286' REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



$rprts rf Satieties. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HIcTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY. — November 1st — General Meeting. — Mr. Baguaii exhibited 

 Sdrpus acicularis and Gymnostumum tenue from Oiton Reservoir, which is a 

 new Warwickshire station for these plants ; also, Peplis portula and some 

 fungi lrom the tame locality. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Craterium minutum, 

 Trametes inodora, Polyporua betulinus, Uygrophorus virgineus (au euibie 

 species), llelotium citrinum and otht r fungi. Mr. Blatcli exhibited Elater 

 iaZteatus, a beetle found for the fiist time in Sutton Park uuring the Fuugus 

 Foray, and Andomychus coccineus, a beetle new to Warwickshire ; albo, on 

 behail of Mr. J. Levick, Klater oculatus (living,) a species found iu North 

 America. Mr. A. W. Wilis presented to the Society lourteen slides of Desniuue;e, 

 mounted by himself and including many rare and new species. Mr. VV. R. 

 Hughes, F.L.S., presented for the cabinet of the Society, on behulf of Mr. 

 F. VV. Sharpus, of London, one of the corresponding members, a series 

 of twelve snues, prepared by the donor, illustrating the structure and 

 lunctious of certain members of the class Echinodermata (Star-Fishes, Sea- 

 Urchins, etc.) They consisted of four slides demonstrating the viviparous 

 nature of (Jphiocoma neglecta, one of the brittle-stars. Mr. Sharpus, who was the 

 first English observer who noticed ibis remarkable phenomenon, communicated 

 the fact to this Society some years ago. Four slides exhibiting the structure and 

 oental apparatus of (Jphiocoma rosida (another of the brittle -stars) ; one sude 

 exhibiting the renewal of a lost lay in an extremely young specimen of Uraster 

 rubens (the common Cross-Fish), about one-thud of an inch in diameter ; and 

 two slides showing the structure of certain curious and interesting pincer-like 

 organs, probably modified spines, of the Star-Fish (Uraster glaciahs), anu of 

 the Sea-Urchin (Echinus sphuera), termed Pedicellarice, the functions of which 

 have long been an unsolved problem to Zoologists, who are not even now quite 

 agreed as to their exact nature. In submitting the preparations, Mr. Hughes 

 glanced at the position of the Echinodermata as a class, and particularly at the two 

 methods of reproduction, one by means of a " pseuuemDry O," una the other 

 " viviparously," as noticed by Mr. Sharpus, supplemented in some instances, as 

 was shown in the Challenger expedition by means of a '' Marsupium." He 

 also described the preparations at length, which are extremely beautiful, the 

 method of mounting which Mr. Sharpus has by long experience as an 

 amateur perfected, and which has already been described in the " Midland 

 Natuialist," Vol. II., p. Till. The preparations were further illustrated by 

 drawings made by Mr. W. P. Marshall and Mr. A. W. Wills. Mr. Levick 

 superintended the microscopical exhibition. A cordial vote of thanks was 

 passed to Mr. bharpus for his kind and valuable present. November 8th — 

 Biological Section. — Mr. J. F. Bagnall exhibited Eontinaiis antipyretica, 

 from Rugby Canal ; Hypnum jluitans, var. submersum, from near Uaydon, 

 a new record for the county ; Chenopodium hybridum, lrom near Stratford- 

 on-Avon ; Triticum repiens, abnormal lorm having a compound branched spike, 

 from Alveston Heath. AJr. T. Boitou exhibited Nymphon gracile, living, lycno- 

 gottum littoralc, living, and showing the circulation of the blood ; also, Eolis 

 Landsburgii , Boris, Hydrozoa and Polyzoa lrom Bimgor. Mr. W. B. Grove 

 exhibited Craterium minutum, a fungus belonging to the order Myxomycetes, 

 showing the eiaters by which the spores are dispersed ; also section of 

 Nectria cinnaharina, showing at the same time the coniuio-spores and the 

 asco-spores. Professor T. W. Bridge, read a paper on " The Auditory and 

 Vocal Organs of Fishes," in which he referred more particularly to some 

 siluroid fishes in which the auditory, vocal, and tactile organs are most 

 highly speciaiisi-d. The paper was illustrated with numerous diagrams and 

 specimens. Nwvt mb^r lb.n— Annual Conversazione at the Town Hall (see 

 page 278). iNovember 22nd — General Meeting. — Mr. T. Bolton exhibited 

 /'tindorina Moriim, and tiyiichata pectinata. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited two 

 of ihtt Myxouijcetes, Trichia vuria and Chondrivdcrma ditforme, also a 

 young specimen of Agaricus dissemiuatus, showing the spoies in situ on 

 the gills, and A. cerussutus and Trcmclla albida. Mr. H. Millet exhibited 



