156 ANNUAL MEETING GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Daphnia Kahlbergensis, and Anurcea longispina. Your Council have 

 pleasure in acknowledging the generous liberality of the Birmingham 

 Natural History and Microscopical Society, which has gratuitously 

 supplied the journal with most of the plates with which it has been 

 embellished during the past year ; they have also to acknowledge similar 

 gifts from Mr. Lawson Tait, F.R.C.S., and Mr. Walter Graham, F.R.M.S. 

 Especial thanks are due to Professor Huxley, F.R.S., for his kindness in 

 allowing the societies' editors to publish his valuable address on " The 

 Work of Microscopical Societies" in the journal of the Union, and 

 to many other eminent men for their contributions to its pages. The 

 gratuitous and useful labours of the editors must also be warmly 

 acknowledged. Your Council are pleased to report that those gentlemen 

 have consented to continue their labours. In making this announce- 

 ment, they again feel compelled to urge on the societies, and every 

 member of them, the bounden duty of supporting the " Midland 

 Naturalist " by subscribing for it regularly. As the support given is 

 a totally inadequate recognition of the labour and money spent on the 

 publication, your Council have to announce that after the present year 

 the subscription will be raised from 4s. to 6s. per annum, that being the 

 price which is willingly paid by the general public. 



On the 1st of October next the scientific institutions of the 

 Midland counties will receive an important addition by the opening at 

 Birmingham of Sir Josiah Mason's Science College. For several years 

 past very large sums of money have been expended by the benevolent 

 founder on the beautiful, extensive, and commodious building which 

 henceforth will be the centre of scientific life in the district to 

 which our Union extends. Four professorial chairs have already 

 been efficiently filled by the appointment of Professors Hill, Tilden, 

 Poynting, and Bridge, viz., those of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, 

 and Biology. The range of studies already provided for is such 

 as to qualify students for passing the examinations necessary to 

 obtain the degrees of B.Sc. and D.Sc. of the University of London. 

 Besides this systematic instruction popular instruction will be given 

 in the practical applications of science by means of evening lectures 

 to artisans and others unable to attend the regular college course. 

 Before long Geology and Mineralogy, with their apphcation to mines and 

 metallurgy, and other branches of science, will be included among the 

 subjects taught. Already the formation of a Natural History Museum has 

 been begun at the College, and a well-known member, Mr. S. Allport, 

 F.G.S., has been appointed curator. It is to be hoped that the advan- 

 tages offered by Mason's College will be largely used by residents in the 

 Midland counties. Mr. Allport is prepared to issue the programme of 

 studies for the first session, and to answer the enquiries of intending 

 students. 



Another member of the Union — Mr. W. Jerome Harrison, F.G.S. 

 — has been appointed to an office of much importance, in discharging 

 the duties of which, it cannot be doubted, he will exercise a 

 most beneficial influence on the rising generation of a large and 

 populous town — namely, the office of Demonstrator of Science to 

 the Birmingham Board Schools, in which it has been decided that 

 elementary science is henceforth to be regularly taught. 



The Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society have 

 recently taken a step which your Council think some of the other Socie- 

 ties in the Union will like to be aware of ; they have decided to admit, 

 without subscription, to the privileges of the Society, a limited number of 

 young persons of both sexes who show a taste for the study of natural 

 science, under the following regulations : — 



