2 | 42°3 | 55 | 33 50°8 | 414 | 461
1872—73 | 54 | 27 | 46°7 | 385 | 42°6 | 49 | 26 | 39°7 | 31°5 | 35°6
1873—74 | 54 | 28 | 47°5 | 37°2 | 42°3 | 53 | 22 | 44°5 | 341 | 39°3
1874—75 | 53 | 30 | 484 | 40.3 | 44°3 | 50! 25 | 410 | 32°0 | 36°5
1875—76 | 54 | 14 | 42°7 | 32°7 | 37°5 | 58 | 22 | 46°8 | 37°7 | 42°2
} 1876—77 | 55 | 30 | 47°6 | 382 | 42°9 | 58 | 24.| 49° | 30°5 | 44°3
1 31877—78 | 56 | 27 | 44°8 | 36°38 | 40°8 | 57 | 25 | 47° | 39°4 | 43°2
a ea 56 | 30 | 484 | 40°3 | 42°9 | 60 | 33 | 50°8 | 4174 | 461
| 3. Min. 45 | © | 37°5 | 266 | 33°2 | 49 | 20} 39°7 | 315 | 35°6
} ist
eo Py 52°8|22°8| 44°3 | 35:2 | 30°7 |55°3| 250! 46°6 | 369 | 41-7
| 1878—79 | 50} 20 | 35°9 | 29°0 | 32°4 | 53 24 | 43°1 | 35°6 | 39°3
Diff. from} | ,.95) 9: : : : eonlins : i
ee lashed labs 8:4b | 6:2b | 7°36 | 2°3b) r:0b] 3°56 | 1°36 | 2°46

6 Below the mean.

Weather Temperatures.

55

WINTER TEMPERATURES

(continued ).

Marcu. SUMMARY OF 5 MONTHS.

Winters. |Extremes| Mean daily. Extremes

_——— |_<_$§} ——q—]) ue ——“| |

|
|

1878—79 | 61 | 30

42°4

Diff. from

ees } 1°7a\/5"2a) 0°6b | o-3a | orb |0°2a) 2°gb

in.| Max. Min. | Mean.

| 47°5 | 367 | 421

| 47°5

Mean daily.

46°7 | 33°8 | 40°2

469 | 33°2 | 40°0

39°9

39°8

42°2

42°3

42°2

39°6

348

45°7 | 364 | 410

48°2 | 39°2 | 43°7

380 | 42°7

48°2 | 39°2 | 43°7

44°I | 33°2 | 39°6

46°5 | 362 | 41-4

ATQi 33°59) | avid

4°6b | 2°7b | 3°76

a Above the mean. 6 Below the mean.

56 Great Black-Backed Gull.

I2.—INSTANCE OF THE VORACITY AND PREDATORY HABITS
OF THE GREAT BiacK-BACKED GuLL (Larus marinus.)

By the President. eae WU
[Read November tgth, 1879.]

About ten days ago I bought an adult male of this species
in Leadenhall Market, and on dissecting it I found the stomach
very full and much distended. On opening it I found what
appeared to be the whole of the bones, except those of the
wings and the breast bone, of a Black-Headed Gull. (Larus
ridibundus). The tarsi and feet, which were entire and
uninjured, were attached to the bones of the legs, which were
also entire and were attached to each other by their ligaments.
As each leg and foot were together about eight inches in
length, the feet were necessarily some distance out of the
stomach. They were side by side, and projected into the
cesophagus some considerable way. The remainder of the
bones were very much broken, and all the bones, with the
exception of the feet and tarsi, had been cleared of their
muscles and sinews by the action of the gastric juice. As
there was hardly a single feather in the stomach, it seems
clear that this large gull, having in some way got hold of the
black headed bird, picked it, or skinned it, and then tore it to
pieces, and ate it clean up, swallowing the legs whole. The
powerful hooked beak of the Great Black-Backed Gull seems to
prove it to be of carnivorous habits. It has been known,
occasionally, to kill and eat small birds, and it has even been
said to attack young and weakly lambs, but I have never met
with any record of its having attacked or devoured a bird so
large as a Black-Headed Gull, which would be about 16 inches
in length, and I think, therefore, that this instance ought to be
recorded. I have brought the feet and the bones of the legs
and the whole of the beak, which is very sharp, for you to see.
These, especially having regard to the red colour of the feet—
which, however, has much faded—seem sufficient to identify
the species.

Hen Pheasant in Male Plumage. 57

13.—On A HEN PHEASANT WHICH HAS ASSUMED THE PLUMAGE
OF THE MALE.

By the President.
[Read December 17th, 1879.]

On September 21st last I had the opportunity of examining a
most interesting bird—a hen of the common Pheasant in male
plumage—which is now in the possession of Mr. R. A. Heath.
This bird was hatched in the spring of 1875. It was sent up in
the autumn of the same year to Mr. Heath, and was placed by
him, with a cock bird of the same species in an aviary in the
grounds attached to his father’s house in Park Lane. Since
she has been in Mr. Heath’s possession this bird has laid
numerous eggs, and in 1378 she laid as many as 30. As
these were placed under hens and many of them produced
young birds, it is clear that the ovaries of the bird must have
been in a healthy condition up to thattime. This year the
bird has not laid any eggs at all, nor has she shown any
peculiarity in plumage until the autumn moult of this year, .
but the plumage which the bird has assumed as the result of
that moult has all the peculiar characteristics of the plumage
of the male. The case of this bird is very similar to that of
the sterile Grey Hen (T. tetrix), which I exhibited and
described at our meeting on March roth last, and which I have
brought again this evening. There is, however, this important
difference between the two. The Grey Hen was, I have no
doubt, sterile from disease of the ovaries which was congenital,
and was probably, in consequence of that sterility, larger, con-
siderably, than Grey Hens usually are. This hen Pheasant
on the other hand has only become sterile later in life, and
does not differ in size from an ordinary hen Pheasant. Mr.
Heath very kindly offered to send the bird here this evening,
but that offer I did not like to accept, as the bird, being
naturally shy, would probably have injured itself. But I am
authorised to say that any of our members who would like to
see it can do so by calling at Baron Heath’s house.

58 Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace.

14.—ON THE PECULIAR SPECIES OF THE BRITISH
FAUNA AND FLORA.

By ALFRED RussEL WALLACE.
[Read March 17th, 1880.]

Mr. WatLaAceE, in the first place, called attention to the fact,
now well established, that all large islands which have been
separated for a long period of time from the mainland, possess
_species of animals and plants which are peculiar to them, the
number of peculiar species, speaking generally, being large or
small, according to the length of time during which the island
has been cut off from the land of which it formerly formed part.
He also pointed out that these are very significant facts in con-
nection with the geographical distribution of animals and plants.
He further stated that his researches having led him to the
conclusion that the British islands, although they had only
been separated from the continent in comparatively recent
times, were no exception to this rule, he applied to a number
of distinguished men who had made special studies of various
departments of zoology and botany, but they one and all gave
it as their opinion that there were no animals or plants which
were peculiar to Great Britain, and that probably every species
to be found in our islands would be found on the continent if
proper and sufficient search were made for it. Not being
satisfied with these replies, he proceeded with his investigation,
which resulted in his coming to the conclusion that there are a
considerable number of species recorded as occurring in Great
Britain which are not to be found in any other part of the world.

Mr. Wallace went on to show that there is much direct
and positive evidence that the British islands once formed
part of the continent of Europe, and were formerly more
extensive than they now are, also that their connection with
the continent has been broken and again re-established more
than once, and he went through this evidence in detail.

He next proceeded to show that the number of species of ani-
mals and plants which occur on the continent of Europe is much
larger than the number which is to be found in Great Britain,
and these again, in their turn, are considerably larger than the
number of species which have been recorded as occurring in
Ireland, whilst Ireland again has species which are not to be
found in Great Britain. Allthisseemedtoshowthat Ireland was
separated, as anisland, from Great Britain sometime before Great
Britain ceased to form part of the European continent. With
regard to the species peculiar to the British islands, it is
probable that they have all come into existence since the
islands were last severed from the continent, and the fact that

British Fauna and Flora. 59

this severance took place in comparatively recent times would
account for the comparatively small number of species which
are peculiarly British.

Taking the animal kingdom in detail, Mr. Wallace shewed
that, in the opinion of the best authorities, our islands have
no peculiar species of Mammalia or Reptiles, but of birds
there arethree species, the Red Grouse (L. scoticus) the
English Coal Titmouse (P. britannicus) and the British Long
Tailed Titmouse (A. rosea), which do not occur elsewhere. Of
fishes there are fifteen species, all of freshwater fish, which are
not to be found on the continent ; six of these are peculiar to
Ireland, two of them to be found only in one lake. Of the
British Trout, two species are peculiar to the Orkneys, one
to the lakes of Dumfries (which are little more than moderate-
sized fish ponds connected with Dumfries Castle), one to
Wales, two to the English lakes, and three to the Scotch lakes.
The difference between these species is not in colour only, but
in structure, and the favourable conditions under which they have
probably been developed was explained in detail by Mr. Wallace.

Passing to invertebrate animals, Mr. Wallace pointed
out that insects, being smaller in size, and therefore more
easily overlooked, were more difficult to deal with; but
there is every reason to believe that there are many species of
insects which occur only in the British isles. The English
climate, from its mildness in winter, and other peculiarities, is
favourable not only to the production of new species, but also
to the survival of others, which are not able to endure the
winter of many parts of the continent. Among the Lepidoptera
there are over one hundred species, which have been found in
our islands, but which are not known to occur:on the continent.
After making every allowance there are probably seventy ofthese
species which are really peculiar to Great Britain and Ireland.
Of these seventy species there are only unique specimens of
some, others are very rare, and others rather common. Two
of the unique specimens were taken at Sanderstead, near
Croydon, one in 1848 and the other in 1854. Mr. Wallace
exhibited a case of Butterflies and Moths, lent to him by Mr.
Charles Stevens, containing, amongst others, the large Copper
Butterfly (P. hippothoe), formerly abundant in some parts of
Great Britain, but believed now to be extinct, and pointed out
in it and described some of the unique specimens to which he
had referred. He also exhibited a case of Butterflies and
Moths taken in the Isle of Man, and with them a series of
the specimens most nearly resembling them which are to be
found in the other British islands, and the peculiarities of each
were pointed out and described. Of Coleoptera about seventy-
two species, and of Trichoptera three species are peculiar to

60 Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace.

