26 REPORTS. 



|vtporls of ^ofictirs. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOnCAL 



SOCIETY.— Genekal Meeting, November ()tb. The Fkesidknt, Mr. Edmimd 

 Touks, B.C.L., iu the chair. JUr. W. Hinph read a short paper ou the " Physical 

 'Character of Seeds," referring to the form, beauty of markings of the testa, 

 style, and deposition of the embryo; tbe iudicatiou aud iiiforeuces to be derived 

 from the presence of perisperm, aud especially as to comparative aud absolute 

 size of albumiuous aud exalbumiuous seeds. The aim of uature in furnishing 

 certain seeds with «haractei-istic appendages was also commented upon. The 

 paper was illustrated by microscopical aud other specimens. 



Biological Section. — November 18th. — Dr. W. Hinds presidiug. Mr. 

 W. B. Grove, B A., gave some remarkably interesting notes on llie " Botany, 

 Geologj', and Physical Geography of the Cheshire and Lancashire Coasts," 

 illustrated by geological diagrams aud a series of carefully preserved botanical 

 specimens. These formed a very characteristic flora of the above coasts. Among 

 -Others were I'smnmn (trenaria, Feitucn wiii/lumis, Curcx extcnsn, ]'i(il<i Curtisii, 

 &c. A discussion followed. — Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited a number of rare War- 

 wickshire plants, collected in a rich liasquariy, near Bidford and Exhall, aud read 

 notes as to the distribution of these plauts iu the country and throughout the 

 world, together with the origin and siguitication of their names, and a short 

 account of some of the older botanists by whom tliese names were iirst instituted. 

 Among other plants were Linaria simrin, Aii'KjaUis centlea, I'icris hleracivides, 

 &c. — Mr. John Levick e.'chibited iu the microscopes selections of water from a 

 prolific i)ond, near Perry Barr, iu which were abundant Vulcox globator, 

 Acilnojihri/n sol, aud other creatures of great interest. 



Biological Section. — December 11th. — Dr. W. Hinds presiding. — Mr. E. W* 

 Badger read a paper on " Abnormal Ferns," by Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S.» 

 .of Nottingham, which will be found printed at length atr page 5. An 

 animated discussion followed. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Lowe for 

 Jils valuable and interesting communication. 



Geological Section. — October .'50th.— Mr. Heming, of Eedditch, read a 

 ipaper ou " Agates," collected from the drift in tbe neiglibourhood of the Lickey. 

 The greater part of the gravel which yields the agates comes from the Moseley 

 cutting, and some isolated patches usually capping slight hills. All these gravels 

 are characterised by hollow nodules of iron ore. Mr. Heming made some 

 remarks ou what he held to bo the origin of some irregularly marked agates, 

 viz., the chert of the Carbonifert)U3 Limestone. The paper was illustrated by 

 many beautiful polished specimens of pebbles. 



Geological Section, November 27tb — Rev. H. W. Crosskey, M.A., F.G.S , 

 presiding. Mr. S. Allport, F.G.S., showed specimens of Volcanic Agglomerate 

 aud blocks of Porphyritic aud other Pitchstones, from the Wrekin ; aud 

 Spherulitic, Pitchstone, aud Perlite, from Lea Rocks, also near Wellington. 

 These rocks have been described in the ijnartc.rhj Journal of the Ocolot/ical 

 iSocietij. They are chieily remarkable as being the first glassy i-ocks of 

 Pakuozoic age which have been anywhere found. The blocks of Pitchstone 

 occur in certaiu of the higher beds of the Agglomerate, aud are of considerable 

 size, from 14 to 18 inches in diameter. Mr. Allport gave a description of the 

 Volcanic rocks which form the central axis of the Wrelun, and exhibited some 

 ^eautifully-prepared microscopical sections, illustrating his remarks. 



General Meeting, December 4th. — Mr. S. Allport, F.G.S. , presiding. 

 Mr. Levich read a paper on " The Hydra," describing its mode of reproduction, 

 and its stinging organs, aud made some interesting remarks upon its 

 habits, and the manner in which it seizes its prey. The paper was 

 illustrated by several specimens under the microscope, amongst which were 

 the stinging organs, and a specimen of //. Vuhjoris with ova attached. 

 The same evening Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., read a paper on " The Spicules 

 of Sponges." After referring to the vexed question of the animality of spouges, 



