156 MIDLAND UNION GENERAL BUSINESS, 



and the paper concludes with a discussion of the zoological position 

 and affinities, the history and literature, the geographical distribution 

 of the genus, with a brief note on specimens in the various English 

 Museums. The paper is an exceedingly complete and viseful com- 

 pilation of the salient features in tlie anatomy, histology, geographical 

 distribution, and affinities of a rai'e and interesting " Pennatulid." 

 The beautiful plates accompanying the letterpress are original ; more- 

 over they are of considerable value, inasmuch as they supplement the 

 incomplete and often inaccurate figures given by Kolliker in his 

 classical work on the " Pennatulida." The paper also proves that 

 Funicnliiia quadranfiularis is not confined to the Mediterranean Sea and 

 Scandinavia, as stated by Verrill and Gray, but is to be also regarded 

 as a Scotch species. I regard the authors of this paper as fully 

 deserving the award of the Darwin Medal." 



The Rev. W. Houghton, F.L.S., etc., believes "that the Darwin Medal, 

 bestowed annually, is doing much to j^romote investigation and observa- 

 tion among the members of the Midland Union of Natural History 

 Societies." He adds that "the paper on tlie " Pennatulida " is a 

 valuable contribution to our knowledge, and displays an excellent 

 method of scientific treatment." 



G. B. RoTHEKA, Esq., places Professor Marshall's paper " in the 

 rank of those which serve to illustrate more completely the methods 

 and aims of science, by tracing out the evolution of the organism and 

 its relation to its environment : of this paper (on the " Pennatulida ") 

 it would be ahnost impossible to speak in terms of too high praise, 

 and I consider it in every sense deserving of the Darwin Medal." 



The Council, therefore, recommend that the Darwin Medal for 

 Zoology (1882) be awarded to the Messrs. Marshall, and they congratu- 

 late the members upon the reception of so valuable a contribution to 

 zoological literature as the paper on the Pennatulida to which the Gold 

 Medal has been awarded. 



The death of the famous naturalist after whom the Darwin Prize 

 was named, must be recorded here in terms of the deepest regret. Mr. 

 Darwin strongly approved of the scheme of the Midland Union, and 

 was one of the first subscribers to the Midland Naturalist. He entirely 

 approved of the scheme according to which the Darwin Prize was to be 

 awarded, and expressed great pleasure at its establishment. Your 

 Council believe that the permanent endowment of the Darwin Prize 

 and Medal would forin a most fitting memorial of this great naturalist, 

 who may fitly be called " The Shakespeare of Science." If we despair 

 at his loss, knowing that " none but himself could be his parallel," we 

 may be comforted by reflecting that " he was not for an age, but for all 

 time," for he has left us in his books a monument of insight and 

 patient research which will aid and encourage every subsequent 

 worker in the field of natural science. The sum required to endow 

 the Darwin Medal would be about £250, and for such an object it is 

 believed this sum could be readily raised. The Societies in large 

 towns might each give a conversazione for this object, at which the 

 work of Darwin should be specially illustrated, and the funds derived 

 from the sale of admission tickets be devoted to the " Darwin 

 Memorial " here proposed. 



Tlie Mason Science College, Birmingham. — Allusion has been made 

 to this valuable institution in each of the last two reports of the 

 Council. It is gratifying to learn that the number of students 

 continues to show a regular and rapid increase, the number on the 

 books for the present term being 197. The Medical Students of the 

 Queen's College, Birmingham, now receive their scientific training in 

 Chemistry, Physiology, and Botany, at the Mason College, an arrange- 

 ment which is greatly to the advantage of both Institutions, 



