GLEANINGS. 83 



AH observers who desire to aid in this interesting work should obtain the 

 " Instructions for the Observation of Phenological Phenomena," (WiUiams 

 and Strahan, price 6d.,) di-awn up by Mr. Preston, which contains hsts 

 of Plants, Insects, and Birds to be observed, together v/ifcii Eules, 

 Approximate Dates, Remarks, &c. 



Fossil Insects. — At the meeting of the Geologists' Association on 

 January 4th, Mr. H. Goss read a paper on the fossil insects of the 

 secondary period. Mr. Goss pointed out that nearly all the British 

 specimens known are from the Piu-beck beds and from the Lias. Some 

 few have been found in the Wealden, and a few elytra of Coleoptera were 

 recorded from the Kimmeridge clay, the forest marble, and the great 

 oolite. Nearly all the other European specimens are from the Solenhofen 

 slate of Bavaria, or from the Swiss Alps. The paper was a lengthy one 

 and rich in detail, and will appear in the proceedings of the Association. 



OtTB Union. — " The Birmingham and Midland Institute Scientific 

 Society," " The Cheltenham Natural Science Society," and the " Evesham 

 Field Naturalists' Club " have joined the Midland Union of Natural History 

 Societies during the past month. The Union now includes twenty 

 Societies. Societies which have not yet joined are invited to do so. 



Iitports of ^ocittics. 



BIRMINGHAM NATUEAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY.— General Meeting, .Jaininry 2fltb.— Mr. W. B. Latham rea.l a 

 paper on " Orcliidaceie, British and Exotic," in which he dwelt at some length 

 on the treatment Orchids require under cultivation, their various kinds of 

 inflorescence, habits, modes of fertilisaiiou, &c. The paper was illustrated by 

 diagrams and living plants. Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., exhibited fronds of a fern, 

 supposed to be a hybrid between Blechnun corcovadense and Lomarla 

 gihha. Annual Meeting, February 5th. — The President, (Mr. Edmund 

 Touks, B.C.L.,) in the chair. The report gave an encouraging account 

 of the present state of the society. There are 266 members, being an 

 increase of thirty-one during the year. The report and treasurer's statement of 

 accounts were unanimously adopted. Mr. Touks was re-elected president, Mr. 

 Walter Graham and Mr. Edward W. Badger were elected vice-presidents. The 

 following re-elections were also made : — Mr. Charles Pumphrey, treasurer ; Mr. 

 John Morley, secretai-y ; Mr. .Jfimes E. Bagnall, librarian ; Mr. W. H. Cox and 

 Mr. J. Levick, curators. Biological Section, February l'2th. — Mr. W. R. 

 Hughes, F.L.S., was elected chairman of the section, and Mr. A. W. Wills 

 secretary for the ensuing year. Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited, on behalf of Mr. C. T. 

 Parsons, an abnormal form of Lentinus Icpidus; for Mr. Joseph Bragg a 

 fasciated stem of common holly (Ilex ;) collected by himself, a fasciated state of 

 Picris hiemcioides, also a remarkable instance of phyllody in all parts of raceme 

 and flowers of Foxglove (Digitalis.) Mr. Edmund Tonks exhibited and described 

 a fine specimen, iu good fruit, of the Gulf-weed (Fucus natans.) Mr. J. Bagnall 

 exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Joseph Cotton, fine specimens of the seventeen year 

 Cicada, (Cicada septendecimj and read an interesting account of them, sent by 

 Mr. J. F. Weston. Mr. John Morley exhibited, and gave a series of notes upon, a 

 variety of Scolupendrium vnlgore, var. variubUe. A discussion on the hybridisa- 

 tion of ferns followed. Mr. Slatter exhibited a slide of Nostoc vermcosum. A 

 vote of condolence with the widow of the Rev. A. Bloxam, of Harborough Magna, 

 was unanimously passed. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 

 — January 30th.— Mr. W. G. Fretton read a paper on " The Artisan, his Recrea- 

 tions and Hobbies." Mr. Fretton mentioned several artisans who, by steadfastly 

 cultivating their hobbies, had become respectively celebrated ornithologists, 

 botanists, geologists, and proficients in mechanical arts. February 13tb.— Mr. 

 T. F. Webb read a paper on " Electro-deposition." 



