94 CORRESPONDENCE. 



Abnobkal Gbowth of Araucabia imbricata. — In the garden before 



the house, f>l, Moor Street, Burton-on-Trent, is an Araucaria imbricata 



of abnormal growth. The top having been broken off about a foot 



from the ground, our of the side shoots from immediately below the 



fracture has grown to a height of about 15 feet. It might at first be 



; for the fully developed tree, but, on examination, it appears 



that instead of the branches having two side shoots, as is usually the 



i, many of them are simply furcate at the ends, thus showing that 



powers of the tree were not quite equal to the strain upon them. 



The original summit has also thrown out several short branches a few 



inches long. — P. E. Tiurr, 13urton-on-Trent. 



Mebctjbiaxis perennib. — The observation of the flowering of this 

 plant, December -filth, lssn, which was recorded on page 68, may, 

 I think, be fairly accepted as an instance of late autumn flowering of 

 The plants were of vigorous habit, ranging from 18 to 

 '21 inches in height, with foliage fully developed, and the pistillate 

 distinguished by the more compact arrangement 

 of the leaves on the tops of the stems. The staminate plants had been 

 in blossom some time, as the lower flowers of the spikes had expanded 

 and fallen off. A second visit to the same station on March 13th con- 

 firmed the previous impression. Attached to the same roots were to 

 be seen both the dead stalks of the December growth, and the fresh 

 young green ones of the present spring, just opening their flowers. 

 Herewith are sent some of each kind, and amongst the dead leaves of 

 the former, which were killed by the excessive cold of January, may 

 still be distinguished the shrivelled rachises of the spikes that blossomed 

 in December. — J. S., Lutou. 



Exports of Societies. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY. — Geological Section. — February 22nd. At this meeting Mr. W. 

 J. Harrison. F.G.S., was elected president and Mr. A. H. Atkins, B.Sc, secre- 

 tary for the ensuing year. Mr. Atkius then read a paper on •' The Triassic 

 Kinks " of the Midland Counties. He first gave a brief account of the 

 researches made during the present century in these beds, which occupy the 

 greater part of th- oi ntre of England. He then described the distribution, 

 lithological characters, and contents of the various divisions, and the manner 

 in which they are supposed to have been formed. Au animated discussion 

 followed, principally on the origiu of the Buuter Conglomerate, and the cause 

 of the peculiar indentations and cracks which are characteristic of these 

 pebbles. — March 1st. Mr. W. G. Fretton read a paper on "Museums, in 

 relation to their value in manufacturing centres," in which he dwelt strongly 

 on the fact that the character of a museum should accord with the nature of 

 the locality where it was formed. Tnus, iu a rich historical neighbourhood, 

 antiquities should predominate; in a good geological district, fossils; and so, 

 in a manufacturing centre, the chief part should be occupied by a collection 

 illustrating the staple industries of the place. Foreign and ancient specimens 

 of the same or similar processes should be exhibited, as a fund from which 

 re artisan oould draw new ideas as to form, colour, or ornamentation. 

 — March sth. Mr. S. H. I'arkes delivered an interesting lecture on "The 

 Moon," illustrated with the oiy-hydrogen lantern, to a very numerous and 

 lienoe. Among other things, he referred to the supposed influ- 

 ence of the moon op id the wi ather and the occurrences of human life, and 

 that accurate scientific investigation had proved that such a connection 

 hinl no exist, iice in fact. He gave descriptions of the various phenomena 

 presented by the lunar surface ; and some beautiful photographs, by which 

 these were delineated in a very striking and realistic manner, were exhibited 



