140 COREESPONDENCE. 



cose, amongst tlie expansions of the olfactory nei-ve, I found eight other 

 specimens, all of wluch were males. I then examined the auditory 

 canals, but no traces of the parasite were to be seen. I immediately 

 prepared some of them as specimens for the microscope, thinking that 

 if I could keep the young ahve in situ until the next meeting of the 

 Birmingham Natural Histoi-y and Microscopical Society, when Mr. W. 

 E. Hughes, F.L.S., was to present a paper on an alhed subject by Dr. T. 

 Spencer Cobbold, I might, perhaps, assist in throwing hght upon a 

 matter of considerable difficulty, one which has occupied the minds of 

 some of the most distinguished scientific obsen^ers for jeurspast, and which 

 is now bearing fruit in the shape of contributions of a character so important 

 to the medical and non-medical world, that I feel bound to express my 

 personal obhgation to Dr. Cobbold for the very complete form in which 

 he is bringing the subject before the Society and general science-loving 

 pubhc. The mounted specimens were exhibited at that meeting, imme- 

 diately after Dr. CobbokVs paper. The young worms were then ahve, 

 as was testified by Mr. Hughes himself and several others, having then 

 been mounted in Canada balsam for four days, showing the extreme 

 vitahty of these young minute tlu'eads of h%ing naatter. I have written 

 to Dr. Cobbold, and sent him specimens for examination, and until I 

 hear fi'om- him, with his declaration as to the name of species of this 

 round worm, I must defer my anatomical description. It may turn out 

 to be a well-known form. If it does, no description" will be necessary ; 

 but any departure from the usual form will be noted and described. The 

 worm, and the skull showing the sinuses, may be seen at Mr. Bolton's 

 Studio, No. 17, Ann Street, Birmingham, where I have placed them for 

 inspection. — Wright Wilson, M.E.C.S., F.L.S., &c. 



^Icaninqs. 



OuE Union. — We have much pleasure in announcing that at the 

 ajinual meeting of the Woolhope Natui-ahsts' Field Club at Hereford, 

 on the 23rd Apx'il, it was unanimously resolved that the Club join the 

 Midland Union of Natural Histoiy Societies. 



Pbactical Taxtdeemy. — Under this title a valuable book by Mr. 

 Montagu Browne, of Birmingham, has recently been pubUshed at " The 

 Bazaar" Ofl&ce, London. In an early number we hope to re\'iew it at 

 length. 



RrBi. — In the March number of the " Journal of Botany" Professor 

 Babington commenced a series of articles "Notes on Eubi." In the 

 March and ApiH numbers are criticisms on httle understood forms, 

 which wiU be read with interest and instruction by all students of this 

 difficult genus. 



Lichens. — In the " Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science " for 

 April a valuable contribution appears, entitled " Eecent Eesearches into 

 the Nature of Lichens," by Sydney H. Vines, Fellow and Lecturer of 

 Christ's College, Cambridge, in which the more recent speculations for 

 and against the Algoid Nature of Lichens are given, and very ably 

 criticised. 



British Hepatice, — Students of these interesting plants will be glad 

 to see by an announcement on cover of present month's number, that a 

 fasciculus of seventy-five specimens, representing sixty species, illustrative 

 of " Carringtou's British Hcpatica?,"' will be ready for distribution on 1st 

 June next. Communications should be addi'essed to Mr. W. H. Peoi-son, 

 115, Church Street, Pendleton, Manchester. 