Britain. The little island of Lundy, in the Bristol channel,
has two insects, one a distinct species, the other a variety only,
which are peculiar to it, and other restricted areas have species
and varieties of insects which are peculiar to them. Of
Mollusca four species only, one of them considered doubtful,
are peculiar to Britain.

Of plants, Mr. Wallace enumerated two Flowering Plants, six-
teen Mosses, and ten Hepatic, which are peculiarly British.

Of the two flowering plants, one Brewers’ Spotted Rock
Rose (H. Breweri), is peculiar to Anglesea and Holy-
head island; the other, a water Dropwort (CZ fluviatilis),
an umbelliferous plant, is found nowhere but in the
southern half of ‘England and in one locality in Ireland.
Great Britain also possesses two plants, both truly indigenous,
which must have come to it from North America, as they are
not to be found anywhere except in North America and the
British isles. These are a small orchid (Spiranthes roman-
zoviana) which occurs in Ireland, and the Pipewort, (Eriocaulon
septangulare) which is found in the Hebrides and in Ireland.
There is no reason at all to believe that these species have been
artificially introduced, and it is difficult to understand how they
could have been transported to our shores. Ireland also
possesses about twenty species of Flowering Plants which are
not to be found in Great Britain. Many of these are known to
occur in the south of Europe, and two of them are Arctic or
Alpine plants. Of the British Mosses and Hepatice, three
genera of each are not found in any other part of Europe, but
occur in various parts of South America, and of Africa and
Asia, and in the mountains of New Zealand. Probably these
plants, and the twenty species which are peculiar to Ireland
are the remains of forms, which, in the remote past, were
spread over the greater part of the globe, and which have been
enabled to survive in Ireland or Great Britain, by the
exceptionally mild climate.

In conclusion, Mr. Wallace pointed out that, as has
been shown by Mr. Darwin, the rarity of a species is
one great proof that it is undergoing the process of ex-
tinction. Species are now, and always have been, liable
to extinction by their enemies becoming too strong, or the con-
ditions of life too severe, and hence it happens, that in islands
where the enemies are less numerous, and the conditions more
equal, the race is continued, and allowed to survive; and this
fact should stimulate and encourage naturalists to make a more
thorough and exhaustive investigation of the animals and
plants which occur in the numerous islands which surround
our coast. There is yet a great deal to be ascertained with
regard to them, and no doubt new species yet to be discovered.

EE

Preparation of Objects. 61

15.—ON THE PREPARATION OF OBJECTS FOR THE MICROSCOPE.
By E. Lovett,
[Read April 21st, 1880.]

Mr. Lovett pointed out that it was by no means the case
that the mounting of objects for the microscope was a very
difficult matter, necessitating the use of all sorts of acids and
chemicals. Some of the most beautiful of objects were most
easily prepared and preserved for any length of time, provided
only that a little care was exercised, and a few suggestions put
into practice. By mounting dry in a cell the most natural
state was obtained, and this was the simplest method of
mounting. Nothing should ever be put in the cell unless it
were perfectly dry, and if possible should not be mounted in
damp weather. It was also well not to use any oil, cements,
or varnishes for fastening the object in its position.

Describing a cell which he (Mr. Lovett) had used for some time
without one instance of failure, he said it was easily and readily
made. Having cleaned a glass slide, it was to be placed on the
centreing table, and the operator must then lay a brass ring of
the size required on the centre, and place on that a piece of
black ozokerit ; then hold the slip over a spirit lamp and the
ozokerit melted and filled up the cell floor, cementing the ring
to the slide, and forming a dull black concave chamber which
hardened at once when laid down to cool, and was then ready
for the object. The object should be attached to the centre by
a little ordinary gum, almost dry; when this became dry the
cover glass might be fixed with the same material, and when
firm enough the slide could be placed on the turn table, and a
good finish of asphalte varnish would bind the whole together
and render the cell perfectly hermetically sealed. The objects
suitable for such cells were unlimited, but they were such as
Foraminifera, micro’ fungi, leaf scales, leaf hair, seeds, many
wood sections, &c., which were readily obtained and easily

‘prepared. Many objects might be mounted dry and without

a background.

Coming to objects which required a preservative medium,
Mr. Lovett said balsam was the most generally used in
those cases, and produced perhaps the most unsatisfactory
result unless done properly. Objects for balsam required
a period of soaking in turpentine or oil of cloves, &c., and
before such soaking, should be dry. Mr. Lovett mentioned an
easy and convenient method of keeping a lot of things in soak,
and went on to point out that when the objects were found to
be clear of air they should be mounted. Only just sufficient

62 Mr. E. Lovett.

balsam should be placed on the slide, which should be gently
heated. Plunging the object into the balsam, and seeing that
the balsam closed well over it without enclosing bubbles, the
operator should gently warm a perfectly clean thin glass cover
and place it on the balsam, simply allowing it to settle down of
its own weight, whereupon the balsam would flow to the edge
of the cover, and the slide would not require cleaning of super-
fluous balsam. The slide could then be finished off with a
cement composed of flake white and gumdamar, rendered fluid
with chloroform. Beside those objects which required prepa-
ration for balsam, there were many others which might be so
mounted without any preparation—such as plant hairs, scales,
insect hairs, spores, micro’ fungi, &c. Insects should be
mounted without any pressure whatever being brought to bear
upon them, and there should be only such removal of colour as
was absolutely necessary to procure the requisite clearness of
definition of structure. With regard to botanical specimens
soaking was very necessary.

Describing the method of mounting which was of great
value for such objects as did not do well in balsam, and
could not be mounted dry, Mr. Lovett went on to refer
to such things as internal parts of insects — crustacea,
mollusca, &c.—and the ova of these animals, besides many
other specimens which required a good preservative fluid
medium hermetically sealed in a more or less deep cell. The
best fluid for this kind of work was one composed of three parts
of absolute alcohol, two parts of glycerine, and one part of
distilled water, and the object required only a short period of
soaking. The specimens could be placed in this fluid without
previous preparation, and could remain there until it became
convenient to mount them. Tubes containing this ftuid could
be carried about in the pocket, and when a specimen was
found, it requiring no preparation, could be dropped into the
fluid forthwith, the objects being ready for mounting as soon as
the fluid had thoroughly permeated the specimen.

With respect to the modus operandi of mounting, Mr. Lovett
described it as tollows :—If it were desired to use a deep cell, the
operator should cement a glass ring or square on to the centre of
the glass slip with stiff marine glue, and lay it aside for a few
days to thoroughly harden; then place a little gold size round the
top of the cell near the outer edge, and hold it over the lamp to
thoroughly harden it, so that it could not run into the cell;
then fill the cell perfectly full, till there was a convexity, with
fluid, and place the object on it, taking care that no air or
foreign matter was enclosed with it; then take a cover glass
of the same size as the exterior size of the cell, and after
cleaning it, breathe on the side which would come downwards,

Preparation of Objects. 63

and place it upon the cell slanting ways. This would drive
out all the fluid that was not required, and the gold size would
get through the fluid and attach the cover to the cell. When
the cover was in its place the superfluous fluid should be
secured by means of a brush or a damp blotting paper, and a
little fast drying cement applied to the edge of the cell was then
beneficial in assisting to fasten on the cover. Ina few daysa
coating of asphalte might be applied to connect the cover glass
to the slide, thus binding the whole firmly together, and if six
or eight of such dressings were applied as soon as the former
was hardened, he (Mr. Lovett) did not think there was any
need to fear a leakage.

Speaking upon the. question ‘of finishing, Mr. Lovett
said that with the assistance of a turn-table a neat ring
could be added to the slide, but the asphalte ring should not
be ‘wider than was absolutely necessary, and might be relieved
by a thin line of white or red.

Mr. Lovett further gave a short description of a new form of
“‘ objective’ lately introduced by Mr. Baker, of Holborn. The
arrangement of the object glass is such that it can be used for
powers varying from three to six inches. The invention is
likely to be of service in botanical investigations.

64 Mr. Fohn Flower.

16.—ON THE STRUCTURE AND GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE
WEALD AND OF THE CATCHMENT BASIN OF THE
RIvER WANDLE.

By Joun Friower, M.A., F.Z.S.
[Read Wednesday, May igth, 1880.]

There are probably but few of our members who have not
spent more or less time in the district which is commonly
known as “The Weald.” This district, which comprises a
large part of Kent, of Surrey, and of Sussex, and also the
eastern part of Hampshire, has a special interest for those
who live in Croydon and its neighbourhood. Being easily
accessible by rail, the great and in some places extreme beauty
of its scenery, and the great variety of the animals and plants
which occur in it, have rendered it a sort of natural pleasure
ground to thousands. And when we add to these natural
advantages the great interest which attaches to its past
history, whether historic or prehistoric, we have before us a
tract of country in every way well deserving of attention, and
one moreover which, in a sense, may be said to be peculiarly
our own. And the interest which attaches to the Weald itself
extends, though perhaps in a less degree, to the districts
which adjoin it. These, though they do not form part of what
is technically known as the Weald, are yet in reality integral
parts of it, and the past history of them all is closely and
inseparably connected. I propose this evening to describe
shortly the main physical features of the Weald, then to give
you the views which are now generally held as to the way in
which it has been formed, and lastly to show its close connec-
tion with the Catchment Basin of the Wandle. I have herea
geological model of the south-east of England, by Mr. Wm.
Topley and Mr. J. B. Jordan, of the Mining Record Office, and
published by Mr. Stanford, which will, I think, greatly assist
me in making a description of the Weald intelligible.

