REPORTS. 105 
rare in Warwickshire; Andrea homomalla, recently added to our British flora ; 
and Buxbaumia indusiata from Ballater.—Mr. Lawson Tait read a long and 
elaborate paper on the gland structures of digesting plants, referring chiefly to 
the Nepenthes or Pitcher plants, describing the different zones of cells, glandular 
or otherwise, which line the interior of the pitchers, and the functions which 
each zone performs in capturing, retaining, or digesting insects. March 11th.— 
Briotoeican Secrrion.—Mr. J. HE. Bagnall exhibited Aulacomnion turgidum, a 
moss new to the British flora, and microscopical preparations of other species. 
Also curious specimens of prolification in leaves of Cardamine pratensis.—Mr. T. 
Bolton exhibited a large collection of organisms from Kinver, including 
Melicerta ringens, Limnias ceratophylli, and other rotifers, several species of 
Infusoria, Radiolaria, &e.—Mr. Cotton exhibited a collection of Foraminifera 
from Barmouth, and from the winter quarters of the Alert—Mr. A. W. Wills 
gave some notes on some of the Unicellular Alga, dwelling especially on the 
value of a study of these plants as giving a clear insight into the laws of cell 
structure and growth, and prefacing an account of the family Palmellacez, from 
which his illustrations were chiefly drawn, by a summary of the views now 
generally accepted by botanists on the subject of the morphology of the vegetable 
cell. These remarks were illustrated by a number of specimens, living and 
mounted, belonging to the genera Protococcus, Chlorococcum, Palmella,Tetraspora, 
Glceocapsa, Urococcus, Apiocystis, &e. March 18th.—MicroscopicaL GENERAL 
Merrtine.—Mr. E. W. Badger exhibited mounted specimen of the larva of 
Tortoiseshell butterfly, showing the spiracles and tracheal system; also, on 
behalf of Mr. Fredk. Enock, six beautifully prepared entomological slides, 
presented to the Society by Mr. Enock.—A cordial vote of thanks was passed to 
the donor.—Mr. W. G. Blatch, after some remarks on the above, exhibited a 
minute beetle, Bryaxis Waterhousei, found only at the sea-side in a very few 
localities —Mr. T. Bolton exhibited living edible frogs (Rana esculenta.)—Mr. 
W. R. Hughes exhibited skin of the common sole (polariscope) and Artemia 
salina, the brine shrimp, an Entomostracan found in the salt-pans at Lymington, 
Hants, mounted by Mr. Enock. 
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 
—February 26th—Mr. W. Russell exhibited and described some Electro- 
tasimeters constructed by himseif. Their sensitiveness was shown by their 
indicating the expansion of a strip of ebonite when breathed upon. March 12th. 
—Dr. Wm. Hinds read an interesting paper on ‘“‘ Hyphal or Basal Fungoid 
Tissue.” The subject was illustrated by drawings and microscopical preparations. 
BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—February 
28th.—GENERAL Mrntina.—A paper was read by F. Pearson, entitled “ Birds 
and their Nests.” Microscopical objects were exhibited by A. B. Badger. 
Twenty-two new members were elected. March 14th.—GrenrerAL Mrretinc.—A 
paper was read by H. F. Devis, entitled “‘A Walk round Dolgelly ;”’ mounted 
specimens of plants were exhibited by him, including the following :—Impatiens 
Noli-me-tangere, Campanula (Wahlenbergia) hederacea, Asplenium viride, 
Linaria repens. Five new members were elected, who completed the Society’s 
numbers, namely, fifty. 
BURTON-UPON-TRENT NATURAL HISTORY AND ARCHAHOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY.—March 11th.—Mr. J. Charles Cox, author of ‘“‘ The Churches of 
Derbyshire,” read a paper on ‘“ The Recent Excavations at Dale Abbey.” After 
giving an outline of the history of the abbey, he gave an account of the 
excavations. About six months ago there was nothing to be seen but a lofty arch 
standing in the middle of a large grass field. Mr. St. John Hope happened just 
before then to meet with a plan of Dale Abbey drawn by Dr. Stukeley in 1730, 
and he laid the matter before the Derbyshire Archeological Society. It was 
resolved that the ground should be excavated, and after the preliminary arrange- 
ments had been made the work was commenced. After removing about five feet 
of earth they came to the foundations of the abbey, the walls of which were from 
two to between four and five feet above the level of the floors. They had now 
excavated to the boundary of the field, and had discovered the choir, (eighty feet 
long by thirty-five feet wide,) a double aisle on the south, the foundations of the 
central tower, north and south transepts, a square chapel, and other buildings on 
the south side, but the western part had not yet beem excavated owing to the 
