CORRESPONDENCE REPORTS. 279 



Elm Tbees completely stripped of their leaves in'Bretby Park, near 

 Burton, by larvaB of Abrasc asulmata. White Sparrow seen at Burton 

 Grammar School, in company with about six others of the usual colour, 

 — W. M. Anderson, Burton-upon-Trent, October 1st. 



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BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY.— Geological Section.— September 28th.— Mr. T. Bolton exhibited 

 a specimen of Cochlearia Armoracia, the horseradish, with pinnatifid leaves. Mr. 

 J. H. Baxter exhibited leaf of Rhododendron Nuttallii and of Elceagnus 

 umbellata, showing the scales on each. General Meeting. — October 5th. — The 

 President, Mr. W. Southall, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., save a short address, in which he 

 pointed out the many advantages which the removal of the society to Sir Josiah 

 Mason's Science College offered to the members. He referred to the uniform 

 kindness with which it had been treated by the Midland Institute during the many 

 years that they had been connected together, and said that the only reason for 

 now parting was the inability of the Institute to provide the increased accommo- 

 dation which the society now required. At the conclusion of the address, a vote 

 of thanks, proposed by Mr. Hughes, and seconded by Mr. Badger, was unani- 

 mously passed to the President for his interesting address. A. vote of congratu- 

 lation to Sir Josiah Mason on the completion of the College, and of thanks to 

 the Bailiff and Trustees for the kindness and liberality with which they had 

 received the proposals of the society, moved by Mr. Graham, and seconded by 

 Mr. Levick, was carried unanimously. Professor T. W. Bridge spoke welcoming the 

 society to the College, and said that he did not think the advantages were all on 

 one side, as it was hoped that many interesting biological subjects would be 

 materially assisted by the researches of members of the society, and for this 

 purpose the biological laboratory would be at the disposal of members wishing to 

 nse it, an announcement which was received with acclamation. The meeting 

 then adjourned to a neighbouring room, where was an exhibition of microscopic 

 objects, both numerous and interesting, and the inspection of these occupied the 

 rest of the evening. This was the first meeting of the society in its new 

 quarters at the College, where it has a large room entirely at its disposal, which 

 is being fitted up as a library and committee room, and which it is intended to 

 open for a short time daily as a reading room and studio. The weekly 

 meetings are to be held in the biological theatre, a large room admirably 

 adapted for the purpose, and which, on this occasion, probably the 

 largest general meeting ever held, was nearly filled. Biological Section. 

 — October 12th. Mr. A. W. "Wills, President of the section, congratulated 

 the members on its removal to Mason's College, and hoped that, with the 

 increased accommodation and great advantages now at its disposal, an 

 impulse might be given to original research, to be productive in the future of 

 very valuable results. He also impressed upon the members the desirability 

 of exhibiting interesting though common objects, even if they have been 

 exhibited before, as there is a constant influx of new members who may never 

 have seen them. Lastly, he mentioned that it was intended to provide a cabinet 

 for the reception of mounted microscopic objects, which he hoped would in time 

 become a complete reference collection, and as a start he offered the gift of a 

 small series of slides of rare Desmidiese from North Wales. Mr. W. Southall 

 exhibited Tacsonia Van-Volxemi in fruit, and called attention to the large secre- 

 tion of nectar iu the flower. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited Paste Eels (Anguillulce.) 

 Mr. W. R. Hushes exhibited a potato growing through a ring about ^in. in 

 diameter, which it had encountered in the earth. Mr. W. G. Blatch exhibited 

 Bembidium quinque striatum and Ptinella denticollis, two rare Coleoptera new 

 to the district, the first-named from Olton, the second from Knowle. Mr. A. W. 

 Wills exhibited Hczmatococcus binalis. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Finsidens 

 Orrii, a moss new to science, and section of leaf of Ithopala Pahlii, to show 

 transverse bars. October 19th, — Mr. H. E. Forrest exhibited Ftziza aurantea, 