If any of you were to start from Dover and proceed towards the
south-west, you would find yourselves, for some five or six miles,
on the top of high chalk hills, which here take the form of
cliffs overlooking the sea. Just before reaching Folkstone,
these hills leave the sea and extend in a north-westerly direc-
tion, and nearly in a straight line, for some 36 miles, nearly
up to the City of Rochester. Then, turning again to the
south-west, they extend for some 60 miles nearly in a straight
line, down to the town of Farnham, in Surrey. From Farn-
ham they turn southward for about 17 miles, and then turning
eastward, they run round the town of Petersfield in Hampshire,

On the Weald. 65

and extend from there, for 57 miles or thereabouts, up to the
well-known chalk promontory of Beachy Head in Sussex, where
they end. These hills form between Folkstone and Farnham
the North Downs, and between Petersfield and Beachy Head
the South Downs. Throughout their entire length of 170
miles they are continuous, and are in all respects essentially
the same. They vary in height, being in places nearly goo
feet above the sea, and as they are in all parts considerably
above the country which lies within them, the views from them
are magnificent. Their character is well seen in such places
as Knockholt Beeches near Sevenoaks, White Hill near
Caterham, Betchworth Clump, and Box Hill.

Inside these chalk hills again, and running parallel with them,
is a second range of hills formed of the Lower Greensand. This
formation, which is hard in its character, is to be found at but a
short distance from the chalk hills throughout their entire length,
and in places like Ide Hill near Sevenoaks, Leith Hill, and
Hindhead and Black Down near Haslemere, it forms some
of the highest hills in the south of England. Leith Hill,
which is the highest point in this part of England, is 967 feet
above the sea. In some places, however, the Lower Green-
sand hills have been worn down and destroyed, by agencies to
be presently described, and in others and especially on the
south side of the Weald, this formation thins out and is
reduced to small dimensions.

Between these two ranges of hills is a narrow valley,
which seldom reaches a mile in width. The soil at the bottom
of this is Gault, which is a stiff clay.

Inside the Lower Greensand hills is another and much larger
valley, varying in width from two or three miles to twenty, the
soil of which is made up of the Weald Clay, and in the centre
of this is another range of high hills, formed of the Hastings
Sands, which extends from Horsham to Hastings, and on this
range stand East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells. The
highest point on it is Crowboro’ Beacon, which is 804 feet
above the sea.

Stated generally, then, we have in this district five things
to explain and account for. The whole district is in shape
a rather irregular elongated horseshoe, having the sea at
its open end. Round the entire outside of this is the range
of chalk hills, inside of which we have, successively, the
narrow valley of the Gault, the hills of Lower Greensand, and
the broad valley of Weald Clay; and in the centre of this are
the hills of Hastings Sand. The geological model shows this
very clearly.

The district which is within the chalk hills is now drained
by ten rivers, all of which pass through the hills. Five

=o

66 Mr. Fohn Flower.

of these, viz., the Stour, the Medway, the Darent, the Mole,
and the Wey, flow northward into the Thames; and the five
others, viz., the Arun, the Adur, the Ouse, the Cuckmere,
and the Ashburn, flow southward direct into the sea. The high
land in the centre of the Weald gives origin to most of the
rivers which I have mentioned, but it has also another river,
the Rother, which cuts through the Hastings sand, and flows
eastward direct into the sea. In addition to the valleys of
these rivers there are numerous valleys in the chalk, now dry,
such as the Merstham and Caterham Valleys and many
smaller ones, of which I shall have more to say later on.

The first question which offers itself for solution is how came
the Weald district to assume the very remarkable form which
I have described. Numerous theories have been framed to
answer this question, but it was never, I believe, satisfactorily
answered until the difficulty was solved by the theory which
has been adopted by the members of the Geological Survey,
the result of whose investigations is embodied in one of the
memoirs of the survey, on ‘‘ The Geology of the Weald,” which
I have here.

Stated shortly, the conclusions at which they have arrived
are as follows: — Omitting the superficial deposits, the
geological strata which are to be found within the Weald are
seven in number: (1) the Chalk, which comes at the top,
several hundred feet thick; and then successively below it (2)
the Upper Greensand, from o to 8o feet thick; (3) Gault, pro-
bably from 60 to 150 feet thick; (4) Lower Greensand, from 70
to 500 feet thick ; (5) Weald Clay, probably from 400 to 1000
feet thick; (6) Hastings Sands, also several hundred feet thick ;
and (7) Purbeck beds, probably about 400 feet thick. These
were probably originally deposited in horizontal beds, one
below the other, in the order which I have mentioned, and the
beds now seen on our side of the Channel extended across the
Channel, which did not then exist at all, and were continuous
with corresponding beds now to be found inthe north of
France.

By one of those alterations in the surface of the earth,
which were common enough in past times, the strata which
were in the centre of the Weald were upheaved, and this
upheaval, which extended across what is now the English
Channel, and into the north of France, went so far that along
the line from Horsham to Tunbridge Wells and then south-
ward to Hastings, the Hastings sand, which in its natural
position lies below all the other beds of the Weald, except the
Purbeck beds, was brought to the surface ; and in the north of
France, where the force of the upheaval seems to have been
greatest, beds which lie naturally below the Hastings sand

On the Weald. 67

came to the surface, and are now the common soil of the
country. Inone place on the English side of the Channel
(between Heathfield and Battle in Sussex) the Purbeck beds,
which lie below the Hastings sand, are on the surface, but only
to a very limited extent. The result of this movement was
that the beds, instead of lying horizontally as they did before
the upheaval, came to be domed along that part of the centre
of the Weald which is now occupied by the Hastings sand,
and were made to dip considerably to the N. S. E. and W.
from that central line.

The state of things which was thus brought into existence
is well shown by a diagram, taken from Professor Ramsay’s
“* Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain” (page
110), which represents what would have been seen if the
dome had been complete. There is no reason, however,
to believe that it ever was complete, but as the upheaval
proceeded the strata were planed off, probably by the action
of breakers in a shallow sea, and in this way they were
made to assume on the surface the form of a series of
‘concentric rings as they now appearon the map. A rather
homely illustration will make this, perhaps, rather more clear
to those of you who are not familiar with geological pheno-
mena. By the process of upheaval, the beds, instead of being
as they were before, flat, one on top of the other, came in the
centre of the Weald to assume the form which is seen in any
bulbous root which is made up of successive layers (as for
example a Spanish onion) when looked at with the side up,
and after the planing process of which I have spoken they
become on the surface like the same root as it would be after
the upper part was cut off, in concentric rings. Having thus
been formed, the Weald district was at last raised above the
sea and became dry land. There seems no room to doubt that
the movement or series of movements which raised up the
central part of the Weald also caused the formation of the
English Channel. They probably lowered the strata in what
is now the middle of the Channel, and thus enabled the sea to
cut a channel through them instead of merely planing them
off as it did on the English side.

There is yet an important thing to be explained, the forma-
tion of the hills and valleys which are found in the Weald.
The Weald, when first raised above the sea in the way
which I have described, would be a plain, flat, or very
nearly flat, and made up as we have seen of strata lying
in concentric rings. Outside of all is the hard Chalk, with
the equally hard Upper Greensand below it; then comes the
soft Gault, next the hard Lower Greensand, followed by the
soft Weald Clay, and in the centre of all is the hard Hastings

68 Mr. Fohn Flower.

Sand. The Gault and Weald Clay have been worn away
and removed, or, as it is technically termed, denuded, whilst
the Chalk and Greensand, and the Hastings Sand, have
been left standing as hills. The agency which has produced
this denudation of the Gault and Weald Clay has been the
subject of much controversy, and many theories have been put
forward to account for it, but the theory now adopted by the
members of the Geological Survey is very simple, almost
provokingly so, and it is that the only agents which have
produced this denudation are the action of the rain and the
weather, and the streams. In this way the Weald has been
formed into the shape in which we now see it.

There is one more very important feature to be mentioned and
explained, and that is the formation of the valleys of the rivers
which now flow, or formerly did, flow out of the Weald. When
the Weald district was first left by the sea and became dry
land, numerous streams, with lateral branches, must have been
formed at once upon its surface by the action of the weather.
These would naturally flow down the slope, in all directions,
from the central high ground of the Hastings Sand, following
the natural dip of the strata, and would cut channels, more or
less deep, through the Weald Clay, Lower Creensand, Gault,
Upper Greensand, and Chalk. In this way it would seem that
five rivers or streams were formed in our immediate neigh-
bourhood, the Darent, the Ravensbourne, the Wandle, the
Hog’s Mill River, and the Mole, which must have drained
between them a considerable part of the country which lies to
the south of the chalk hills.* As the denudation of the
Weald progressed, the streams trom the Weald would
necessarily experience between themselves a keen struggle for
existence, which would end as all such struggles inevitably
must end, in the destruction of the smaller streams, and the
survival of the streams which were most favoured by the
natural configuration of the ground or by other natural
advantages.

The first difficulty which the streams on the north side
of the Weald would have to contend with would be created
by the action of the weather on the Weald Clay. As
this was worn down and denuded, the Lower Greensand
formation would gradually be formed into a range of hills on
its north side, and these would offer an impassable barrier to
the passing of water northward from the Weald, except in
places where the Lower Greensand was of small dimensions,

* These names are here adopted because they are the nearest modern
names which are available, but except, perhaps, in the case of the Darent
and the Mole, the modern streams are very different to their ancient proto-
types both in character and extent.

On the Weald. 69

or where, being bent into the form of a trough, streams were
enabled to flow through the trough, and so get over it.
Another effect of the formation of these hills would be, that
the water, being uanble to get through them, the streams
would be diverted eastward or westward, in which directions
they would flow until they were able to join some stream
which had been able to get through the Lower Greensand and
then, by adding to its strength and therefore to its cutting
power, they would materially assist it in its struggle with the
other streams. The denudation of the Weald Clay therefore
must in this way have been fatal to many of the lateral
branches of the streams, and its effect upon the others would
be that some would be considerably diminished in size by the
stoppage of part of their supply of water, whilst the water of
which they were thus deprived would go to swell the volume,
and would therefore increase the strength of rival streams.

