262 REPOKTS OF SOCIETIES. 



Iltprts of Sacretics. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY — 

 Genebal Meeting.— October Hnl.— Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the following 

 Fungi; — Ag. radicatus and A.flnncola, from Warley ; A. corruQis, from Sutton; 

 Hygroplwriis coniciin, H. virgineus, and H. 2>sittacinus, from Sutton; H. ceraceus 

 and H. psittacinus, from Quinton; Cyathus vernicosus, from Sutton; Chtvaria 

 verniiculata, from Quinton; Hydnum udinn and Corticiurn quercimim, from 

 Warley; and (on behalf of Mr. W. H. Wilkinson) Geaster fimbriatus, from 

 Blocliloj', Oxon. Mr. J. Levick exhibited Tuhicolaria naias, (Ecstes umbella, 

 Cohnia roseo-persicina, Bursaria leucas, and other objects. Mr. T. Bolton 

 exhibited Floscularia regalis, Huds., new to science; F. amhigua, lately new, 

 both discovered by him near Birmingham ; and F. coronetta, new to the district, 

 described in the "Microscopical Journal," 1869, since found near Dundee. Mr. 

 J. Morley exhibited (on behalf of Mr. Burgess) Achnanthes longipes, Schizonema, 

 and other diatoms. Mr. Wagstaff exhibited Sijnura Uvella, from Northfleld. 

 Biological Section.— October 10th.— Mr. W. R. Hughes exhibited (on behalf of 

 Mr. George Heaton, Jun.) specimens of Gnaphaiimn leontopodium, the Swiss 

 national flower (Edelweiss), taken in August last from the Engadiue, 8,000 ft. above 

 sea level; also Clirysantliemiim segetirm I common Marigold), from afield near 

 Christchurch, Hants, showing bifurcation of peduncle and coalition of two 

 capitula. Mr. lies exhibited Nais digitata, also some excellent drawings of the 

 same, showing the curious tentacles of the anal extremity. Mr. R. W. Chase 

 exhibited a double nest of Fr ngilla ccelehs ithe chaffinch), from Ely, each 

 division containing eggs, and which, no doubt, two birds were employed in 

 constructing. Mr. E. H. Wagstafl exhibited Dendrosoma radians, a species of 

 Rhizopoda of the family Acinetina, from near Harborne. Mr. J. E. Bagnall 

 exhibited Fungi from Ludlow: Cortinarivs siib-ferrugineiis, Hydnum repandum, 

 Triclioloma stans (rare), Lactarius insulsiis, and L. uvid'is; also from Maxtoke, 

 Warwickshire, iicf mis hysginus [rave), L. veUereiis, L. piperatiis, L. i allidiis 

 (new to Warwickshire), Hygrophorus eburneus, Clitncybe cyithiformis, and 

 other fungi. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Ag. (Nol'tnei) ni gripes, Trog., from 

 Sutton Park, a species determined by experts at the Woolhope Fungus Foray, 

 and new to Great Britain ; Ounthirellns tubcsformis, from Shrewsbury, JVectria 

 sunguinei, Feziza microcystis, Melanipsori Eupliorbice, Trichodenna viride, 

 Hysterivm pnlicare, ^geritu candid i, and Epicoccum neglcctiim. Mr. W. 

 Southall read a paper entitled "Notes on Arable Land out of Cultivation." The 

 observations were made on a small uncultivated farm of five fields in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Sidmouth, Devon, and the subject was treated both from an 

 economical and botanical point of view. As a result Mr. Southall recommended 

 that where land was likely to remain uncultivated for any length of time tall- 

 growing grasses should be sown at once, so that they might become established, 

 and thereby keep out the noxious weeds. A discussion followed, in which the 

 Chairman, Messrs. Morley, Bagnall, Sturge, and Greatheed, took part. 

 Microscopical General Meeting.— October 17th.— Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited 

 Hydnum repandum, Craterellns cot micopioides (i-are'i, Lactarius pyrogalus, 

 CanthareJlHS tub(pform>s,Ag. CandoWanus, and Ag. spermaticus (all four new to 

 Warwickshire!, Clitocybe fragrans, and other Fungi from Shustoke; also (for 

 Mr. C. R. Robinson) Agaricus melaleucus, but the correctness of this determina- 

 tion was questioned. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Ag. sublTteritins, Ag. flnccidus, 

 &nAAg. brevipes, from Sutton ; alsoioubehalf of Mr. Robinson) PoIj/porHs/iimosifS, 

 from Edgbaston. He also exhibited, beneath the microscopes, preparations 

 showing the oecidia, uredo-spores, puccinia-spores, and other points connected 

 with the life-history of the Corn-mildew and similar fungi, in illustration of his 

 paper "Nomad Fungi: the Reclassification of the Uredinese," which will appear 

 in the "Midland Naturalist." Geological Section. — October 24th.— The 

 following exhibits were made:— Mr. A. H. Atkins, some fine specimens of 

 Lingulella, from the Hollybush Sandstone, Malvern Hills ; BIr. T. H. Waller, 



