120 IlEPORTS. 



fiers, and showed by diagrams on the black board their respective advantages, 

 and how to obtain from each lens the utmost of which it was capable. 

 The lecture, which was full of useful practical hints, was deservedly applauded. 

 Biological Skction. — April 11th. Mr. Morley exhibited oii behalf of Mr, W. R. 

 Hughes a collection of plants from Brixhain. Mr. R. M. Lloyd exhibited a 

 curious insect, found in a fern ease, which he had not yet been able to identify. 

 Dr. A. Milues Marshall gave Part II. (Peniiatula phosphorea) of the Report on the 

 Pennatulidd collected in the Oban dredging excursion, prepared by himself, and 

 Mr. W. 1'. Marshall, which contained some new and interesting points in the 

 structure of that genus. The report was illustrated by numerous diagrams and 

 a beautiful series of preparations under the microscopes. April 18th. — Mr. 



E. W. Chase exhibited striking varieties (pied) of the common Bunting, the 

 Linnet, and the Song Thrush, from Cambridgeshire, and a siiecimen of RuticiUa 

 tithys, the Black Redstart, from near Brighton. Mr. J. Morley exhibited 

 Spirotoenia condensata and other Desmids living, and the head of the 

 common wasp mounted without pressure by Mr. F. Enock. Mr. R. M. 

 Lloyd exhibited a small mollusc. Vertigo mouliiisianu, from near Hitchin. 

 Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the Fungi collected during the Cheltenham 

 excursion, and Sphoeria moriformis, from King's Lynn. Geological 

 Section. — April 25th. Mr. W. J. Harrison exhibited Galena in 

 Silurian Limestone and Coal, showing " slickensides " from a coal pit near 

 Dudley, and specimens of Dolerite and Pitchstoue from ^-cotland. Mr. ('. H. 

 Mather e.xhibited quartzite pebbles from the Bunter conglomerate of Great 

 Barr, showing worm borings of Trachydernui Serrata. Mr. W. B. Grove showed 

 microscopical sections of Puccinia umbilici and Corticium sanguineiun from 

 Shifnal, Salop. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited some mosses, Dicraniim montanum, 

 from two new Warwickshire stations, and Sph ignum fimhriatuni &uA Fontinalis 

 antipyretica from the neighbourhood of Maxtoke. He also showed for Mr. J. Bragg 

 a fasciated branch of Acer pseudo-platanus. Mr. T. H. Waller then read, on behalf 

 of Mr. Dr. T.Wright, F.R.S., of helteuham, a paper on "Basalt;" being the abstract 

 of an address delivered to the members on the occasion of the visit of the 

 Society to Oban. He described very vividly the volcanic rocks of that district, 

 especially with relation to Staffa and Fingal's i ave, which the party visited. 

 The paper was illustrated by sketches, photographs, and specimens, and was 

 followed by an animated discussion. 



BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS' AND NATUR.^LISTS' UNION.— March 

 13th. Exhibited by Mr. Darley, an external parasite of Humble Bee. Mr. Dunn, 

 Volvox globator, which had reappeared in an old locality. A paper, " How Rocks 

 are Formed," was read by Mr. H. Insley. Micro sections of Landovery Sand- 

 stone and Lickey Quartzite were shown. — March 20th. First night of meeting 

 in new quarters, Graham Street. Public admitted by ticket ; 3(X) present. Mr. 



F. Shrive exhibited gi-oup of five Adders, caught at Sutton Park, (living,) also 

 collection of British reptiles. Exhibited by Mr. Deakin. British Lepidoptera ; by 

 Mr. Boland, Conchological Collection. A number of microscopes were devoted 

 to pond life, &c. Mr. Betteridge exhibited a pair of Smew, male and female, 

 shot in the district. Mr. .J. W. Neville delivered an address on " The Work of 

 the Society." — March 27th. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited stomach of Common Flea ; 

 Mr. Darley, female Emperor Moth ; Mr. Moore, Horsehair Worm, Ciu. in length. 

 A paper was read by Mr. Boland on " The Natural History of the Silkworm." 

 Specimens were shown in illustration. 



DUDLEY AND MIDLAND GEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY 

 AND FIELD CLUB.— The Annual Meeting was held in the Society's 

 Museum, Dudley, on Monday, the 17th April, when the Committee's report 

 and statement of accounts were received, and officers for the present 

 year were elected. Subsequently, an address, illustrated by drawings and 

 specimens, was delivered by Mr. W. J. Harrison, F.G.S., " On the Nature and 

 Fossil Contents of the Quartzite Pebbles found in the Drift and Bunter Beds of 

 the Midland Counties." A number of interesting fossils and microscopic and 

 other objects were exhibited. 