A very similar state of things would be repeated in the case
of the Gault. Its denudation has converted the space between
the Chalk and the Lower Greensand into the valley which I
have already described. The Gault being softer than Chalk, and
therefore more easily worn down, would soon be reduced below
the level of some of the valleys in the Chalk through which
the streams or their lateral branches flowed, and as this took
place the several branches or streams, some of which would
be already much weakened by the effects already described of
the denudation of the Weald Clay, would be cut off entirely
from the Weald, and their valleys would be necessarily con-
verted into dry valleys.* At the same time the water which
formerly flowed through them would be diverted eastward
or westward down the valley, and would go to swell and
strengthen rival streams. The competition, however, would
still continue between these, and the very existence of each
of them would come to depend entirely upon its ability to keep
the area which it drained and its channel through the Lower
Greensand and Chalk below the level of the area and channel
of its rival neighbour. As each failed to do this it would be
cut off from the source from which its water was derived, its
valley would be converted into a dry valley, and its water
would be swallowed up by its victorious rival. In this very
simple way the whole of the streams, with all their lateral
branches, which formerly flowed from the Weald northward
through the chalk hills between the Mole and the Medway, a
distance of 35 miles, seem to have disappeared from the scene,

* It is probable that many of these valleys later on were much
deepened and enlarged by the action of periodical Bourne streams, like the
one so frequently seen in the Caterham Valley. These Bourne streams
would naturally be much more numerous in past times than they now are.

70 Mr. $Fohn Flower.

except the Darent. This is left, but only as a weakly stream,
deriving a small amount of water from the small valley
which runs from Westerham towards Sevenoaks, but, with that
exception, having altogether lost its connection with the
Weald. It seems to stand, in fact, like one of those very
ancient forms so well-known to physiologists, an isolated relic
of a byegone age, left as a connecting link for our instruction.
With the unimportant exception above mentioned, in the case
of the Darent, the whole of the country to the south of the
chalk hills between the Mole and the Medway is now drained
by those rivers, the sole survivors in their struggle for
existence, and their branches may now be seen in the fields
below White Hill near Caterham, within a very short distance
of one another.

Another curious and interesting effect would seem to result
from the state of things above described. The drainage down
the gault valley would flow east and west into the rivers, and
as these, following the natural dip of the strata, flow towards
the north, the tendency of the flow of the water down the
gault valley would be to cut off the corners, where the gault
valley joins the river valley, and, taken with the gradual lower-
ing of the gault valley, to form the trumpet-shaped mouths,
with sloping sides, which are seen at the southern extremity
of many of the river valleys on the north side of the Weald.

With regard to the survival of the Mole, it seems probable, on
reference to the map, that this has been due to the exceptional
advantages which it has enjoyed over the other rivers in its im-
mediate neighbourhood. In the first place the Lower Greensand
formation is reduced to very small dimensions where the river
passes into the chalk, and this has given it, without interrup-
tion, the drainage of the large area of Weald Clay which lies
immediately to the south of the Mole valley. Then again,
in the way already pointed out, it has been enabled to secure
for itself, and thus to monopolise, all the drainage of that part
of the valley of the Gault which lies for 10 miles to the east
and for some few miles to the west of it. And lastly the short
distance which it has to pass over the Chalk before it reaches
the London Clay, which here approaches very near to the Gault,
has very materially assisted it.

I have gone much into detail with regard to the struc-
ture and history of the Weald because it is so closely
connected with the districts which adjoin it that its past
history is necessarily part and parcel of theirs: so much
so indeed that until the manner in which it has been
formed is properly understood, it will be impossible to under-
stand the history of the valleys which run into it. If the above
explanation be borne in mind it will not be difficult now to see

On the Weald. 71

how the Catchment Basin of our own river, the Wandle, has
been formed.

Before proceeding to examine this in detail it will be as
well perhaps to explain what is meant by a Catchment
Basin. It must not be supposed that the area which is
drained by any particular river is merely the area upon
which it is seen onan ordinary map. Fora variety of reasons
it very seldom happens that this is the case. The whole of
the area which a river drains is termed its Catchment Basin,
because it is bounded on all sides by a ridge of high ground,
termed its watershed, which separates it from the basins of
adjoining rivers, and within this circle of high ground is caught
all the rain, which, by the natural process of drainage, forms
the river. The above definition, however, has reference
only to the surface drainage. The underground flow of
water follows, as a rule, the same course as the surface
water, but, as will be explained hereafter, this is not by
any means always the case. The distance between the
streams which are actually flowing and the edge of the basin
differs very considerably in different river basins, and is regu-
lated entirely by the nature of the soil, and the natural struc-
ture of the district. Thus, on clay soils, which are impervious
to water, the rain which fallsis obliged to flow over the surface
of the ground, and therefore if the Catchment Basin of a river
is bounded by beds of clay, as is the case, in some places,
with the basins of the Mole and Medway, the streams will run
right up to the boundary of the basin. But if, on the other
hand, the edges of the basin are on a porous soil, like Chalk,
the rain which falls sinks in at once, and does not come to the
surface again until some natural peculiarity of the ground
compels it to do so.

The Hog’s Mill river seems to afford a very good illus-
tration of what I have just said. This river appears in
the map as a very insignificant stream, which falls into
the Thames at Kingston, having one branch which origin-
ates near Epsom, and another which originates near Ewell,
and apparently it has no connection whatever with the Weald.
The Catchment Basin of this river, however, seems to prove
that at one time the Hog’s Mill river was a much larger and
more important stream than it is now. Its Catchment Basin
extends right up to the chalk hills, narrowing rapidly at its
southern extremity, and ultimately runs into that very remark-
able deep valley, cut out of the southern slope of the chalk,
which is to be seen immediately to the north of Betchworth
station, and up which passes the high road to Walton-on-the-
Hill. This valley may now represent the opening in the
chalk through which the ancient Hog’s Mill river passed out

72 Mr. Fohn Flower.

of the Weald, for there seems good reason to believe that this
river once drained a part of the area to the south of the chalk
hills, until, like the other streams on the north of the Weald,
its supply of water was cut off, as explained above, by the
deepening of the valley of the Gault. The reasons why this
river has shrunk as it were so far from the edges of its basin
will be better explained a little later on, in connection with the
Wandle basin, with which it has much in common.

In dealing with the Wandle it will be convenient first to
describe the chief physical features of its river basin, and then
to try and see how, in all probability, they have been brought
into existence. I have here a large tracing, taken from the
six-inch Ordnance map, of that part of the area drained by the
river Wandle which lies between the chalk hills, which are the
southern boundary of its Catchment Basin, and a line drawn
east and west through the southern part of Croham Hurst.
This tract of country is about seven miles across from north to
south. I hoped to have been able to add to this a similar
tracing of the remainder of the Wandle basin, but the time at
my disposal has not allowed of this. This tracing shows all
the contour lines on the Ordnance six-inch map, and shows
therefore, and to any one who is accustomed to contour maps
at a glance, the exact position and size and shape of every
valley in this, which is, for our purpose, the most impor-
tant part of the area which is drained by the Wandle. The
contour lines to the south. show the shape and heights of the
chalk hills. The broad blue line on the east side shows the
line of the watershed between the Wandle and Ravensbourne
river basins, and the corresponding broad blue line on the west
side indicates the watershed between the basin of the Wandle
and that of the Hog’s Mill river. These two watershed lines
at their southern extremity are eleven miles apart, but as they
go northward they rapidly converge, the eastern one passes
close to Sanderstead Church, and the western one close to
Banstead Church, and at this part, which is about six miles
from the southern edge of the Wandle basin, they are only about
five miles apart.

If we examine in detail the district which is comprised in
this tracing we shall see that in the centre of it is the narrow
continuous valley which runs from Croydon to Merstham.
The highest point in this valley is about three-quarters of
a mile north of Merstham Church, at which point the valley
is a little less than 450 feet above the sea level. From there
to Beddington, a distance of about nine miles, the valley
slopes gradually down towards the Thames, and at Beddington
it is only 100 feet above the sea level. There seems reason to
believe that before the Wandle was cut off from the Weald

On the Weald. 73

by the lowering of the Gault, in the way which I have
described, there was a considerable stream down this valley.
Now there is no stream to be seen init till you reach Croydon,
the first seven miles of it from Merstham being, in ordinary
seasons, quite dry. It seems possible that this stream may
originally have come out of the Weald in two branches, one
of which came down the main valley, and the other down a
smaller valley which is a little to the west of it, and which
joins the main valley near Chipstead Church. The highest
point in this smaller valley is about 530 feet above the sea
level.

The tract of country which lies on the west side of the
Merstham valley is drained through a large and deep
valley, which runs into the Merstham valley at Smitham
Bottom, opposite the Red Lion Inn. This valley has three
great branches on its western side, one runs up to Banstead
Church, another to Kingswood Church, and the third is about
intermediate between the other two. These all originate in
the high ground about Walton Heath, rather less than 600
feet above the sea level, and they slope gradually down into the
Merstham valley which, at the point where they join it, is only
about 250 feet above the level of the sea. The distance from
the head of the valley which runs from Kingswood Church to
the Merstham valley is about six miles. The main valley into
which these three branches run may also have been a river
valley in times long gone by. This may have passed out of
the Weald about the point where the road from Reigate to
Upper Gatton crosses the chalk hills, at which point their
height above the sea level is 687 feet, or it may have passed
over further to the westward. All these valleys at the present
time however are perfectly dry.

The remainder of the district which is shewn on the tracing
may be divided into two portions, viz., the high ground
‘ which lies between the Merstham valley and the Caterham
valley, and the Caterham valley with the valleys which run
into it. The Caterham valley, which joins the main valley
at Caterham Junction, runs from that point for about 34
miles without receiving any branches of any size, it then
divides into numerous branches, all of which run up into the
chalk hills. Two of these valleys, viz., the main Caterham
valley and the valley which runs through Marden Park, run
out into the Weald, and the remainder of them end in shallow
passes. The passes, which are on the top of the chalk hills,
are only 6 or 63 miles distant from Caterham Junction. The
hills in which these valleys originate are the highest along the
whole chalk range, Bottley Hill, near Titsey, which is the
highest of them all, is 881 feet above the sea. The height of

74. Mr. Fohn Flower.

the Merstham valley near Caterham Junction, where the Cater-
ham valley joins it, is only about 210 feet, so that here, in about
six miles, we have a fall of about 670 feet, and which from the
lower hills is about 500 feet. The highest point in the main’
Caterham valley is 560 feet, and inthe Marden Park valley
623 feet. Probably the Caterham valley is an old river valley,
which had its own stream before its connection with the
Weald was severed. Like all the other valleys of the dis-
trict, the valleys which run into the Caterham valley are
now perfectly dry.

