72 REPORTS OF SOCIETIKS. 



Myxoinycete) sprearting in a reticulate iiiauiier over the liymeninm of Poli/jMrus 

 versicolor; these protoitlasmic threads, during the course of the eveninfj, drew 

 themselves together and began the formation of the sporangia. Dr. John 

 Anthony exhibited a preparation of the dried skin of the earthworm, showing 

 the ambulacral spines, in illustration of his paper on " The Ambulacra of the 

 Earthworm," in which he described the obseivations he had made concerning 

 their mode of action. He referred to the cirrhl of a related species, Naix j)ro- 

 hoHcidea. a fresh-water annelid, in which the action of the muscles is easily 

 ol)served, owing to its transparency. These the animal can use either for 

 pushing, pulling, or swimming, according to its desires. The ventral surface of 

 the common earthworm, when examined closely, is seen to be provided with 

 four rows of spines or short projecting bristles, each of which is seated upon a 

 small elevation of the skin. It is by means of these that the worm is able to 

 resist so strongly the efforts to drag it from its burrow. The question to which 

 the paper was chiefly devoted was to ascertain whether these spines were used 

 voluntarily as in the Nais, or merely automatically as a fixed part of the 

 segment on which they were placed. The writer considered that the former 

 view was the correct one, not only by reasoning from the analogy of allied 

 forms, but as the only means of accounting for the ])ower which the worm 

 possesses of turning upon itself in its narrow burrow, and replacing itself end 

 for end. 



BURTON-UPON-TRENT NATURAL HISTORY AND ARCH.EOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY.— February 7th.— Mr. R. Thornewill, President, in the chair. The 

 paper read was on " Examples of Mimicry among Lepidoptera," by the Rev. 

 C. F. Thornewill, M.A. February 14th.— Mr. R. Thornewill, President, in the 

 chair. The paper read was on " Aids at determining the Dates of our old 

 Churches," by Mr. Alexander Scrivener (Vice-President of the North Stafford- 

 shire Field Club and Archseological Society). Mr. Scrivener exhibited diagi-ams 

 illustrative of the different styles of architecture. At this meeting some 

 cui-iously marked and lettered tiles, recently found in the Priory at Burton, 

 were exhibited. 



NOTTINGHAM WORKING MEN'S NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.— At the 

 annual exhibition and dinner of the members of this society, held at the Sir 

 Francis Burdett, Mount Street, there was a large attendance. Mi-. Goldsmith 

 presided. After the repast and the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Allen, secretary, read 

 the annual report, from which it appeared the Society is in a very healthy condi- 

 tion, the accounts showing a balance in hand of £'3 Is. lO^d. The toast of the 

 evening, " Success to the Society," was given by Mr. Bellabv. and replied to by 

 Mr. Goldsmith, who said he wished to bring to their notice that they were 

 assembled that evening to celebrate the seventh year of their existence, during 

 which time they had the kind assistance of many honorary members. He had 

 also gi-eat pleasure in announcing the admission of the Society to the 

 Midland Naturalists' Union, and the insurance of the Society's proiierty to the 

 sum of €150. The proceedings were agreeably interspersed with recitations and 

 songs. A paper was read by Mr. Goldsmith on the " Ci'ow Family." 



BANBURYSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— February Cth.— Mr. S. 

 Stutterd in the chair. Exhibits : Sciiphoplwrusconiferus and Xylaria liiipoxtjlon, 

 by the President; eggs of Collemhohi, by the Chairman ; collection of eggs of 

 the Common Guillemot (Uria iroile), to illustrate their great diversity in 

 colour, by Mr. O. V. Apliu ; Trigonia costata, var. puUa, from Lower Tadmar- 

 tou, by Mr. E. A. Walford ; and a collection of Lichens and Mosses from Dart- 

 moor by Mr. Symington. The President's meteorological report for .Tanuary 

 was read. The most noticeable feature in the month was the almost if not 

 quite unprecedented height of the barometer— on the 18th it reached .30'G2 inches. 

 The temperature was four degi'ees above the average. Mr. O. V. Aplin read a 

 note on some rare ornithological occurrences in the district. Mr. E. \. Walford, 

 spoke at considerable lengtli upon some of the common fossils of the neighbour- 

 hood, illustrating his remarks with numerous sketches. Forms for pheuological 

 observations for Feliruary were distributed. 



