REPORTS. 299 



remains (Lepidodendron, ferns, shells, and insects) were illustrated by a 

 numerous collection of Fossils, many of which were very fine and beautiful 

 specimens. General Meeting. — November 2nd. Mr. W. E. Richardson 

 exhibited a splendid collection of about 500 Ferns from Jamaica. Professor 

 T. W. Bridge exhibited a large collection of fishes, reptiles, and other animals 

 beautifully preserved in spirit. They had been obtained mainly by purchase, 

 but a few by gift for the Museum of Mason's Science College. It would be 

 impossible here to give a full account of the many curious, rare, and beautiful 

 forms in the collection, but, to mention a few out of the mauy, there were 

 specimens of the Ceratodus, a fish forming a connecting link between widely 

 divergent groups of fishes ; the Hammer-headed Shark, the Bony Pike of North 

 America, one of the few living representatives of the fossil Ganoids ; the Flying 

 Fish, Sun Fishes, Porcupine Fish, the long-tailed Trygon, &c. ; the curious 

 legless Lizard, Amphisbama, and the amphibians, Menobranchus and the Axolotl, 

 the former of which has gills throughout life ; the Lancelet, Amjihioxus, one of 

 the lowest of the vertebrata ; two species of Agcidians, (the Sea Squirts,) which 

 in their earlier stages are decided vertebrates ; several Molluscs, including the 

 Hyalea, rarely seen in the flesh, being chiefly known by its beautiful glassy 

 shell; the Octopus, a specimen that died in the Aston Aquarium ; a Pentacrinus, 

 almost the only living representative of the fossil Crinoids or "Stone Lilies;" 

 Star Fishes; "Sea Hedgehogs," (Echini,) and some wonderfully -perfect specimens 

 of Pennatula. Mr. W.R.Hughes moved, and Mr. Wright Wilson seconded, a 

 cordial vote of thanks to Professor Bridge for his exhibition, and for the able de- 

 scription which he had given of them. In doing so, both gentlemen took occasion 

 to advert to the desirability of every member of the society doing what he 

 could to spare specimens from his collection towards the Mason College Museum, 

 which, in the future, if the present nucleus proved an index to the whole, bid fair 

 to be one of the most important in England. Mr. Wright Wilson exhibited a 

 fowl's egg containing a double yelk, the second yelk having a portion of its sac 

 protruding through an orifice at the apex of the shell. Mr. S. Allport exhibited 

 a collection of large ganoid scales from lower Cretaceous rocks near Bahia, on 

 the coast of Brazil. Biological Section. — November 9th. Mr. J. F. Goode 

 exhibited a Queen Termite or White Ant, from Natal, and workers of the same 

 species. Mr. Bagnall exhibited Avena elatior, false oat, showing phyllody of the 

 lower palese, from Middleton. Mr. W. Southall exhibited a nest of the Reed 

 Warbler, from Sir Harry's Road, Edgbaston, the second year of nesting in the 

 same spot. Mr. A. W. Wills read a paper on some new and rare Desmidiese 

 found by him in North Wales. The paper, which was illustrated with numerous 

 drawings and specimens under the microscopes, was listened to with much 

 attention, and elicited a hearty vote of thanks. Mr. Wills also called the 

 attention of the members to the importance of always making accurate measure- 

 ments of microscopic objects, so that the drawings made from them might be 

 of scientific value ; and said the best and simplest means of attaining that end 

 was to draw all objects to one scale, say 400 diameters* so that comparison 

 between the various species would be an easy matter. Microscopical General 

 Meeting. — November 16th. Mr. W. P. Marshall exhibited the seed pod of the 

 milk-weed (AsclejriasJ a small plant growing wild in Ontario, Canada, and so 

 called because it is found full of milk when broken in two. The pods hang on 

 the side of the plant and are filled with large parachuted seeds. Mr. H. E. 

 Forrest exhibited a number of species of living Desmids and Diatoms from 

 Sutton Park. Mr. John Edmonds followed with some notes " On the Mineralised 

 Diatoms found by Mr. W. H. Shrubsole, F.G.S., in the London Clay," illustrated 

 by specimens, including a beautifully arranged slide of selected diatoms prepared by 

 Messrs. A. C. Cole and Son, and large diagrams. These diatoms are found forming 

 a shallow layer throughout the London basin, and have been traced over about a 

 hundred miles, the layer appearing continuous throughout the London clay, 

 although very thin in comparison to the thickness of the entire formation. The 

 siliceous skeletons of the diatoms are entirely coated over with " iron pyrites," 

 or sulphide of iron, giving them a brilliant gold or silver lustre. This coat can 

 be dissolved off them by the action of weak acids, leaving the siliceous skeletons 

 quite clean, and with their characteristic markings intact. It is remarkable that 

 all the species of these diatoms belong to forms having a circular or triangular 

 outline, the common spindle-shaped and rod-like forms beinr- conspicuous by 