The high ground which lies between the Merstham valley
and the Caterham valley has three large valleys which have
been formed in it,’ and which originate in ground which is
over 700 feet above the sea level. One of these runs up
to and passes on either side of Chaidon Church, another
passes to the east of Coulsdon Church, and a third runs up
between the other two. All of these valleys run into the
Merstham valley, one close to the Red Lion Inn, and the
other two, one a little to the north, and the other a little to the
south of it. If to the above-mentioned valleys we add one
or two smaller ones which run into the Merstham valley
from the high ground about Sanderstead, we shall have before
us all the valleys which it is important for us now to consider.

Taken as a whole, all the valleys which are comprised in
the Wandle basin have exactly the same relation to one
another that the branches of a stream would have. The
smaller branches run into and coalesce with the larger ones,
and all ultimately flow into and join the Merstham valley,
in which valley our town stands. Like branches of a stream
too, they have a gradual and continuous fall. If you trace
any one of them down from its origin in the high ground
to the Merstham valley you will find no ups and downs in it,
no hills and valleys. The bottom of the valley is a complete
trough, with a steady and gradual slope down to Croydon.
How then were these valleys formed? To answer this ques-
tion satisfactorily it would be necessary to take each valley in
succession, and subject it to a minute and exhaustive
examination. This is of course impossible this evening.
It would moreover require a great deal more time and
attention than as yet I have been able to give to the
subject. But stated generally it seems probable that
more than one of the main valleys were, in the first
instance, cut out by streams, lateral branches of the ancient
Wandle, which flowed out of the Weald, but which one by one »
were converted into dry valleys by the deepening of the valley
of the Gault, as already pointed out. Since that time they have
been greatly deepened and enlarged, and smaller lateral valleys

a

On the Weald. 75)

have been formed to them, by the action of the rain and
Bourne streams, and one or the other of these causes seems.
sufficient to account for all the valleys as they now exist.

It must be borne in mind that all these valleys are formed out of
the Chalk, which is acted upon by rain in a very peculiar way.
Rain is, of course, nothing more nor less than distilled water.
During its passage through the air it absorbs from it a con-
siderable quantity of carbonic acid. This, falling on the
chalk, dissolves and carries away with it a large quantity of
chalk, as Dr. Carpenter showed us at one of our recent
meetings, and so its action is to keep constantly increasing the
size and depth of every valley and depression which exists in
the chalk. It cannot, however, dissolve the flints with which
the chalk abounds. These are set free, and, if left to them-
selves, either remain exposed on the surface, or drop down
into the valleys, where they accumulate. In the neighbourhood
of Kingsdown, which is near Dartford, in Kent, they may be
seen, in thousands of tons, in large heaps, in the bottom of the
valleys, though here they have, no doubt, been greatly assisted
in their descent by the constant ploughing of the land. If
these flints had come within the reach of the streams they
would have been carried along by them, and ultimately have
come to form part of some of the numerous beds of angular
gravel which abound in all chalk districts. The flints out of
some of the Wandle valleys which we have considered this
evening must now form part of the beds of angular gravel
which are to be found under Croydon and in its immediate
neighbourhood, but the question by what precise means they
were transported to and deposited in their present resting
places is not at all an easy one to answer.

I have not by any means exhausted the subject of the
Wandle basin, but I have only time this evening to call.
attention to two more points of interest connected with it.
I have mentioned above that the underground flow of water
does not always follow the same course as the surface
drainage. The Wandle basin seems to afford a remarkably
good illustration of this. This most interesting subject,
that is, the underground flow of water in the Wandle
basin, is now, and has been for some years, the special
study of one of our members, Mr. Baldwin Latham, but as.
his elaborate series of observations has not yet been completed,
the result of them, necessarily, has not been made known.
With him the problem, or rather the problems to be solved are
in very able hands, and the results of his labours are looked
forward to with great interest in the scientific world. One
thing, however, I believe Mr. Latham has established, and that
is that, contrary to what is usually the case, the underground

76 Mr. Fohn Flower.

drainage of the Wandle basin does not, in some places, follow
the same course as the surface drainage. Possibly this may
be due to the levels to which the valleys have been lowered in
the manner above mentioned. The height of the Merstham
valley at the Red Lion Inn, Smitham Bottom, is about 250 feet
above the sea. The height of the corresponding point in the
valley of the Hog’s Mill river, which is just three-quarters of a
mile south of Epsom, and is about six miles due west of the
Red Lion, is 200 feet only, whilst the valley of the Mole at
Leatherhead, which is about three miles south-west of this
point, is 100 feet only. At their southern extremities the dif-
ference between the heights of the Merstham and Mole valleys
is still more striking, the Merstham valley being, as we have
seen, about 450 feet, whilst the Mole valley at Burford Bridge,
distant rather over seven miles, is 130 feet only. The levels
of these valleys therefore are lower as we go westward, and the
natural effect of this would seem to be that the water, instead
of going northward, as one would naturally expect it to do,
would soak into the porous chalk, and would drain away to the
westward.

I have only one more thing to call attention to. We
have seen that the Catchment Basin of the Wandle extends
from the chalk hills to the Thames. Its dimensions are
roughly about 10 miles from east to west, and about 14 from
north to south. The southern half of this basin is chalk,
the northern half, on the other hand, is clay. Now there is
not, so far as I am aware, a single stream running above
ground throughout the length and breadth of the chalk part of
the basin, and the same remark applies equally to the chalk part
of the basin of the Hog’s Mill river. The Bourne, of course,
being an exceptional and periodical stream, I do not reckon.
The reason for this is as follows:—The Chalk which is so
common in our district consists of a thick bed, which slopes
gradually down from the chalk hills, and bending under
London comes up again on the other side, where it forms in
Hertfordshire another district somewhat similar to our own.
The curve in the Chalk is filled up with gravels and sands, on
the top of which is the London Clay. Below the Chalk again
is the Gault. The rain which falls on the Chalk sinks down
into it and drains away underground in a direction towards the
Thames. The Gault, which is impervious to water, does not
allow the water to pass downward out of the Chalk. When
this water therefore reaches the edge of the London Clay it
reaches a point where the Chalk, lying in a curve between the
Gault and the London Clay, is necessarily saturated with water,
and the rain which falls on the Chalk to the south of the area
which is covered with the London Clay, not being able to make

On the Weald. 77

further progress through the Chalk, forms springs all along at
the edge of the clay, from which originate streams which flow
over the clay into the Thames.

This peculiarity of the district seems to have had a very
curious effect upon the distribution of the chief towns in our
neighbourhood. You will see from the geological map that
the line of the southern edge of the London Clay is a very
irregular one, and yet along it are placed in succession
Croydon, Beddington, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam, Ewell, and
Epsom, and numerous smaller towns and villages. These,
no doubt, were placed where they are on account of the
_ springs of which I have spoken. On the Chalk, on the other
“ hand, owing, no doubt, to the scarcity of water, not a single
large town is to be found, except in the immediate neighbourhood
of one of the few streams which now flow through it from the
Weald.

In conclusion, I trust that I have been able to make
intelligible to you all the facts and problems which I have
dealt with this evening. My aim has been throughout to
deal with general principles, rather than to go minutely
into details, and I think I have shown that there is a
very great deal in our immediate neighbourhood which is
well worthy of the attention of those of our members
who are interested in geology and physical geography. The
amount of leisure which I am able to command is unfortu-
nately but small, and I have not therefore been able to make
my paper’as complete as I should have liked, or to prepare all
the diagrams that I had intended, but if my paper has no
other effect, it will have helped to call the attention of our
members to some matters of great interest, and will, I hope,
afford some assistance to those who, like myself, have striven
to understand the very remarkable series of changes which
have brought our district into the condition in which we now
see it.

78 Mr. Edward Lovett.

17.—ON PREPARING AND MounrTING FOR EXHIBITION CRUsS-
TACEA AND SIMILAR OBJECTS.

By Epwarp Lovett.
[Read December 15th, 1880.]|

Mr. E. Lovett commenced his paper by remarking how few
persons had written upon British stalk-eyed crustacea, a fact
due, no doubt, partly to the limited area, and partly to the
difficulty of obtaining specimens, fishermen generally discard-
ing from their nets everything which was not edible, whilst
amateur collectors had few opportunities of dredging for
themselves. But by holding out a small inducement to
fishermen they could succeed in procuring good specimens ;
dredgers, trawlers, lobster and crab catchers, and herring men,
were the most likely ; and at Bournemouth the herring men
frequently got some good specimens of a somewhat rare form.
Mr. Lovett then went on to say—Lobster pots may be
examined with very satisfactory results, and where no fishing
of any sort is done it is wonderful what may be taken from a
small boat by using a light dredge and tangles, as invented by
the captain of the ‘‘ Porcupine.’ Lobster pots may be im-
provised out of old hampers or boxes, and if judiciously
worked on good rocky shores should yield many varieties.

We will now pass on to the preservation of these animals.
If the specimens cannot be set out at once, or if they are caught
by anyone who intends sending them, after some days or
weeks, to the person forming a collection, they may be kept in
a preservative salt, at present a patent, which hardens and
preserves the colour in a marked degree. I hope to obtain the
correct composition of this valuable material shortly. Having
well soaked the specimen in fresh water for ten or twelve hours
(except in the case of very hot weather or when decomposition
has set in), we proceed as follows: In the case of the macrura,
or crabs proper, the carapace should be taken off by cutting
round the edge with a knife, the whole of the interior structure
removed, and the exoskeleton well washed with fresh water ;
powdered alum should next be sprinkled over the anterior of
the specimen, care being taken that none of it is allowed to
adhere to any of the external parts. The specimen should
then be laid upon a piece of soft board, and the extraneous
moisture removed, the carapace replaced, the legs, antenne,
&c., arranged in the desired position with pins, and the board
placed in a good drying locality.

