THE CONVERSAZIONE. 183 



capsules and periclia3tial loaves of moss, Cryphase hcteromalla, by Mr, 

 J. E. BaguaU. Sections of stems and leaves of plants, differentially 

 stained to show the structure, by Mr. W. Teasdale. Section of potato, 

 with starch gi-ains in situ, polarised ; compound spiral vessels from 

 rhubarb, polarised ; gi-oup of feni scales, Nothochlaeua lajvis, polarised, 

 by Dr. Deane ; audChara, showing the spurious circulation, by Mr. T. J. 

 Slatter. Mr. J. E. Bagnall contributed a complete collection of the 

 grasses and sedges of Warwickshire, (dried specimens ;) Dr. W. Hinds a 

 collection of the British poisonous i)lants, (dried specimens ;) Mr. J. Morley 

 a collection of nearly all the species of British ferns, (living plants ;) and 

 Mr. E. Wheeler a most instructive series of microscopical preparations, 

 illustrating the histology and reproduction of plants. 



The Conchological display made by Mr. G. Sherriff Tye was of marked 

 interest, and consisted of part of his collection of British Shells, which 

 numbers many thousand specimens. The series included fine selected 

 examples of nearly all the land and freshwater shells hitherto found in 

 the neighbourhood of Birmingham, viz., about eighty species and 

 fifty varieties ; also many very local and some rare shells. 

 Among the former may be mentioned SphsRrium comeum, var. 

 flavescens ; S. lacustre, var. Eyckholtii ; Anodonta cygnea, var. pallida ; A. 

 anatina, var. complanata; Planorbis hneatus; P.dilatalus; Limnaea peregra, 

 var. lacustris ; L. peregra, var. maritima, &c., &c. Among the rare shells 

 were albinos of the following species : — Anodonta anatina, Bythinia 

 tentaculata, Limnaia peregra, L. palustris, L. tranculata, HeUx sericea, 

 H. virgata, H. Pisana, Pupa secala, Clansiha rugosa, and others. The 

 rare Vertigo Mouhnsiana, Hehx obvoluta, Succinea oblonga, Limnsea 

 glutinosa, and Limnsea involuta wei-e noticeable species. We might 

 specify many rare or uncommon forms in the marine portion, but want 

 of space forbids it ; we will only add that the collection was characterised 

 by neatness and clearness of arx'angement, and is the result of 

 years of labour. Dr. Schwarz also exhibited shells from Celebes 

 and Ceylon. Mr. W. H. Pearson exhibited Japanese and Chinese Silk- 

 worm Moths with Cocoons ; while cases of insects collected in Brazil, com- 

 prising moths, butterflies, and beetles, showing the brilliant colouring 

 characteristic of tropical insects, were exhibited by Mr. S. Allport. 



The Geological exhibits were very numerous and interesting. There 

 were sections showing junction of Igneous and Sedimentary Eock, and 

 section from Bone Bed of Rhaetic age m South Wales, exhibited by Dr. 

 Deane ; Pitchstone from An-an showing plumose crystals arranged in 

 lines forming contorted weather markings, by Sir. C. Pumphrey ; sections 

 of Volcanic Rocks, illustrating their microscopic structure, by Mr. S. 

 Allport ; Fossil Animal Life : Eozoon Canadense, the eai-hest knowai form 

 of animal life, specimens showing the canal system and tubular wall of the 

 chambers, and decalcified specimens showing serpentine casts of the'canals, 

 by Rev. H. W. Crosskey ; Trilobites from Wenlock shale and hmestone, 

 Dudley, by Mr. E. HoUier ; Crag Fossils and Devonian Fossils, by Mr. W. 

 Graham ; Pleistocene Animals from Cresswell Crags, by BIr. T. Heath ; 

 Chalk and Lias Fossils, by Mr. H. A. Vincent ; Agates, Jaspers, 

 Poi-phj-ries, &c., collected from the Diift, near Redditch, by Mr. W. T. 

 Heming ; and a very extensive collection of specimens, illus- 

 trative of the Glacial epoch, by the Rev. H. W. Crosskey. This 

 collection must be referred to at some length. It illustrated both 

 the physical action of ice and the changes of fauna connected with the 

 epoch. The Illustrations of the j)hysical action of ice comprised (1) a 

 specimen of encriuital limestone taken from beneath a mass of boulder 

 clay. The stems of encrinites were shown, cut into sections and 

 polished by ice action. (2) Ice-marked boulders, covered with balani, 

 showing that they had been di'opped by icebergs into the sea. (3) A 



