REPORTS. 23 



|Uports of Satieties, 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY. — Geological Section. — November 23rd. It was announced that 

 on and after the 24th of November, the Society's room in Mason's College would 

 be open to members from twelve to three daily. Mr. T. H. Waller, B. A. ,B.Sc, 

 read a paper on "Igneous Rocks," detailing their origin and general characters, 

 their mineral constitution, and the decompositions to which they have been 

 subject. At the close of his paper, Mr. Waller exhibited by lantern some 

 photographs of rock sections, illustrating some of the chief characteristics of the 

 principal rock-forming minerals and also some peculiarities of rock structure. — 

 General Meeting. — November 30th. Mr. Herbert Spencer was elected ahon. 

 vice-president of the society. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Pisidium cinereum, 

 Planorbis vortex, Limnceuspereger, freshwater mollusca from this neighbour- 

 hood, and read some notes on the development of the last-named species. Mr. H. 

 E.Forrest read a paper on "A Rare British 'Entomo&tr&con, llyocryptus sordidics," 

 which appears in this number. — General Meeting. — December 7th. Mr. H. J. 

 Carter, F.R.S., presented to the society, tbrough Mr. Hughes, copies of thirty- 

 four papers which he had at various times contributed to the Annals and Magazine 

 of Natural History. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited reticulated vessels frora the 

 rootlets of the Leek, and laticiferous vessels from the stipules of Ficuselastica. 

 Mr. Lawson Tait exhibited the metacarpal bones from the hand of a horse, 

 showing how the rudimentary bones of the ring and index-fingers had been 

 united to the central bone by an osseous deposit, the result of iLflammation, 

 which union always produces lameness in the horse. Mr. C. Pumphrey then 

 read a paper on " Molluscan Palates, and the mod* of obtaining them." He 

 pointed out the positions in which they occur in different species, and 

 the mode of dissecting them out ; their preparation by boiling in caustic 

 potash, and the mode of mounting them, either dry or in Canada balsam. 

 He also exhibited numerous specimens under the microscope. — 

 Biological Section. — December 14th. Mr. J. Morley exhibited, under the 

 microscope, scale of sole, to show the effect of polarised light. Mr. Robt. W. 

 Chase exhibited the Shore Lark and Lapland Bunting, both taken near 

 Brighton. Mr. Blatch exhibited Ocyusa picina, a very rare beetle, from 

 Sutton Coldfield, new to the district. Mr. J. Levick exhibited, under the 

 microscope, a minute organism of a pink colour, which he believed to be a 

 species of Volvocinese. Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited sections of Marchantia poly- 

 moiplia and sections of leaf of Begonia, and read some notes describing pecu- 

 liarities of structure in these plants. Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., read a paper 

 containing " Observations on the Record of Phenological Phenomena." 

 Microscopical General Meeting. — December 21st. Mr. Blatch exhibited 

 Chirocephulus diaphanus, " The Fairy Shrimp." from Kuowle, believed to be 

 new to the district. Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., exhibited on behalf of Mr. G. T. 

 Harris, a moss, Thamnium alopecuntm, from Ewias Harold, Herefordshire. 

 The Chairman announced that from this date the sub-curator would be 

 empowered to issue and receive the books of the Society's library during the 

 hours from twelve to three daily. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson then read a paper 

 on the " Flora of Bournemouth," which he illustrated by about fifty mounted 

 specimens. The rarer plants were: Ranunculus tripartitus, Drosera inter- 

 media, Claytonia perfoliata, Chicorium Intybus, Erica ciliaris, Erythreea 

 littoralis, Cicendia fliformis, Gentiana Pneumonanthe, Cuscuta Europma, 

 Pinguicula lusitanica, Agrostis setacea, Osmunda regalis. He recommended 

 Bournemouth as an excellent centre for a botanical excursion, floras of the 

 most diverse character being found within easy reach of the town, as at Poole 

 Harbour, Swanage, Lulworth, Alum Bay, and the New Forest. 



CHELTENHAM NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY. —November 18th. 

 Rev. J. D. Breen read a paper on " The Theory of the Descent of Man One 

 Hundred Years Ago." The paper gave a carefully-digested account of Lord 

 Monboddo's opinions oa the descent of man, and pointed out how far they agree 