It will now be a question whether the specimen is to be
spoilt or not, for if the heat or light be sufficient to act upon
the carbonate of lime it will look like a boiled specimen at

On Mounting Crustacea. 79

once, whilst if it be slowly, carefully, and at the same time
thoroughly dried, it will always preserve its life-like appearance,
if kept in the dark. The reason why the specimens in the
show cases of museums cannot keep their colour, but always
bleach, is that they are constantly exposed to the light. When
the carapace is sufficently thin, cotton wool of a suitable
colour may be introduced with great advantage to bring about
the desired tint. In the case of lobsters or crayfish, the
abdominal segments should be carefully separated from the
thorax, and the same treatment followed as in the case of
crabs, except that the antenne should be turned back and not
allowed to project forward, in which position they are liable to
get broken off; imperfect specimens should always be kept, as
two bad ones of a size will often make one good one. Small
crustacea of all kinds may be set up as they are, but as much
as possible of the flesh of even small ones should be removed,
as the result is always more satisfactory. The flesh may be
got out of the claws of larger specimens by means of an iron
wire bent at right angles for about three-sixteenths of an inch
and flattened ; but if it should be necessary to remove a limb
it can be readily replaced with cement. I have never varnished
or glazed specimens in any way, but I think that a varnish
drying very hard, but with a very slight and colourless glaze,
would be of great advantage, and I should be glad to hear if
such a varnish is obtainable.

The importance of recording when and where the specimens
were caught, the time of year, their size and apparent age,
were dwelt upon, as the reader had found that many species
considered by Bell and others to be very rare were exceedingly
abundant in even limited localities, a sandbank near the Nore
yielding numerous varieties presumed to be scarce. The best
works on the subject are those by Leach, Milne, Edwards,
Bell, and White, with a very useful handbook in Gosse’s
“‘Marine Zoology.”

In conclusion, Mr. Lovett expressed the pleasure it would .
afford him to give all the information in his power to any
member of the club who required it.

80 Mr. E. Straker.

18.—A TABLE OF THE GIRTHS, POSITIONS, AND ESTIMATED
AGES OF CHURCHYARD YEW TREES IN THE EASTERN
HALF OF THE COUNTY OF SURREY.

By E. STRAKER.
[Read December 15th, 1880.]

N.B.—Of 53 Churchyards visited, 27 possess Yew Trees of
noticeable age and 26 do not.

The position of each tree is fixed from its compass bearing
from the centre of the Church.

Height at
which the
Girth. Girth is Estimated age
No. Name of Parish. ft. in. taken. Bearing. about
x Crowhurst. ....% 30!) 65.5) §-ft. 00 ENE: «s. A8001yeans
GAs Dandtidee. iss. cs AOr 0 Odie taay Ys. eR Woodie
2B iy Diet DA.Oyrdiny 594) <8, MANN. eee QAO
34 Warlingham BO) WO Kees ayy) tone iS Re
3B 3 KuvQuevitinoer 1:30 cee
3c 43 EF) we Orridnn 4b. gg. Tenis) WESaNVe eee Gee
A Parley spugeakeect EQ) Odean: Yoiderate WeSdWate tia OR@nies
4B al easier eee’ Sy O wats 05) chines NNW) n29 Ome
GA Achelshany wid: debe Of hOhenc, Ft ShSaW ie BOOMENS
5B Pe cee ee I or re te
5c eRe) whsbptantid An (Bix. Jp jain ES Be die pooner
6... Woldingham . «52:04 ).Ohe pn Oriteinns (Sep! ey Rae
ares Merstnaniy «yh tes 6 (Or sss) qefte nok, SS. We oes Oey
8 WNutfield ......-«: Ap Gt ain: Delt ced, (Sil ci BES
ga. Bletchingley <2... 7110. 00d. Saft. on Sie Samy BPO Gs
QB 9 sd fe 5g Qphsiory dope See S WS ee behbel Figs
10A Caterham......... TQ) (0) -< Arftenpeac Sia ert HOO
IOB 5) -Pegttebawsen Aap es, Orth se SS. Bs: Gus! |. TRA ae
11 Beddington ...... TO) Oh S.. -§-fks: We-S.ScB.tSe) >) SBOE
i2 oi Cheam wats. sacsaers Sinhhies ried Ses es) (EOS IEE
TRA) Banstead sisseeass ae ee Ss. hank, OD
13B sya “ketesiees DMO) foaerel ttre 1. te StWiekeee ek OGRnES
z4\Coulsdon ....0:.+: WAM ie. <Zalte is) We” hee Ae
gS Chaldon \sevsd BPR s des, ‘Salt. pe WSs Wen se GOCE
rb .,Chigistead <......: PQMNG aoe spines MiB BOG hay
17H Gatton 2.......060 Fi. 45 yee! Wa Cees of SOM
17T ipa eeenseks OIRO aa leass Yess >. WE PRS Ooms
18a Sanderstead ...... EGM Sime ys. ies. SSW eda) WOfOrue
18B ae fn Betouse Uh. nel ait Gaede SeSelle Me sk,e 24 Oleee
18c Ce Wits ho a OTD Neath sdved | '* - Bas) ase Ot ees
19 Addington ...... ESiat Oe .teteawyy hat-<'tWeSaWe | see: OOO ee
20A Limpsfield ...... DS WAST srepiettyeeseg Wiidel soon,

On Churchyard Yew Trees. 81
Height at
which the
Girth. Girth is Estimated age
No. Name of Parish. ft. in. taken. Bearing. about
20B Limpsfield ...... Ir 3... 5-ft. ... w.s.w. ... 470 years
me Vatsheld. .. xxicc DON Coad aay: «(0 (aD. ape MOO: 53
22. Ashtead, :abouts..:24 Oss" 5, : WiStW.'s:. 1400' (5,
234 Walton-on-the-
is bt | a oe sath 97 tin tid BANS 227 WS css
23B im As pies: sige iGe2s. ig fis sss Weswel <a SOayityy
24a Burstow ..... RAPER GS FS es tS Bales | pea aie
24B Wp. cae Or Gee. ti yeh aE. .Bat a Mo oie
BR TLOMCY. 53.0258) xe Tih: Qa aay ig7 dds NEMAWe Ge. \IQOO IGS
25B PNUSLE cet. Neashom: 2240) Agwesiws ..oraeen
er Charlwoody .j....220 i giligos gky tee 1300 ,,
ape Gapel is. 30: Rete e Gh. Ug 02.2 meta .s x: Goan
The bearings to the points of the compass.
4 Trees bear .... . W. 1 Tree bears E.
9 "s W.S.W. I 55 E.N.E.
2 RS = SSW I - N.E.
5 t ah es SBM I - N.N.E.
4 i. +m Be o #9 N.
3 ‘. S.S.E. a - .. N.N.W.
5 3 S.E. fo) ‘3 . N.W.
3 34 E.S.E. 2 ‘ W.N.W.

The predominating and average bearing is s.s.w.

There are—
35 Trees having
28 é
15

3” -

SOUTH bearings
NORTH
WEST
EAST

2

?

”

82 Mr. Fohn Flower.

Ig.—ON THE PECULIAR SHAPE OF THE CLAW OF THE
MippLE Tor oF Birps.

By the President.
[Read December 15th, 1880.]

The peculiarly serrated shape of the claw of the middle toe
of the Nightjar (C. Europceus) is well known, and many are
the ingenious theories which have been framed to account for
its peculiar form. The claw of the middle toe is also serrated
in the Herons and Cormorants, and in other birds peculiarities
in this claw have been noticed. It is not, however, my inten-
tion now to go through these in detail, or to endeavour to
explain the reason for their peculiarities. I propose on the
present occasion merely to point out a matter of some interest,
which seems to throw some light upon the peculiarities to
which I have referred.

The number of birds in which peculiarities in the claw of
the middle toe have been noticed and described is compara-
tively small, and it is somewhat singular that all naturalists
who have dealt with this subject have described these cases
as something altogether exceptional, as if, in fact, they were
the only birds in which this claw is different from the others.
I believe, however, that a close and exhaustive examination of
the feet of birds would show that there are very few, if any,
birds in which the claw of the middle toe is not more or less
modified in form. The outside edge of this claw, as a rule, is
not peculiar, but the inside edge is so far modified that it is
easy to tell whether any particular foot is a right foot or a left
foot by this peculiarity alone.

The series of birds’ feet which I have here, and which
comprise nurnerous examples from each of the five orders into
which British birds are divided, will make this very clear. In
all of them the inside edge of the middle claw is much developed
and altered in shape.

It would be dangerous to attempt to frame a theory to
account for this peculiarity until the matter has been more
fully considered and investigated, but I hope our members will
not lose sight of this subject, and if any remarkable modifica-
tion of this claw should come under their observation they
should not fail to bring it forward at one of our meetings.

RULES.

Title and Objects of the Club.

The Club shall be called ‘‘THe Croypon Microscopical AND
Natura History Crus,” and shall have for its object the mutual
help of its Members in the study of Microscopy and Natural History,
the investigation of the Meteorology, Geology, Botany, and Zoology
of the neighbourhood of Croydon and the County of Surrey, and the
dissemination amongst its Members of information on the subjects
of Microscopy and Natural History.

Management of the Club.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by a President,
Treasurer, and Hon. Secretary (ex-officio), and a Committee of nine
Members, who shall be elected by ballot at the Annual General
Meeting, three to form a quorum. The office of President shall not
be occupied by the same Member for more than two years in
succession.

Membership.

1.—Every candidate for Membership shall be proposed by two or
more Members, one of whom, at least, shall have a personal know-
ledge of him, and who shall sign a certificate in recommendation of
him, according to the form appended. The certificate shall be read
from the chair, and the candidate therein recommended balloted for
at the following meeting. One black ball in five to exclude.

2.—The Annual Subscription shall be 1os., payable in advance on
the 1st of January (or on election, if previous to November), and no
person shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until his Sub-
scription shall have been paid.

3.—Distinguished men may be elected Honorary Members of the
Club; such Honorary Members shall not be subject to any of the
expenses of the Club, and shall have no vote in its affairs.

4.—In order to encourage the study of Microscopy and Natural
History amongst mechanics, &c., residing in the district, individuals
of that class may be admitted as Associates, provided they shall first
communicate some original information or observation on Microscopy
or Natural History, or exhibit such specimens as shall, by their merit,
satisfy the Committee. Such Associates shall enjoy the privileges of
Honorary Members.

5:—No Member shall be considered to have withdrawn from the
Club until he shall have paid his arrears, and given a written notice
to the Secretary of his intention to resign.

2 Rules.

6.—If it shall be thought desirable to expel any Member from the
Club, the same shall be done by a resolution of the Committee, which
shall be read at the next ordinary meeting; and at the following
meeting a ballot shall take place with respect to the proposition, and
if two-thirds of the Members present shall vote for such Member’s
expulsion, he shall no longer be considered a Member.

