10 
and consisting of the male and female: female with enlarged and 
globular abdomen, containing eggs, &. 
October 14th.—An evening for the exhibition of Specimens. 
Mr. J. Dennant exhibited several rare birds, lent him by 
Messrs. Pratt and Sons, shot recently in the vicinity of Brighton, 
the most striking being a variety of the wheat-ear, having a white 
splash on the right wing; a tawny pipit, shot on the 5th of 
September at Rottingdean, by Mr Guthrie ; and a hoopoe, shot 
on the 15th of September at Preston (this was quite a young 
bird, as was evident from its plumage, and probably bred in 
England). 
Mr. Evruick exhibited ears of wheat, affected by smut, 
obtained near the Race-hill, and pointed out that, if proper care 
were taken when sowing, smut ought not to be found. This led 
to a discussion on the various forms of fungus, as seen in the 
cereals, and the methods employed in destroying them. 
Mr. Smirx exhibited a collection of American and Norwegian 
mossesandsphagna, some of them of great rarity ; two very rare ones, 
in beautiful condition, were Splachnum luteum and 8. rubrum, from 
Norway. It was pointed out that these, like many of the family, 
were only found on the excreta of herbivora, while others as 
Tetraplodon mmnioides, &c., were found on the excreta of car- 
nivora. Among the Sphagna were S. Molle, recently discovered 
in Sweden. 
Mr. Nicuozts exhibited a common gannet, sent him that 
morning by his brother, evidently a recently killed one; but he 
could not say where it was shot. 
Mr. R. Guaisyer exhibited shells of a kind of Unio, re- 
markable for their very great thickness and the strength of the 
hinge, found in the rapids of North American rivers, and a speci- 
men of the pinna, with its byssus. From the latter gloves, 
stockings, and other small articles are manufactured, resembling 
silk in their appearance ; it does not, however, appear capable of 
taking any dye. 
Mr. Wonror exhibited varieties of butterflies and moths, — 
