IIEPOKTS OF SOCIKTIES. 268 



sections of Picrite, from Inchcolm, Firth of Forth, iucludiug one with uo oliviue 

 aud much felspar; Mr. C. A. Matley, quartzite pebbles from the drift near 

 Birmingham, containing Orth'S Budleighensis, Lingula Lesueuri, Strophomena, 

 aud a trilobite tail; Mr. W. B. Grove, fungi from Great Barr and Sutton, 

 Agaricus ceinssatus, Ag. galcriculatus, Ag. vel'itipes, Ag. (Lepioti) crist^tus, 

 Ag. i.Plutetis]nonus (new to the district), Ag. (Crepi dolus) mollis, Ag. sepiratus, 

 Bolbit us fragilis, Coprinus micaceus. iiijgrcphorits coiiicns, Panus stypticus, 

 Po!yporus spmnens, P. ajinosim. P. sangninolentu!', Clicstomiuin el it urn, Nectria 

 coccinea, Hypomyces rosellus (a fungus parasite on Agarics or Polyporus). Dacty- 

 liuni roseicm, Stysaniis stemonitis, Tremelli torti, and Arcyria incnrnata ; 

 Mr. E. Wagstaff, Sarcina ventriculi a fungus from the human stomach. 



BIKMIXGHAM MICKOSCOPISTS' AND NATURALISTS' UNION.— 

 September 2ud. — E.xcursion to Salford Priors. September 4th. — A Meeting 

 (Special), " Conchology.' Mr. Madison exhibited Helix caperata var. s>ib- 

 scalaris, and Clausilia laminita, from the Wren's Nest; Sir. Bolaud, thirty- 

 one species and varieties of land shell, from Tenby ; Mr. Chaplain. Swallow-tail 

 Butterfly, caught at Basingstoke ; Mr. J. W. Neville, shell and palate of Trochus. 

 September llth. — Mr. Deakin exhibited wing of Urania. September 18th. — 

 Paper by Mr. Parkes on the " Life History of a Plant ;" Mr. J. W. Neville showed 

 transverse section of Hedge Maple ; H. lusley, section of Sugar Cane. September 

 23rd.— Excursion to Berkswell ; Volvox Globator found. September '25th.— Mr. 

 Darley exhibited fossils from Great Orme's Head (corals aud productii, also 

 Helix virgata, Bulimus dciitus ; Mr. Bradbury, Swallow-tail Butterfly from 

 rolorado ; Mr. Wykes, Stentor; Mr. Dunn, Carchesium ; H. Insley, leaves of 

 Croton and Niphobolus, with ornate hairs ; Mr. J. W. Neville, proboscis of Drone 

 Fly. October 2nd. — Mr. H. Insley, mounted specimens of Fossil Wood, silicifled 

 and calcified; Mr. J. W. Neville gave an exposition of "Mounting Insects for 

 the Microscope," showing everj* process from the commencement to a finished 

 mount. October 9th. — Mr. H. Insley, showed a specimen of Limulus in a 

 nodule of Clay Ironstone from the Derbyshire coalfield ; Mr. Darley, larvae of 

 Broom Moth, Fox Moth, and Bordered White. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.— 

 September 27th.— Mr. J. W. Oliver gave a short address on " The Cambrian Age 

 of the Hartshill and Lickey Quartzites." He also gave an account of the dis- 

 coveries recently made by Professor Lapworth. October 4th.— Mr. J. O.W. Barratt, 

 B.Sc, read a paper on " Siemens' Regenerative Furnace." The principles on 

 which these furnaces are made were carefully set forth, and tl.cn a detailed 

 description of the gas producers and regenerative chambers was given, this being 

 well illustrated by diagrams. An interesting discussion on the. practical value 

 of these furnaces followed the paper. October llth.— Photogeaphic Section. — 

 Mr. A. Pumphrey gave a practical demonstration on the working of the " Gela- 

 tine Films," which proved very successful. October 18th.— Mr. J. J. Gilbert, 

 F.M.S., read a paiier on " Weather Forecasts," and explained in detail the 

 various instruments used. He also described how a weather chart was prepared 

 for the newspapers, aud at great length went into the subject of the connexion 

 of strong winds with barometric differences. He concluded by saying the science 

 was still in its infancy, and the knowledge could only be obtained b}' a series of 

 regular and accurate observations. 



BUIMINGHAM SCHOOL N.ATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— Botanical 

 Bkction.— The first meeting of the term was held on the llth of October, Mr. 

 E. W. Badger, M.A., in the chair. A very interesting and instructive paper was 

 read by the President (Mr. J. Turner, F.L.S.) on the Torula, or Yeast Plant. 

 Specimens illustrating the paper were exhibited under the microscope by E. 

 Moore. 



BANBURYSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AND FIELD CLUB.— 

 August 5th— Field Day.— By the kind invitation of Archdeacon Holbech, the 

 members made an Excursion to Farnborough Hall. Some time was spent in 