7.—Any Member may introduce a visitor at an ordinary meeting,
who shall enter his name, with that of the Member by whom he is
introduced, in a book to be kept for that purpose.

Ordinary Meetings.

1.—The ordinary meetings of the Club shall be held on the third
Wednesday in every month (excepting the months of June, July, and
August), at seven o'clock in the evening; the chair to be taken at
half-past eight precisely ; or at such other times as the Committee
may appoint.

2.—The ordinary course of proceedings shall be as follows :—

I.—The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and submitted
for approval as being correct.
I].—The names of candidates for Membership shall be read, and the
ballot for the election of Members shall take place.
III.—Scientific communications shall be read and discussed; after
which the chair shall be vacated, and the meeting shall resolve
itself into a conversazione, to terminate at ten o’clock.

3.—In the absence of the President, the Members present at any
ordinary meeting shall elect a Chairman for that evening.

4.—No paper shall be read which has not received the sanction of
the Committee; and, whenever it is possible, early notice of the
subject of the papers to be read shall be given by the Secretary to
the Members. No paper shall exceed twenty minutes in the actual
reading, unless by the special permission of the Chairman.

5.—In addition to the above ordinary meetings, others, for con-
versation and the exhibition of Microscopical objects and Natural
History specimens, shall be held on the first Monday in each month,
at eight o’clock in the evening.

Business Meetings and Election of Officers.

1.—The accounts of the Club shall be audited by two Members
appointed at the ordinary meeting in December. No member of the
Committee shall be eligible as an Auditor.

2.—At the same meeting, notice of the Annual Meeting in January
shall be given from the chair.

3.—An Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held, in the place o
the ordinary meeting, on the third Wednesday evening in January,
at half-past eight o’clock, when the election of officers for the year

Rules. 3

ensuing shall take place, and the report of the Committee on the
affairs of the Club, and the balance sheet, duly signed by the
Auditors, shall be read.

4-—No permanent alteration in the Rules shall be made, except at
one of the monthly meetings of the Club, and notice of any proposed
alteration or addition must be given at or before the preceding
ordinary meeting.

Form of Certificate for Election of Members.

Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club.

being desirous of becoming a member of this Club, we beg to recom-

mend him for election.

(ow my personal knowledge. )

Note.—Original Rules drawn and adopted at a Meeting held
March 16th, 1870.

Rules as to Election of Officers and number of Committee-men
revised January, 1872.

Rules as to Payment of Subscriptions and establishment of Con-
versational Meetings revised and adopted January, 1876.

Rules as to Tenure of Office by the President of the Club, and as
to Election of Members revised January, 1877.

Addition to title of Club made January, 1877.
Further Alterations made April, 187g.

4 List of Books.

LIST OF BOOKS,
THE PROPERTY OF THE CLUB.

American Entomology ... “Ae oo
Botany ... aoe 28 see see
British Diatomacez (2 ae We

British Flora (2 vols.) re x +
British Land and Fresh Water Shells Oo
British Rainfall (7 vols.)

Cryptogamic Botany... bec
Foraminifera... =

Fresh Water and Marine Aled

Human Microscopic Anatomy... 25 ene ee
Lectures on Histology ... Se oem so
Marvels of Pond Life ... sae ae ate
Memoirs of N. L. Austen

Microscope, The Achromatic ... oe xe

Microscope, How to work with the
Microscope, Treatise on the use of the

Microscope, The... = = onc ae eae

Microscope, The (ed. 1875)

Microscopical Manipulation ... na

Microscopical as The Mounting and Prepara
tion of

Natural History Specimens, cee on Collecting ae
Preserving ... oes coe se: aoe

Natural History of Selhome sa es +7 on

Polarized Light ... coe Boe
Spectrum Analysis 4-3 ons
Journal Royal Microscopical Society.
Journal Quekett Microscopical Club.

Say.
Sachs.
Smith.
Bentham.
Turton.
Symons.
Berkeley.
Carpenter.

Nave & Spicer:.

Kollicker.
Quekett.
Slack.
Buckland.
Beck.
Beale.
Quekett.
Carpenter.
Carpenter.
Suffolk.

Davies.

Taylor.
White.
Woodward..
Suffolk.

Reports of the Clubs and Societies in Correspondence.

Science Gossip.

i

Societies in Correspondence. 5

SOCIETIES & CLUBS IN CORRESPONDENCE.

Royat MicroscopicaL Society.

BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

BRIGHTON AND Sussex Natura History Society.
CoLcHESTER NatTurAL History Society.

EASTBOURNE NATURAL History Society.

East Kent Natura History Society.

Eppinc Forest AND County oF Essex NATURAL FreLp Cuus.
GEoLoaisTs’ ASSOCIATION.

GREENWICH MIcROscoPIcAL AND NatTuraL History Society.
Hackney MicroscopicaL AND NaTurAL History Society.
HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL History Society.

MarGATE MIcCROSCOPICAL CLUB.

New Cross MicroscopicaL AND NATURAL History Society.
NoRTHAMPTON NATURAL History Society.

QUEKETT MicRoscoPricaL CLuB.

SoclETE BELGE DE MICROSCOPIE.

SociETE RoyALE MALACOLOGIQUE DE BELGIQUE.

SoutH Lonpon MicroscopicaL AND NaturaL History Crus.

SyDENHAM & Forest Hitz Microscoricat & NaTuRAL History
Cus.

Tower Hitt MicroscoricaLt CLus.

West Kent Naturat History, MicroscopPicaL, AND PHOTOGRAPH
SoclIery.

West Lonpon ScIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION AND FIELD CLuB.

LIST OF MEMBERS
(Revised to Fune, 1881.)

Adams“P—Rutherford,--D+,St.james’ Road
Adamson William, jun., Mavis Bank, Park Hill Rise
Allen Rev. Francis A., 118, Waddon New Road

Backwell Richard, 2 Lawn Cottages, Sunnybank, S. Norwood, S.E.
Baddeley J., jun., 60 London Road

Bailey Edwin, Lansdowne Road

Baker Samuel, Lansdowne Road

Baldiston Frederick, Glastonbury Lodge, Sydenham Road
Baldock J. H., F.c.s., 3 High Street, South Norwood, S.E.
Barnes Thos. H., m.p., Lynton Villa, St. James’ Road

Baynes W. W., D.L., J-P-s Whitehorse Road

Beeby William H., F.R.M.s., 14 Ridinghouse Street, London, W.
Bennett Arthur, 107 High Street

Berney Edward, m.R.c.s., 58 North End

Berney John, F.R.M.S., 61 North End

Blackett Rev. H. Field, St. Andrew’s Vicarage, Bramley Hill
Blades William, Oakdene, Park Hill Road

Blake W. J., jun., High Street

Bogle-French Nat., 57 Strand, London, W.

Bonella John, Duppas Hill

Bonus C. W., Oakwood House, Sydenham Road

Bridgman J. H., m.R.c.s., London Road, Broad Green

Brock Geo. E., South Park Hill Road

Brodie Robert, M.A., George Street

Browne Lewis, 95 Wellesley Road

Brewer J. G. B., Havelock Road

Buck James, 63 High Street

Budd Percy, High Street

Burbidge W. H., Stanley House, Alleyn Park, West Dulwich, S.E.

Carpenter Alfred, M.v., J.P., Duppas House
Carpenter A. B., Duppas House

Carter Jas. A., Reedham, Coulsdon, Surrey
Chambers W. E., J.P., Eversfield, Sutton
Cheeswright Fred., St. Peter’s Road

Cheshire William, Stirling Villas, Sutton
Chisholm Jas., Highbury Villa, Nicholson Road
Chumley John, Langford House, Havelock Road
Clarke Josiah, 20 George Street

Cleaver H. A., M.R.c.s., 40 North End

Close H. J., Addiscombe Road

Coates W. N., Fairfield Road

Compton Thomas, Mitcham

Cooper Richard, 4 George Street

Cooper Walter, 4 George Street

Cooper W. Reeve, Oakfield Road

Cooper C., Dingwall Road

Corden George, F.M.S., 53 High Street

List of Members.

Corry John, Rosenheim, Park Hill Road

Cowan J. G., 42 St. James’ Road

Cowdell H. S., Bramley Hill

Crowley E. A., 62 High Street

Crowley Jonathan S., 3 Park Hill Rise

Crowley Philip, Waddon-House ¥4
Gurling-George, Elgin House, Addiscombe Road

Cushing Thomas, F.R.A.s., Woodstock Villa, Alexandra Road

Dade Wm. C., 34 Outram Road, Addiscombe
Davies Arthur Capel, Arundel Road, Duppas Hill
Davis A. M., 17 Morland Road

Dickens Richard Joseph, Addiscombe Road
Dickinson William, m.a., F.c.s., Warham Road
Dix T. H., 36 High Street

Drage John, Tamworth Road

Drummond A. W. B., 15 Dingwall Road
Drummond H., 15 Dingwall Road

Drummond William, 76 North End

Duke Thomas Jeffrey, Queen’s Road

Dukes Charles, m.p., Wellesley Road

Duncan P. T., m.p., Putney, S.W.

