240 HE PORTS OP SOCIfixrES. 



ill wliich literature, anrl especially poetry, was held by some stiulents of science, 

 and pointed out that although some of the early poets iRnored, or even ridiculed, 

 scientific teaching, it was gratefully accepted by modern poets, and actually 

 iiscd to illustrate and enforce their ideas. Mr. Caswell maintained that instead 

 of being useless lumber to the man of science, literature is of great value to 

 him in several ways. First, careful study of the best writers in our language is 

 the only means of attaining the ease, clearness, and grace of expression, 

 without which the communication of scientific knowledge will be laborious and 

 unsuccessful. The lectures and addresses of Professors Huxley and Tyndall were 

 pointed out as brilliant exarniiles of the union of profound scientific knowledge 

 with broad literary culture. The power of literature to liberate the mental 

 faculties from the damaging influence of close attention to details was next 

 referred to, and then its extreme value as an instrument for the cultivation of the 

 imagination, without which it is difficult to realise the facts of science, and 

 impossible to conduct the higher kinds of research. Finally, ;Mr. Caswell urged the 

 importance of literature as a revealer of the moral and si^iritual nature of man, 

 as a teacher of the duties of domestic and political life, and as a corrective to 

 the materialism of modern science. Passages were quoted from the writings 

 of Mr. Tennyson, Mr. Carlyle, and Professor Tyndall reprobating materialism 

 and denying that science can be all in all to men. Mr. Caswell concluded 

 by referring to the inexhaustible pleasures to be derived from literature, 

 and urged all scientific students from time to time to release their 

 minds from the strain of their studies, and surrender themselves to the 

 magical influence of genius, contending that after such recreation they would 

 return to their work with renewed relish and vigour, and with faculties better 

 fitted to bring those studies to a successful issue. — A hearty vote of thanks was 

 passed to Mr. Caswell for his address and services during the year. 



BIEMINGHAM MICEOSCOPISTS' AND NATURALISTS' UNION.— July 3rd. 

 — H. Insley showed upper .iaw and tongue of Helix nemoralis and longitudinal 

 section of Beech i-oot; Mr. Chaplin, section of human jaw; Mr. Searle, Achatina 

 acicula, English and African. Paper by Mr. Delicate on " The Atmosphere." July 

 10th.— J. W. Neville, showed jaws of Dragon-fly {Agrion)\ Mr. Baxter, CristatcUa 

 mucedo ; Mr. Darley, pair of Wood Tigers, Sutton Park ; Mr. H. Insley, frond of 

 Neuropteris, which had become bipinnate in the lower pinnules ; Mr. Beteridge. 

 pair of Wood Wrens, reared by hand (living). July 17th.— Mr. Poland showed 

 Helix sericea, H. concinna, and Zonites glaber. A paper was read by Mr. J. W. 

 Neville, on " Our Common Diatoms," which was well illustrated, and deposited 

 in the library. Canipylodiscus, from Black-root pool, Sutton Park, and Coscino- 

 discus (fossil form) were shown. July 24th. — Mr. Cook showed Privet Hawk Moth ; 

 Mr. Darley, a collection of insects caught during the year (moths and butterflies) ; 

 Mr. Mooi'e, larva of great Dragon-fly, and gizzard of the same under microscope, 

 showing remains of creatures fed upon ; Mr. Madison, Helix obvoluta, Hampshire ; 

 Mr. Darley, pair of Kestrel Hawks (young). July 29th.— Excursion to Salford 

 Priors. July 31st. — Messrs. Deakin and Clark exhibited various land shells ; Mr. 

 Boland, abnormal form of Anodonta ci/gnea, which had foi-med each valve in a 

 two lobed manner; Mr. J. Wykes, Floscitlaria ornata; Mv. H. Insley, fossil Lim- 

 nsea. Isle of Wight. August 7th. — No meeting. August 14th.— Mr. H. Insley 

 showed shark's teeth from Eocene seas, also spinal vertebrae of Icthyosaurus ; 

 Mr. Bradbury, iEcidium on Coltsfoot leaf. Mr. Delicate reported having cooked 

 and eaten Anodonta anatina, and found them good food. Special, Geology — 

 August 21st. — Mr. Moore showed sections of mountain limestone, corals, and shells 

 from Headon beds; Mr. Midgeley, Icthyoiites from the coalfields, Manchester ; 

 Mr. J. W. Neville, section of flint showing Xanthidia; Mr. Grew, oi-ganic traces 

 in fire coal; Mr. H. Insley, a collection of various ores and their accompanying 

 rocks; Mr. Madison, oolitic fossil wood. Echinus (Lias), and Oyster Greeusand). 

 August 28th. — Mr. Boland exhibited Echinus and shell of Pinna, from Tenby ; 

 Mr. H. Insley, Pecopteris from the coalfield, Bilston. Paper on " The Sun," by 

 Mr. .7. Grew. 



