REPORTS OP SOCIETIES. 143 



week, and some of the chief novelties he had seen there. The Rev. J. E.'Vize, 

 M.A., then read a paper on " EngHsh Wheat," in which he traced its growth, and 

 the enemies, animal and vegetable, which it has to contend with. He also spoke 

 of the different sorts of wheat, and of the diffei-ent ways in which the grain can 

 be treated to obtain the various kinds of flour. He advocated strongly the use 

 of semolina Hour. The paper was illustrated by specimens of wheat, and the 

 fungi which attack it, and by drawings on the black board. Biological, 

 Section, May 9th.— Mr. Levick exhibited Volvox globator, to show the cilia, and, 

 on behalf of Mr. E. de Haniel, Fritillaria meleaoris, from Tamworth. Mr. J. E. 

 Bagnall exhibited a number of mosses from St. Mintz and other localities in 

 the Engadiiie, Cinclidotus aquaticu>i, named by Schimiier, and other mosses 

 collected and named by Lorentz ; also Grimmia crinita, from the only known 

 British station, near Hatton ; Arcliidium pJiascoides,' Tetraplodoii innioiden, 

 Pha^cum triqiietriim, and other microscopic objects. Mr. W. B. Grove 

 exliibited Puccinia malvacearum, on mallow, from Alvechurch ; Puccinia 

 graminis (uredo form) on grass, from Barut Green ; CEcidium lorticce, from 

 Alvechurch. Mr. C. Puiuphrey exliibited Cardamine pratensis, flore p eno, a 

 field specimen. Mr. A. \V. Wills exhibited a slide of Desmidiefe containing more 

 than fifty distinct species, many now or rare. Mr. J. Morley exhibited Drapar- 

 naldia glomerata and four slides of Desmidiese. Micboscopicax. Geneeal, 

 Meeting, May 16th.— Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Aspergillus gl aiicus, connnon 

 blue mould, on bread, to show the spores in situ. Mr. J. Morley exhibited 

 Mesorarpus scaiaris, Batracliosperniuin stagnaJe, and B. vagum. Mr. J. Levick 

 exhibited CEcistes umhella, Tubicolaria naias, Melicerta ringens, Nassula onuita, 

 and Trarheliiis ovum. Geological, Section, May 23rd — Mr. A. H, Atkins 

 exhibited a pebble from a bed of drift sand near Castle Bromwich, which, as 

 the impressions caused by intense pressure were distinctly visible, tended to 

 prove the derivation of the Drift Beds from the Bunter Conglomerates, as these 

 marks are characteristic of the latter formation. He also showed a piece of 

 blood-red sandstone from Kiuver Edge. Mr W. R. Hughes then read, on 

 behalf of Dr Wright, of ( heltenham, a short paper on " Glaciation." His 

 remarks principally referred to glacial striae and roches moutomu-es occurring 

 near Oban, and the paper was, in fact, the abstract of an address to the 

 members of the Society on the occasion of their excursion to that place. Mr. 

 A. 11. Atkins then gave a short sketch of glacial action in the Midlands, and 

 described some specimens lent by Mr W. .J. Harrison to illustrate Dr. Wright's 

 observations. After some remarks by the other members present, a cordial vote 

 of thanks was accorded to Dr Wright for his interesting paper. 



BANBURYSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AND FIELD CLUB.— 

 March 6th. Annual Meeting and Soiree, held in the Council Chamber and 

 adjoining rooms of the Town Hall, which were beautifully decorated with pot 

 flowers, palms, and ferns. A large number of members and their friends were 

 present during the evening. The officers of the Society having been elected, and 

 the reports adopted, the members proceeded to inspect the largo and interest- 

 ing collection of exhibits which had been brought together for the occasion. 

 The Society commences its second session with over seventy members. The 

 Hon. Secretaries for the present session are Mr. E. A. Walford, F.G.S., West 

 Street, Banbury, and Mr. L. Gunn, Grimsbury, Banbury. April 6th.— Monthly 

 Meeting, Mr. T. I'eesley, F.C.S., President, in the Chair. The President read his 

 Meteorological Report for February and March. The mean temperature of 

 February was 405, being I'o above the average ; mean height of barometer, 

 29'84'2 inches ; rain fell on fourteen days, amounting to 2'02 inches. The mean 

 temperature of JIarch was 43'9, being 2"5 above the average ; mean height of 

 barometer, 29'G84 inches ; rain fell on thirteen days, amounting to 1'17 inches; 

 snow and sleet fell on the night of the 25th, to the amount of '62 inch ; fog on 

 seven days, and high winds on a like number. Mr. S. Stutterd, Vice-President, 

 gave a short account of some curious habits of the Humble Bee. Ho spoke first 

 of its habit of freeing itself from insect pests which had probably accumu- 