Duncan W. A., M.D., 24 George Street

Eastty Alfred, Addiscombe Grove
Eaton-H=S.,.1.Ay-FeM.s.,-Chepstow Road

Edridge T. R., j.p., The Elms, High Street

Emery John, 15 Dagnall Park, South Norwood, S.E.
Emmett W. H., Lynton Villa, Whitehorse Road

Epps W.., jun., Biggin Wood House, Upper Norwood, S.E.
Evans Henry, m.R.c.s., F.S.A., 64 High Street

Fagg Edward, Clarence Lodge, Canning Road
Field William, Oval Road Schools

Flower John, M.a., F.z.s., Fairfield Road
Footit W. F., Oxford Lodge, Whitehorse Road
Freeland A., jun., Fairfield Road

Frewer J. R., Lower Addiscombe Road

Frisch George, Katharine House, Addiscombe
Frith John, 2 Oaklands, Park Hill Road
Fuller W. J., The Retreat, Sutton

Geldart Rev. E. M., 3 Denbigh Villas, Lower Addiscombe Road
Gardner Maitland, Fairfield Lodge, Park Lane

Gibson John, Canning Lodge, Addiscombe Road

Gill Edmund, Linn Villa, Sutton Hill, Sutton
“Grundy Charles, Melton-Lodge, Havelock Road

Haddock Roland, Park Hill Road

Hall G. H., Elmer’s End, Beckenham

Hall Robert, Garth Villas, Addiscombe
Hanscomb B., Charlton Villa, Clarendon Road
Hart P., Lyndhurst, Fairfield Road

Harwood W. H., Glebelands, Mitcham

8 List of Members.

Hawker Rev. John Kingscott, 69 Croydon Grove
Hebb W. H., Heathfield Road

Henman Charles, jun., 6 Acacia Villas, Oakfield Road
Hibberdine H. D., Oakfield Road

Hinton James T., m.p., High Street

Hodges O. T., Yester Road, Chislehurst

Holah Ernest, 1 & 2, Fish Street Hill, London, E.C.
Horsley Henry, m.R.c.s., London Road

Hovenden C. W., 93 City Road, London, E.C.
Hovenden R. G., Heathcote, Park Hill Road
Hovenden T., Arbor End, Selhurst Road, South Norwood, S.E.
Hudson Robert, F.r.s., J.P., Clapham Common, S.W.
Hulbert John, Fairfield, Road

Hyslop William, Dingwall Road

Ingham, Charles B., Moira House, Addiscombe
Ingrams William, Whitgift Schools, Church Road

Jaques John, Duppas Hill

Jarrett C., St. John’s Grove

Jenkins-B., Derwent. Vilias, Outranr Road
Johnson J. S., M.R.c.s., 105 High Street
Jones E. F., 34 Eastcheap, London, E.C.
Justican J. W., Moreton Villa, Outram Road

Kemp-Welch Henry, 18 Billiter Street, London, E.C.
Klaassen H. M., F.c.s., 2 Chepstow Road

Laing R. A., St. Peter’s Road
Lambert A., jun., High Street
Lambert Stampa W., Sydenham Road
~ Lanchester Henry, m.p., Park Lane
Lane-Harry; Havelock Road~
Lashmar Charles, mM.p., Wellesley Road
Latham-Baldwin,.c.z.,-Park Hill Rise
Lee Henry, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Ethelbert House, Margate
Lee Harry, 43 Holland Street, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E.
Lee J. R., 115 High Street
Ley J. H., Exotic Nursery, London Road
Linney Geo. F., Saffron Walden, Essex
Linton Henry, Oakwood, Duppas Hill
Lister Charles H., Addiscombe Road
Loftus T., Lower Addiscombe Road
Long Henry, go High Street
Lovett Edward, Holly Mount, Addiscombe Road
Ludlam Felix, Shirley, Surrey

McKean Kenneth, Warham Road

__ Mackenzie David, Beulah Road Schools, Thornton Heath
Major Charles M., Duppas Hill Terrace
Malleson W. T., Duppas Hill
Manners Charles, Dingwall Road
Manners George, F.L.S., F.S.A., 26 Dingwall Road
Marshall Edward, m.R.c.s., Church House, Mitcham

List of Members. >

Marks S. G., 78 Church Street

Marks J. G., 115 Waddon New Road

Martin Howard, Havelock Road

Martin Richard, Chepstow Road

Mather C. W., Dingwall Road

Mawley Edward, F.m.s., Outram-Road

Mawson Matthew, Albert Road, South Norwood, S.E.
Mead Frank, Sutton, Surrey

Melliss W. J. M., St. Clair, Addiscombe Road
Mennell H. T., Park Hill Rise

Miller William F., Havelock Villas, Havelock Road
Mitchiner J. H., Burgos House, Sydenham Road North
Mitchell E., Laurel Cottage, St. James’ Road

Moore John, Oakwood, Park Hill

Morland Charles C., Rastrick Lodge, Morland Road
Morris A., Beddington, Surrey

Morton Shadforth, 4 George Street

Moules Edward R., Whitgift Lodge, Wellesley Road
Moules Henry, Wellesley Road

Muggeridge T. Benjamin, The Vale, Sydenham

Nash F. W., Rochfort, South Norwood, S.E.

Nation W. J., 1 Clifton Villas, Thornton Heath
Newberry George, Station Road, South Norwood, S.E.
Newton Charles, Crossland Villa, Broad Green
Nicholls Alfred, Roslyn Grange, Park Hill Rise
Noakes Henry, Poplar Cottage, St. James’ Road

Odling A., Wickham House, Oakfield Park
Oldfield John, 16 Tamworth Road

Oswald H. C., Duppas Hill

Oswald John C., Duppas Hill

Owen Hugh R., London Road

Overton S., Selsdon Road

Owst Robt. Clement, 51, Thornton Heath

Packham James, Katharine Street

Page Joseph, 4 Derby Houses, Derby Road
Paget Peter, Coombe Lane

Parsons Franklin, M.D., F.G.S., 18, Whitworth Road, S. Norwood, S.E.
Peek Sir Henry W., Bart., m.p., Wimbledon
Pelton John, Stroud Green Lane

Petherick H. W., Maple Lodge, Havelock Road
Phillips James, 28 Lansdowne Road

Philpot Charles W., M.D., 13 Wellesley Road
Podmore H. R. B., Bramley Hill

Pope Michael, Chatsworth Road, Park Lane
Price George N., High Street

Price Herbert D., Highfield, Addiscombe Road
Puddicombe Beynon, 10 Elgin Road

Puxon E. W., Wintons, Park Hill Road
Pye-Smith Arnold, 6 Elgin Road

Ranger A. Washington, Warham Road

10 List of Members.

Reid George, Havelock Road

Rich Alfred William, 1 Wellington Terrace, St. James’ Road
Richardson T. A., 24 London Road

Ridge Byron, 60 North End

Roberts Rev. George R., p.p., The Limes, High Street
Roberts H., 3 Reigate Villas, Sutton

Robinson G. E., Lee Villas, Canning Road

Robinson W. Mosse, Kenley, Surrey

Roby R. F., Shirley House, Selhurst, S.E.

Rosser Walter, M.D., George Street

Rowlands Percy T., F.R.G.s., Hillside, Addiscombe
Rowland William H., Tavistock Road, Bedford Park
Rowland William, Tavistock Road

Russell William J., Waddon New Road

Rymer James, London Road

Rymer S. L., George Street

Serjeant W. Low, 11 Walter’s Road, South Norwood, S.E.
Simons George, Beddington Lane, Mitcham

Smith Henry T., 6 Thornhill Road

Smith William F., Belfort, Park Hill Rise

Spencer John, The Grange, Sutton Common, Sutton
Stanley W.-F.,-South Norwood, S.E.

Steele Joseph, v.D.s., M.R.c.s., London Road
Stevenson Albert, Brighton Road, Sutton

Straker E., Hazelshaw, Kenley, Surrey

Strong Henty J., m.p., North End

Sturge Edward B., The Waldrons

Swaine J. C., Park Hill Road

Taylor A. D., 22 Dingwall Road

Thompson Francis, St. Peter’s Road

Thompson Dr., 8 Addiscombe Villas, Lower Addiscombe Road
Toms Joseph, Lychett Villa, Tavistock Road

Toms J. A., 2 Masham Villas, Clyde Road

Topley William, Fr.c.s., Hurstbourne, Elgin Road

Turner Charles Price, The Chestnuts, North End

Turner Henry, The Chestnuts, North End

Tylor Alfred, F.c.s., Shipley House, Carshalton

Twentyman Alfred, Park Hill Road

Walker Thomas, Waddon Road

Wallace A. C., Leigham Court Road West, Streatham, S.W.
Wallis J. W., Lansdowne Road

Walton A., Tavistock Road

Walton Francis M., 6 Canterbury Villas, London Road
Ward Jesse W., Katharine Street

Warner A., 2 Grosvenor Villas, Holmesdale Road, Selhurst, S.E.
Warren Francis, Fairfield Road

Waterall Nathaniel, Waddon Lodge

Wenham William P., 80 Church Street

West Frederick, The Waldrons

Whealler G. Anson, Elgin Road

Whitling Henry T., F.R.c.S., F-R.M.S., High Street

List of Members. “ar

Williams Edwin, 3 Wellesley Villas, Wellesley Road
Wise Charles, Bramley Hill

Woodward John, 1 Lee Villas, Canning Road
Wormald Edward, Woodcote Hall, Carshalton
Wright James S., Duppas Hill Terrace

Youle A. P., Chepstow Rise

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Cole R. Beverley, m.p., San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Evans John, p.c.1., F.R.s., Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Flower, W. H., Lu.p., F.R.S., Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s
_ Inn Fields, London
Prestwich Joseph, 34 Broad Street, Oxford

ASSOCIATE.
Collyer Edward B., Selsdon Road

W. Weoty Bor
4U WOY 1886

PUBLICATIONS OF THE CLUB.

PricE ONE SHILLING EACH.

' Professor $ohn Morris, F.G.S., &c.
LECTURE ON THE GEOLOGY OF CROYDON
IN RELATION TO THE GEOLOGY OF THE
LONDON BASIN AND OTHER LOCALITIES.

With Map, Coloured Geologically.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEMBERS, FEBRUARY 17TH, 1875.

Professor T. Rupert Fones, F.R.S., F.G.S., Ge.

LECTURE ON THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN,

ILLUSTRATED BY THE

CONTENTS OF CAVES AND RELICS OF THE CAVE FOLK.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEMBERS, APRIL 26TH, 1876.

hie

ui Crogion Mirvascapiral a Detneal
Bistorg Glub.

_ OFFICERS FOR 1881.

President :

PHILIP CROWLEY, r.z.s.

Treasurer:
JOHN FLOWER, .a., F.z.s.

3 : ; tes a ~~ a
A. CARPENTER, m.p., j.P., ""9? GEO. MANNERS, F.s.A., Fils.

F.R.M.S. al ni
<“Javies cHIsHoLm. @- | MN UNNBEM
| A. D. TAYLOR.
THOS. CUSHING, F.R.A.S. HENRY TURNER.
J. S. JOHNSON, m.r.c.s.
EDWARD LOVETT.

Hon. Secretary (pro tem.) :
KENNETH McKEAN.

Af é
- Psa.