214 GLEANINGS—REPORTS. 
ws A 
some 2,000 observers in all parts of the British Isles recording with care, 
and by means of accurate instruments, the principal meteorological 
phenomena—especially rainfall; while in Mr. Symons they have a leader 
who is ever ready and competent to give advice, and by whose keen eye 
every return is checked, whilst by his collation, preparation, and publi- 
cation of the results obtained most valuable data are made known, and 
the observers are encouraged to perseverance and regularity. From 
P: 105 we quote the following as the average rainfall for each of the three 
<ingdoms in 1878 :— 
England .. 7s Ar .. 38°28 inches. 
Scotland .. 4c sF sett OLL6 eee 
Treland .. -. © Oz OGG 
and Mr. Symons’ summing up on these figuresis, ‘‘in England and Wales 
an average fall, in Scotland and Ireland rather a deficiency, but not 
extreme in any part.” The above is, however, the result of the average 
of the few stations on Mr. Symons’ list where continuous observations 
have been carried on since 1850, and we can nowhere discover what is the 
average rainfall for 1878 when the returns from the whole of the recording 
stations are taken into account ; nor can we find the average fall in each 
of the twenty-three “divisions” which Mr. Symons establishes for the 
British Isles. These figures if they could be given would, we think, be 
of considerable interest and importance. Finally, we may extract the 
“extremes of rainfall in 1878 :”— 
Largest rainfall at The Stye, Cumberland .. .. 149-04 inches. 
Least rainfall at Keadby, Lincolnshire és WES 17°35 - 
Ray AND PALMONTOGRAPHICAL Socinties.—We are requested to state 
that the Local Secretary has received from the Rev. Thomas Wiltshire, 
the London Secretary, a small parcel of 8vo. lithographs of the curious 
appropriate menu designed*by E. W. Cooke, Esq., R.A., F.R.S., for the 
anniversary dinner of these societies, held in 1877, and that he will be 
happy to forward (to the extent of the supply) a copy to any member of 
the ‘Midland Union” on receipt of a halfpenny wrapper or large-sized 
stamped envelope, addressed W. R. Hughes, 23, Union Street,Birmingham, 
Deporis of Soriettes, 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—GrotoctcaL Suction.—June 24th. Mr. Waller showed a spike 
of Cotyledon umbilicus, from near Penzance, 30in. in length. It had also 
several supplementary spikes growing from the principal one.—Mr. Levick 
showed Volvox globator, Paludicella Ehrenbergii, Alcyonella fungosa, and an 
Amphileptus which he has been unable to identify with any recorded species.— 
Mr. Morley gave some particulars as to the arrangements for the marine 
excursion. He also showed some nature-printed British ferns, including varieties 
of Scolopendrium vulgare, Polystichum angulare, Blechnum boreale, and 
Athyrium Filix femina. In the discussion which arose Mr. Hughes gaye an 
account of an observation on a specimen of Ophioglossum vulgatum, in Mr. 
H. Allport’s collection, which showed that the fronds are thrown up from a 
creeping subterraneous rhizome, and are not solitary as usually they apparently 
are.—Mr. Southall reported that the cutting in the drift gravel, near Walsall, 
was visited on the 14th June, and specimens obtained of the included rocks. 
July 1st.—Grunerau Mrenrina.—Mr. A. W. Wills exhibited a freshwater alga 
belonging to the Oscillatoriacese, genus Spirulina.—Mr. J. Leyick exhibited 
