Zoological Society. 139 be mentioned the Rev. Charles Clouson, Dr. PoUexfen, Miss Watt of Skaill, and Mrs. Traill of Woodwick. It is interesting to find, that the study of the Algse, which has been so highly honoured by numbering among its most successful cultivators a Mrs. Griffiths and a Miss Hill, still continues to be a favourite pursuit with our fair countrywomen. The Museum also contains about 100 species of shells, and nume-rous antiquarian and miscellaneous objects of interest. The number of ordinary members in January 1839 was 118. We trust that such an instance of what may be done by enlisting the poorer classes of society in the support of institutions of this character will not be without its \ise, but that the inhabitants of the towns of England will do for their poorer neighbours that which has been already done with such distinguished success by the clergy and other influential persons in the distant and stormy Orcades. We may add that the address of the Secretary of the Society is the Rev. W. Stobbs, Stromness, Orkney. MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. March 18, 1840.— Mr. Owen in the Chair. A paper was read by Mr. Edwards " On the Structure and Affi-nities of the Bacillarice of Ehrenberg." After commenting on the Polygastric characters of these animalcules, the indestructible nature of their siliceous coverings, and their mode of reproduction by spon-taneous division, the author proceeded to discuss the merits of those views, which have claimed for the Bacillarice, on the one hand a place in the vegetable, and on the other a position in the animal kingdom. The mixed nature of the phsenomena exhibited by these animalcules, which has also led some naturalists to consider them as in one stage of their existence animals, and in another vege-tables, furnish, according to the author, sufficient grounds for consi-dering the Bacillarice as an osculant group, uniting the two great kingdoms of nature. An interesting discussion followed on this sub-ject, in which Dr. Lindley, Messrs. Quekett, Varley, the President, and other Members took a part. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. October 8, 1839 The Rev. F. W. Hope in the Chair. The following letter, addressed to the Chairman of the Scientific Committee by John Gould, Esq., Corresponding Member, was read ; it is dated Van Diemen's Land, May 10th, 1839: — " Although my present occupations will not permit me to send a L 2
BioStor
