288 REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



A. B. Badger exhibited some Stentors under the microscope. Zoological 

 Section. — November 16th. A paper was read by F. Pearson, on " Bees." 



BANBUKYSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. — November 7th. 

 Mr. T. Beesley, F.C.S., presid-nt, in the chair. Exhibits : Bacteria, from the 

 air of a pigstye (microscopic slides) ; Larva of one of the " Hoverer " Flies 

 (llelophilus), commonly called Bat- tailed Grub, and microscopic rock 

 sections by Mr. Beesley ; Flint Implements (Arrow-heads, etc.) from 

 Oxford and Ireland by the Secretary (Mr. E. A. Walford) ; some live Amphi- 

 bians, liana esculenta, Bombinator igneus and Salamaitdra maculosa, from 

 Switzerland ; and Land and Fresh-water Tortoises. Testudo and Emys, by Mr. 

 0. V. Aplin ; Barnacles, Lepas anatifera, and wood bored by the Ship- 

 worm, Teredo norvegica, by Mr. Symington : Skeleton and Skins of Talpa 

 europcea, also Mole Trap, and a specimen of the Mo e Cricket Oryllotalpa 

 vulgaris, from Broughton, by Mr. W Wyatt : section of Coal Shaft, Monk- 

 wearmonth, by Mr. E. West. The President read the m<teorological report 

 for October, statin? that the mean temperature was 44 - 8 degrees, nearly five 

 degrees below the average. Mean height of barometer, 29*634 inches. Rain- 

 fall on nineteen days, 2'47 inches ; greatest fall (13th), 0*77 inch. Snow fell on 

 the '29th. High winds on the 14th, loth, 20th, and 22nd. Very strong wind on 

 the night of the 13th, and all the 14th it blew a perfect hurricane, and did 

 much damage to property in the neighbourhood. It caused more than one 

 fatal accident through the falling of trees and branches. Mr. O. V. Aplin 

 read notes on some Amphibians and Tortoises, exhibited on the table. Mr. 

 W. Wyatt read an interesting paper on the Mole, Talpa europaza, giving a 

 description of the auatornv of the animal, and an account of its fortress, 

 habits, ere. H u also called attention to the Mole Cricket, which also 

 tunnels in the ground, and pointed out the curious resemblance which 

 exists in the structure, and a corresponding resemblance in the habits of 

 the two creatures, although the one has an internal and the other an 

 external skeleton. The President read an important paper on "Bacteria, 

 and their supposed connection with disease." Bacteria, minute bodies 

 capable of endless and exceedingly rapid reproduction, and which 

 are Algie, were stated to exist almoft everywhere, in the soil as well as 

 in the air, drought only suspending their vitality, brieht licht causing them 

 to die or become dormant, but moisture aidire their increase. Very strong 

 evidence had been brought forward showing that some of the more formidable 

 contagious diseases were produced by the introduction of these organisms into 

 the bloed. He showed that he had collected them from the air of a pigstye, 

 one of the forms being identified as the germ of " malignant carbuncle " 

 occurring in oxen, pigs, etc.. a small dose of which, he believed, had produced 

 carbuncle in man. Mr. ADlin also read a note on " The Supposed Occurrence 

 of the Alpine Chough, (Pyrrhocorax alpinus, KochJ in a wild state, near 

 Banbury. 



BURTON-ON-TRENT NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— The first 

 evening meeting of the season was held on Friday, November 4tb, Mr. R. 

 Thorn* will, President of the Society, in the chair. Mr. W. G. Davy (Hon. 

 Sec. Tamworth Nat. Hist., Geological, and Antiquarian Society) read an 

 interesting paper on " Personal Reminiscences of a Tour in Iceland." Mr. 

 Davy illustrated his route by means of a map, and had on the table for exhi- 

 tion some photographs of the places visited, an 1 of pieces of wood carving done 

 by the natives. Articles of attire, pieces of exquisitely worked cold and silver 

 jewellery, some curious relics, domestic utensils, and geological specimens 

 were also exhibited. A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Davy. Mr. Davy, in 

 reply, said he was glad to assist the Society, or any other similar society. He 

 advocated an interchange of work and papers among the different societies in 

 the Midland Union of Natural History Societies. 



Errata.— In the list of moths on page 272, Tephrosia punctularia 

 should be T. biundularia. In November number, page 258, line 6, 

 " Hock Salt (pseudomorphs), Aust, Igneous rock" should be " Keuper 

 and Rhietic." 



