GLEANINGS REPORTS. 71 



delioacy and transparency of the fibrous portion of the iris ; and aB 

 these tissues become thickened by use, and by advancing age, the 

 lighter shades of blue, and finally, grey are produced. In the various 

 shades of green eyes, the yellow pigment is more uniformly diffused 

 over the surface of the iris, and the green colour is due to the blending 

 of the superficial yellow pigment with the blue and grey of the deeper 

 structures. In the hazel and brown eyes, the uvea and the fibrous 

 tissues are hidden by increasing deposits of yellow and brown pigment 

 on the anterior surface of the iris, and when this is very dense, black 

 eyes are the result. It is very doubtful, however, whether the iris is 

 ever so dark-coloiu-ed in the inhabitants of this country as to justify 

 the term black being applied to it, and the popular use of the ex- 

 pression has reference to the widely-dilated pupil, common in persons 

 'with dark-brown eyes. The nearest approach to a black eye. among us, 

 is the dark-blue or violet eye, associated with black hair in some Irish 

 adults ; here the colour is probably not entirely due, as in infants, to the 

 greater transparency of the fibrous structures, but to interstitial deposit 

 of black pigment, or to a layer situated on the anterior surface of the 

 iris. 



Reports of Satieties. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 



SOCIETY. — Annual (ieneral Meeting. — February 1st. The Report and 

 the Treasurer's Accounts for the year 1880 were read and adopted. The 

 accounts showed a balance of £19 13s. 4£d. in the Treasurer's hands. The 

 following officers were then elected for the ensuing year: — fresideut, E. W. 

 Badger ; Vice-Presidents, John Levick, T. H. Waller, (ex-presidunts,) W. R. 

 Hughes, Edmund Tonks, Walter Graham, and W. Southall ; Treasurer, Chas. 

 Pumphrey ; Librarian, Jas. E. Bagnall ; Curators, R. M. Lloyd and H. W. 

 Jones; Hon. Sees., John Morley and W. B. Grove. A vote of thanks was 

 passed to Mr. H. E. Forrest for his past services as secretary. The newly- 

 elected President then read a few remarks, addressed chiefly to the younger 

 members, in which he urged upon them the duty of labouring and 

 waiting, and promised to those who persevered an abundant reward. 

 — Biological Section. — February 8th. Mr. A. W. Wills was re-elected 

 chairman, and Mr. J. F. Goode secretary of the section. Professor Bridge 

 exhibited a fine collection of specimens, preserved in spirit, which had been 

 lately added to the museum of the Mason College. The collection, which was 

 ably described by Mr. Ady, included three specimens of Zygzena, Polyodon 

 folium, Ceratodus Forsteri, Loris gracilis, Chitonellus, Ascidia, Two-toed 

 Sloth, Tamandua Ant-eater, and some stuffed birds and skins, presented by 

 Mr. R. W. Chase. A cordial vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to 

 Professor Bridge for his very interesting exhibition. Mr. R. W. Chase 

 exhibited some remarkable specimens of the wingless birds, Apteryx Australia 

 and A. Oioeni. Mr. C. T. Parsons exhibited Apteryx ( weni and a specimen of 

 the rare Owl Parrot. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Polyactes cana, a micro- 

 scopic fungus, found growing on Sphagnum. Mr. W. F. Johnstone exhibited 

 a small Toad, stated to have been found living in a cavity in a piece of coal. 

 Mr. R. W. Chase read a paper on "The Migration of Birds." He said that 

 the cause of migration was undoubtedly the desire for food, either for the adult 

 birds themselves or for the young which they hoped to rear in this country. 

 There seemed to be a double kind of migration going on ; some birds that 

 have bred in this country in the autumn go south, and return to us iu spiiug, 

 as the Swallow, Martin, Cuckoo, Swift, and Nightjar, &c. ; while some arrive 

 here in autumn and leave for the north in spring to breed, as the Fieldfare, 

 Redwing, Grey Plover, Knot, &c. There was also another movement which 

 may be termed partial migration, i.e., birds pass from one part of the country 



