280 REPORTS. 



a beautiful fungus from Sutton Pavk, also slide showing asci and paraphyses 

 of the same. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Pholas dactylus and Psammobia 

 Ferroenais, from Bridlington Bay. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited the Cydippe, 

 Pleurobranchia pileus, one of the jelly fishes. Mr. J. Levick exhibited 

 Cristatella and Volvox. Mr. H. E. Forrest read a paper by the Rev. J. E. 

 Vize, M.A., on Spirogyra nitida, one of the confervoid Algse, in which he des- 

 cribed the history of the plant and modes sf conjugation, and the production 

 of the two different kinds of spores, one of which, the oospore, he believed to 

 be analogous to the resting spore oiPeronospora, the potato fungus, and intended 

 to reproduce the alga in the following year. The paper was illustrated by 

 drawings and specimens in the microscopes. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 

 — September 29tb, Mr. J. T. Bunce gave an address to the members, in the 

 course of which he drew attention to the value of the society, and upon the 

 importance of strengthening and giving its operations a regular and systematic 

 direction. Science, with her sister Art, constituted the very life of Birmingham. 

 There was not a trade or manufacture for which they were renowned that did not 

 demand the constant application of scientific principles and that was not 

 dependent upon scientific knowledge. That man is the best workman or the 

 most successful manufacturer who most thoroughly knows the root and meaning 

 of the processes he employs or the properties and capacities of the material in 

 which he works. They might depend upon it that wherever enterprising 

 masters and instructed workmen were to be found, there the best trade of the 

 world would go, and that was the lesson which Englishmen had to learn if they 

 were to keep the trade they had, and to maintain their position. They must 

 be thoroughly educated in the scientific conditions which govern their labour, 

 and if they are to be so educated, it must be not only by taking advantage of 

 science classes, but by afterwards closely and continuously following up the line 

 of study begun in the classes, and giving these a special direction in accordance 

 with the chosen work of life. October 6th. — Mr. Wright Wilson gave 

 the first o* a course of three lectures on " The Anatomy of the Human Subject." 

 October 13th.— Mr. W. W. Staveley read a paper on " Tar Products." He 

 described, by means of numerous specimens of chemicals and colours, the 

 beautiful products obtained from coal-tar, and sail that bright and beautiful as 

 had been the colours produced from tar, great as had been the success of the 

 artificial over the natural colours, grand as had been the achievements of 

 chemisU- in this domain, there was yet a brighter and grander future ahead for 

 the chemistry of coal-tar. 



CHELTENHAM NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY.— The first meeting of 

 the society for the session of 1880-81 was held on Thursday, October 7th. Dr. 

 T.Wright, F.R.S., &c, presideut, reviewed the work of the society during the 

 past session. He next referred to the invitation sent to the Midland Union of 

 Natural History Societies, to meet in Cheltenham in June next, 1881. This 

 invitation was most cordially accepted, and arrangements should be made pros- 

 pectively to make this Union meeting a success. The guarautee fuud must be 

 increased in amount in order to enable the Council to make suitable provision for 

 the Congress. The Darwin Prize scheme nnd the President's Prize were then 

 dealt with at length. The claims of the " Midland Naturalist " for the support 

 of the members were then enumerated. After the conliil thanks of the society 

 had been given to Dr. Wright for the efficient manner in which he had carried on 

 his duties as president, Col. Basevi. the hon. secretary, read the report of the 

 scrutineers as to the election of officer.-, namely: — Dr. T. Wright. F.R.S., to be 

 president ; Col. Basevi, hon. secretary; Conucil : F. Day, F.L.S., &c, H. James, 

 Dr. T. Wilson, Dr. G. Ferguson, M.A., F. D. Longe,"F.G S., Major Barnard, 

 F.L.S., R. M. Liiigwood, Dr. Julius Maier, Rev. E Cornford, and Dr. Ker. 

 From the report of the auditors it appeared that £63 7s. 101. had been received 

 during the year, and £23 16s. lid. expended, leaving a balance in hand of £34 

 103. lid. A vote of thanks was given to Colonel Basevi, and the officers of the 

 Society, for their services. 



