REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 287 



the Sapucaya nut of Brazil. Mr. Silvanus Wilkins thpn read a paper "On 

 a Dragon-Fly," in which he devoted attention chieflv to the facts which 

 could be observed by quiet watching, without capturing the insect. He 

 spoke of the curious way in which the male dragon-fiv captures his mate, and 

 compared it to the savage mode of carrying off a bride by force, humorously 

 suggesting that the two habits were connected by the theory of descent. Mr. 

 Kenrick made some observations on the huge eye of thp dragon-fly, and, by 

 comparing its forward position to that of the eyes of hawks and predaceous 

 beetles, illustrated bis argument that upon this depends the power which they 

 possess of keeping their prey in view when they are close upon it as easily as 

 when it is at a distance. By this means they are enabled to turn sharply in 

 pursuit, as however close they may be they can see it with both eyes, and thus 

 pessess the advantage of binocular vision Mr. Blatch also made some 

 remarks on the food of the dragon-fly, and nointed out how Mr. Wilkins's 

 paper illustrated the fallacy of the allegation that the Midlands are but a 

 barren hunting ground for the naturalist. November 29th — Geological 

 Section. — Mr. J. Levick described a number of original Photographic Views 

 of "Scenes in India," which were exhibited by Mr. C Pnmphrey with the 

 aid of the oxyhydrogen lantern. The series contained about one hundred 

 fine and effective views, including the principal buildings and scenery of 

 Calcutta, Agra, Lucknow, Benares, Ceyion, and the Himalayas. The views and 

 descriptions were much appreciated by a large and attentive audience. 



BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS' AND NATURALISTS' UNION.— 

 October 2nd. — A meeting, at which were exhibited by Mr. Wykes, backbone of 

 tuitle; by Mr. Boland, vertebrae of Ichthyosaurus and scales of L°pidotus, from 

 the Lias, Bearley ; by Mr. J. W. Neville, larva of B. rnori. showiug two rows of 

 hooklets in each leg ; and by Mr. H. Insley. section of chalk pebble from drift 

 beds, Leicester, showing foraminifera in situ. October 10th. — A paper by Mr. 

 Blay, " Our Common Bog Plants," illustrated by specimens. Octob r 17th. 

 — Exhibited by Mr. Madison, Terehratula caput-serpentis, from Oban ; 

 by Mr. J. W. Neville, tongue of water spider ; by Mr. Wykes, section of sheep's 

 horn and cow's hoof by polarised light. October 24. — Mr. Baxter showed 

 resting spores of Vblvox gldbator ; Mr. Wykes, Chelifer muscorum ; Mr. J. W. 

 Neville, double eyes of Gyrinus natator. November 1st and 2nd. — The 

 second annual conversazione. The exhibits included foreign insects, fine 

 calc-spar, quartz, and other crystals, and flint implements from North America, 

 by Mr. Walton ; British Lepidoptera and Reptiles, by Mr. F. Shrive ; complete 

 collection of British land and fresh-water shells ; foreign beetles and skull of 

 Ichthyosaurus, by Mr. Boland ; land shells, eocene fossils, and various skulls, 

 by Mr. Madison ; British birds' eges, bv Mr. Searle ; collection of birds, by Mr. 

 Betteridge ; British insects, by Mr. J. A. Grew ; 150 slides of insects of the 

 district, prepared for the microscope, by Mr. J. W. Neville; circulation of 

 blood in frog's foot, cyclosis in Nitella, Lophopus crystallinus by Mr. J. Baxter ; 

 collection of district plants and various botanic microscopic objects, by Mr. 

 Blay. Messrs. J. Wykes, Moore, and C. P. Neville exhibited various polariscope 

 objpcts ; Messrs. Bradbury, Flowers, and Parker, miscellaneous microscopic 

 objects ; Mr. H. Insley, fossils from Wenlock limestone, (Walsall) ; South Staf- 

 fordshire Coal Fields ; oolite of Gloucestershire ami Red Crag (coast of Essex). 

 The coal plants were illustrated in the following microscopical sections : — 

 Longitudinal section of Stigmaria ; transverse section of Rachiopteris Old- 

 hamia, a fern found in the Oldham coalfields ; various sections of outer scale, 

 of T epidodendron ; a section and set of rocks illustrating the structure of 

 Pouk Hill, near Walsall, was also shown. November 14th. — Annual meeting. 



BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— Meetings 

 of this Society have been held as uuder : — General Meeting.. — October 19th. 

 A paper was read by R. Moore, on " Autumn Wild Flowers." Several rare 

 and interesting dried specimens were exhibited. Zoological Section. — 

 November 2nd. A paper was read by H. T. Roberts on " Fishes." General 

 Meeting. — November lltb. — An exhibition of specimens was held at this 

 meeting. Belcher exhibited a collection of dried specimens of wild flowers. 



