REPORTS OF SOCIETIF-. jJC,'.) 



exhibited a living fresh-water mollusc, Dreissena polymorpha. Mr. J. F. Goode 

 exhibited Globigerina and Eadiolarian ooze from the bottom of the Atlantic, 

 in illustration of his paper on " Some Deep-sea Challenger Souudn, 

 the course of which he referred to the change that has taken place in the™ views 

 formerly entertained as to absence of life from the ocean depths. These are 

 now known to teem with living beings, of which, however," the more lowly 

 organised, such as the Foraminifera, form the greater part. When the sea 

 exceeds a certain depth, its bed is found in almost ali parts to be covered 

 with a fine sediment called Globigerina ooz*-, from the name of the small 

 Foraminifera of the remains of which it chiefly consists. Below 2,5i lO 

 this passes into a red clay. There is also found sometimes at intermediate 

 depths, from 2,100 to 2,300 fathoms, a gray clay. At 3,000 fathoms the red 

 clay assumes its most characteristic aspect ; below this it becomes altered 

 into Eadiolarian ooze, which is called after the organisms of which it is 

 principally composed. Now the Foraminifera are chiefly calcareous, and the 

 Eadioiaria siliceous, and all this succession of deposits is explained by the varying 

 action of the sea water, at different depths, upon one and the same deposit. 

 The whole volume of the sea is filled with multitudes of these minute 

 creatures, and their remains are continually failing in a gentle rain upon 

 the bottom — the greatest quantity occurring where the sea is deepest. A- the 

 depth increases the deposit becomes more and more disintegrated, the 

 calcareous remains suffering first. Thus the Globigerina ooze passes into the 

 red ciay. At the lowest depths the calcareous Foraminifera have altogether 

 disappeared, and the deposit consists mainly of the siliceous tests of the 

 Eadioiaria. Mr. Goode also referred to the discovery of a distinct group of 

 minute animals to which the name of Challenserida has been given, and 

 to the at present inexplicable puzzles, the Ehabdospheres and Coccospheres, 

 which are found in the deposit, but of the nature of which naturalists are still 

 doubtful. Geological Section. — October 25th. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., 

 B.Sc., exhibited a microscopical section of obsidian, cut from a sp 

 exhibited at a previous meeting. Mr. Abrahall exhibited a fossiliferous pebble 

 from the Isle of Wight. Mr. Wright Wilson showed some thousands of 

 parasitic hydratids from the abdomen of a common fowl which was afterwards 

 sold for food. Mr. W. J. Harrison, F.G.S., gave an interesting account of 

 the rise and progress of the Ordnance Geological Survey of the British I 

 He referred to the differences which had lately arisen between the Government 

 and the officers of the survey with regard to the rate of progress: Mid Mr. 

 Houghton, M.A., also made some remarks on the same subject. Mr. C. J. 

 Woodward B.Sc, F.G.S., then delivered a brief lecture on 'Zones iii 

 Crystals," describing how to name and distinguish the planes, their combina- 

 tion in zones, and the application of stereographic projection to crystallography. 

 The lecturer illustrated his remarks by numerous models and experiments. 



BIRMINGHAM MICRO SCOPISTS' AND NATURALISTS' UNION.— 

 September 5th. — Microscopical and General Meeting. — Exhibits : Mr. 

 isanders, larva of Buff-tip Motn : Mr. Boland, land sheils from Beariey, also 

 specimen of Convolvulus Hawk Moth, caught in Wales, and Clausilia BolpJiU, 

 for the first time recorded in Warwickshire ; Mr. J. W. Neville, larva oi 

 Bomlyx mori, mounted whole, showing tracheal system complete ; Mr Dunn, 

 common Leech, showing youDe clinging to parents by their suckers. Septem- 

 ber 12th. — Mr. Dariey, cocoon of Emperor Moth, having two outlets side by 

 side in place of the usuai one : Mr. J. Baxter, Cristatella mucedo and its 

 statoblasts. Mr. C. P. Neviile read a paper entitled " A Ramble on the Welsh 

 Hilis." September 17th.— Excursion to Knowleand Temple Balsali. Septem- 

 ber 19.— Mr. Madison exhibited rippie marked slabs from the Kenpei 

 Hatton, also Estheria minuta, same locality ; Mr. Grrw, Ship Barnuce. entire ; 

 Mr. Dunn, tentacles of same under the microscope; Mr. J W. 

 Puccinia on leaf of violet, Lecythea or rust on leaf of i hea and 



Aregma on leaf of barren strawberry. Cluster Cnp and Coleospornni on 

 leaves of coltsfoot. September 26th.— Mr. Boland, Mu reports from 

 Mr. Dariey, Marvel du jour Moth. A paper was read by Mr. J. A. On 

 " Natural History of the Peacock Butterfly." The paper was illustrated by 

 diagrams and a collection of British Vanessidsc. 



