IT is our painful, painful duty to record the death of our publisher, Mr. Robert Hardwicke, which occurred 011 the morning of Monday, 8th March, at the age of 52 years, after an illness which lasted but for ten short days. Thus was he cut off nearly in his prime, at a time too when his business relations were almost at their best. Of his friends, it i R not too much to my, that those who knew him longest knew him best, and have only to record their extreme 8orrow for his loss. For assuredly there were none who were more thoroughly kind, genial, and considerate in all their dealings. Never before in the course of our experience have we met with one, with whom we have never within the period of ten long years had a single bitter word. All his dealings vrere kindly, none were severe. And though we feel that the fewest words are beat when all are vain, we cannot help expressing our bitter sorrow at his death. For we have not the least hesitation in wying that we have lost a good, sincere, and earnest friend. I.--Xome Remarks on Bwepltalus polymorphus, by Mr. JOHN BADCOCK, F.R.M.S. ; together with Translations from Papers of Von Baer, Lacaze-Duthiers, and Alf. Qiard, on B. polymorphzcs lurid Haimeanw, by HENRY J. SLBCE, F.G.S., Sec. R.M.S. (Read before the ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY, March 3, 1875.) IN October last Mr. John Badcock exhibited to this Society a specimen of Bwephalus polymorplw,* concerning which he suplied the following particulars. He states that "he found t I ! e animal in his aquarium at the latter end of June, 1874. A freshwater mussel had been placed in it a few days before, and remained * The representations of the creature by Von Baer are not sufficient for an PLATE XCvIII. absokte identification ; but there is little doubt of it. VOL. XIII. M