282 REPORTS OF SOCIETIES, 



aiirnntia, from Solihull. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the fungi — Collybia 

 hutyracca and CHtocyhe phijllophiln, from Water Orton ; Pluteus cerviniis, 

 from Solihull ; and Hygroplwrus coccineus, H. pratensis, and H. hypothejus 

 (the last species new to Warwickshire), from Curdworth. Mr. Grove also 

 read a note on an interestingfungus,Pi;obori<s JCZeJizi, Van Tieg., in which its life- 

 history and structure were described. Mr. Morley then opened the discussion 

 on the question, " Is Fertilisation necessary to the indefinite Perpetuation of a 

 Species," in which he took the negative side, quoting instances of the many 

 plants which are known to reproduce themselves by bulbils, or cuttings, 

 without the production of true seed. He especially referred to Saxifraga 

 cenma, which grows upon Ben Lawers, and has never been known to produce a 

 perfect flower, nor consequently any seed, in that locality. Mr. Grove, who took 

 the opjiosite side, quoted Herbert Spencer's theory of Genesis, of which the 

 following is an outline: — "Life essentially depends upon a capacity for change. 

 Every homogeneous mass, unacted upon by outside forces, is incapable of 

 change, i.e., is dead. Every mass of heterogeneous units tends continually 

 to homogeneousuess. The physiological units of which an individual is 

 composed have a certain amount of similarity. Another individual, derived 

 from this by agamogenesis, that by a sexual multiplication, has a still 

 greater tendency to or a greater probability of homogeneousuess. If this process 

 is continued the ultimate descendants tend towards a completely homogeneous 

 state. But life depends upon the action and reaction of heterogeneous units 

 upon one another, and therefore an approach to homogeneousuess is accom- 

 panied by weakened vitality, and complete homogeneousness is death. To 

 avert this end gamogenesis intervenes ; the union of a sperm-cell and a germ-cell 

 from different parts produces a germ which contains within it the necessary 

 heterogeneity, and which therefore has a greater vitality and renewed chance 

 of life. This was illustrated in many ways, especially by Darwin's great law of 

 cross-fertilisation ; and, finally, it was pointed out that gamogenesis only delays 

 the evil day of final extinction, which the theory indicates as the doom of every 

 species. Agamogenesis may reproduce the species for an indefinite time in 

 some of the lower forms, but certainly in none of the higher plants or animals. 

 Mr. Southall pointed out the additional proof which was furnished by the fact 

 that all the cultivated varieties of apple, rose, potato, &c., are dying out, being 

 reproduced agamogenetically, and new varieties which are produced from seed 

 are taking their place ; but Mr. Morley replied that in his opinion this 

 merely arose from the vanished sorts having passed out of fashion, and 

 hence not being taken care of as they required. The question under 

 discussion was finally answered in the affirmative by a majority of those present. 

 Biological Section. — November 7th. — Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited :— Mosses— 

 Tortula mticronata, T. latifoUa, Anomodon viticalosits (all rare), and Orthotri- 

 clmni rivulare (new to Warwickshire), from Preston Bagot ; Fungi — Scleroderma 

 ge tster (new to Warwickshire), Craterellus cornwopioides (rare>, Spharohohts 

 stellatiis and Clitocybe fi-agrans, from New Park, Middleton ; and other fungi 

 from Mr. M. C. Cooke. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Polyporus annosus, from 

 Sutton : and Lepiota carcliarias, from Water Orton ; also, on behalf of Mr. 

 W. H. Wilkinson, Geoglossum glahrum, from Sutton Park. Mr. W. G. Blatch 

 exhibited Myrmecoxenus vaporariorum, a very rare beetle, found near Birming- 

 ham, and new to the district; also some fireflies, Lamijyris splendidula, from 

 Switzerland, on behalf of Mr. C. Pumphrey. Mr. W. Phillips, F.L.S., read a 

 paper " On the Breaking of the Shropshire Meres," the subject of which was the 

 phenomenon which has been observed for many years in a small gi-oup of lakes 

 near Ellesmere, in Shropshire. The title given to this appearance by the 

 country people of the neighbourhood, " The Breaking of the Meres," is mis- 

 leading, inasmuch as the effect is due only to the excessive growth of a few 

 species of minute algae. These accumulate in enormous quantity, forming a 

 dark vei-digris-green scum on and near the surface of the water. The species to 

 which it is chiefly due are Bivulctria articulaUi, Anabcena flos-aquce, Cylindro- 

 sperinum Ralfsii, and Aphanizomenon flos-aqucc. The phenomenon probably 

 occurs in many lakes, but it has been chiefly observed in Ellesmere, Kettle- 



