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civilisation ; of all these the museum should be a faithful record. Mr. 

 Montagu Browne and Mr. Aliport, while approving of these suggestions, 

 advocated an inereased display of exotic forms, so as to give the student some 

 idea of the fauna and flora of other countries, which are so different from 

 our own. — On April 5th, the adjourned annual meeting was held, to receive 

 the address of the retiring president, Mr. Wm. Southall, F.L.S., who com- 

 menced by giving a concise but comprehensive sketch of tue history of botany 

 from the earliest times, especial reference being made to Dr. Erasmus Darwin 

 and the eminent botanists, Bay and Withering, who lived in this district. 

 Mr. Southall showed how slowly the science grew at first, and then 

 proceeded to some of its more recent and rapid developments, including the 

 fascinating study of the geographical distribution, the cross-fertilisation, and the 

 movements of plants. In regard to the former he stated that some of the North 

 European floras have the same power of colonisation which distinguishes the 

 nations of that part of the world. The Scandinavian flora is found on the Alp3, 

 the Carpathians, the Caucasus, the Himalaya, and the mountains of New South 

 Wales and Tasmania, though in c instantly diminishing numbers. He instanced 

 the arum and the crocus as exhibiting cross-fertiiisation by the aid of insects, 

 and the fir tree by the aid of the wind. He then referred to Darwin's recent 

 observations on the circumnutation of the growing radicle of the seed, and the 

 purpose fulfilled thereby of enabling the point to make its way along the path 

 of least resistance in the soil in which it grew. Tue address contained some 

 admirable observations on the study of ootany, and many useful and suggestive 

 hints to young students. At the conclusion of the address a unanimous vote 

 of thanks was passed to the lecturer. — Biological Section. — April 12th. 

 Mr. W. E. Hughes exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Councillor Sharp, a mass of 

 gum copal from Zanzibar, in which an insect of the genus Coccinella was 

 found entangled. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Scleropodium ccespitosum, also 

 microscopical preparation of same, from near Tetteniull ; Pellia epiphylla, 

 Jungermannia connivens, (new to the county,) Jungermannia bicuspidata, 

 all growing and in good fruir, from Sutton Park; also microscopical 

 preparation of Jungermannia connivens. Mr. W. G. Blatch exhibited 

 Gyrophcena variegata and Scydmcenus exilis, two species of coleoptera, 

 from Sutton Park, both rare and new to the district. Mr. J. W. Pickering 

 exhibited Stentor niger from Wyre Forest. Mr. J. Moriey exhibited Ckceto- 

 phora elegans. Mr. W. Southall exhibited a water-colour drawing by Miss 

 Southall of Ataccia cristata, a remarkable plant now in flower at the Botanical 

 Gardens. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited a Marine Polyzoon, Triticella pedicellate, 

 showing the spermatozoa. Mr. Silvanus Wiikins read a paper on a "Nest- 

 building Fish." (See page 106.) Mr. Hughes, Chairman of the Section, 

 congratulate! Mr. Wiikins upon his paper, which he said was evidently the 

 work of a practical Naturalist. He further remarked that the curious physio- 

 logical fact aliuded to of the male Stickleback making and watching his nest 

 was an admirable illustration of one of the laws of multiplication established 

 by Mr. Herbert Spencer in his 'Principles of Biology," that the cost of 

 genesis is not measured alone by the number of young produced, but by the 

 weight of nutriment abstracted to form the young, plus the weight 

 consumed in caring for them, and that this weight may be 

 diversely apportioned. Thus the cod produces about a million of 

 small ova, by far the greater part of which perish or are destroyed, 

 a few only reaching maturity, while the Hippocampus produces only 

 a few relatively large ova, carried about by the male for a time in a curious 

 caudal pouch. The remarkable fish, Arius Boaktii, only six or seven inches 

 in length, produces about a dozen eggs as large as small marbles, which the 

 male carries about in his mout huntil they are hatched. In all these cases 

 the degrees of fertility are measured by the number of young able to take 

 care of themselves so as to reach the adult state. Some observations bear- 

 ing on the subject were made by the Chairman and other members, and 

 the thanks of the meeting were given to Mr. Wiikins for his interesting 

 paper. At the request of several of the members, Mr. Wiikins kindly offered 

 to take part in an excursion on May 14th for the purpose of making a practical 

 acquaintance with the subject. — April 19!h. Mr. J. Levick delivered an 

 amusing and instructive popular lecture on the "Marvels of Pond Life." 

 Many strangers were present by invitation. The various classes of animal 



