EEPORTS. 255 



Biological Section. — September 14th. — Mr. Thos. Bolton exhibited Lacinularia 

 socialis from the Hyde Pool, and Perophora Listeri, one of the most transparent 

 of the Ascidians or Sea Squirts from Ventnor, Isle of Wight ; also a fragment of 

 living Sertularia, to which were attached an Atcidiau, a mussel, two species of 

 Polyzoa, Pedicellina cernua, Bowerbankia, Campannlaria, Vorticella, Acineta, 

 Actinophrys, and two species of rotifers. Mr. H. E. Forrest exhibited on behalf 

 of Mr. T. J. Slatter, a specimen of Atropa Belladonna, deadly nightshade, in 

 fruit, from near Evesham. Mr. J. Levick exhibited Nassula omata. 

 Microscopical General Meeting. — September 21st. — Mr. H. E. Forrest 

 exhibited Varjinicola crystallina, Limnias ceratophylli, Fredericella Stdtana, 

 Alcyonellafu'ngossa, Paludicella Ehrenbergii, and several species of infusoria and 

 rotifers, all from the River Avon at Evesham. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 

 — Ihe eigbth annual meeting was held on September "22nd, in the Council Room 

 of the Institute, the President (Mr. C. J. Watson) in the chair. From the annual 

 report it appeared that fourteen papers on scientific subjects had been read, with 

 an average attendance of 26 members ; and twelve excursions had been made — 

 average attendance, 22. The Librarian reported that 764 volumes had been 

 issued during the past year. The finances showed a balance in hands of 

 Treasurer. The report having been adopted, votes of thanks were passed to the 

 retiring Officers and Committee ; also, the Council of the Institute for granting 

 use of room for the Society's meetings. Mr. R. Hipkiss was elected President 

 for the ensuing year ; Mr. C. B. Caswell, F.C.S , Vice-President ; C. R. Robinson, 

 Treasurer ; W. J. Morley, Librarian ; and W. H. Cox, Hon. Sec. — The retiring 

 President (Mr. C. J. Watson) then delivered an address, m which he urged the 

 members, one and all, to do their utmost for the welfare of the Society, saying 

 that it was insufficient for the Committee to frame rules, however perfect, unless 

 they had the hearty co-operation of the members. He advocated the formation 

 of sections for the study of subjects too large for treatment in ordinary papers ; 

 and also invited members to give practical papers connected with their daily 

 occupations, as frequently matters well known to them would be very interesting 

 to others. He showed that the advantages of the Society were twofold. It 

 enabled members, who were most advanced, to impart knowledge to their 

 younger brethren ; but its great use was to enable workers, in different branches 

 of science, to assist each other. In these days science has become so extensive in 

 its grasp, so abounding in its facts and laws, that it was impossible for any man, 

 who aims at original work, to take in hand more than one small branch. It was 

 universally recognised that the different branches of science are so intimately 

 connected that, to know one of them thoroughly, it was necessary to know some- 

 thing of them all. But to persons with only a limited amount of time at their 

 disposal for study, this was impossible ; and here it was that such a Society plays 

 a useful part. Each member, when he meets a difficulty out of his own 

 especial line, has only to appeal to another member who has studied that subject, 

 to be at once helped on his way. In this way the principle of the division of 

 labour can be applied to science, and one's exertions made to bear more useful 

 fruit than if each one had to bear the whole burden. 



CARADOC FIELD CLUB.— The third Field Meeting was held at Liuley, on 

 August 26tb — " a ladies' day." The party drove from Lydham Heath Station 

 to the White Grit Mine. From this point they ascended to the druidic circle of 

 "Mitchel's Fold," on the slope of Corndon Hill. Returning through the 

 picturesque grounds of Linley Hall, they spent some little time at this latter 

 place, where tea and other refreshments had been kindly provided by E. J. 

 More, Esq., and Mrs. More, and dined in the evening at the Craven Arms Hotel, 

 near the station of that name. 



DUDLEY AND MIDLAND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND FIELD 

 CLUB. — This Society held the last field meeting of this season at Bromsgrove 

 Lickey, on Saturday, the 28th of August. The members started in a break 

 from Dudley, passing through Stourbridge, and from thence a pleasant, rural 



