REPORTS. 285 
exhibited a cast shell of crab from his aquarium. Mr. Badger exhibited 
a very abnormally tasselled form of Pteris serrulata, grown by Mr. 
Chas. Williams, of Moseley Lodge, and read a letter about it 
from Mr. Thomas Moore, F.L.S. Mr. W. Southall read a paper on 
the making of the artificial sea-water for the Aston Aquarium. (See page 246.)— 
GeneraL Mrrtrnes.—September 30.—Mr. W. G. Blatch exhibited larve of 
Vanessa Cardui, remarkable only for their occurrence so late in the season ; 
beautiful cocoon of a spider, Ciniflo ferox, in the shape of an egg, suspended by a 
silken cord; and arare beetle, Amara patricia, new to the Midlands, found at 
Cannock Chase. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Schizogonium murale, from a wall 
at King’s Norton. Mr. J. Levick read the paper on ‘‘ A New Rotifer and Infusorian ” 
printed at page 241. Mr. W. Graham gave an interesting account of a marine and 
dredging expedition organised by the Aberdeen University. Mr. H. KE. Forrest 
reported that he had found Ophrydium versatile, a remarkable Infusorian, 
at Shrewsbury.—October 7th.—Mr. T. Bolton exhibited living male and 
female of Leptodora hyalina. Mr. J. Levick read some notes upon a curious 
Stentor, which he had found at Barnt Green. (See page 280 for description.) Mr. 
Montagu Browne, F.Z.S., read a paper ‘On the Desirability of Establishing a 
Museum in Birmingham, with some remarks on the Collection at Aston Hall.” 
He characterised the latter as a collection of caricatures of nature, huddled 
together without even a pretence of scientific arrangement or correct nomen- 
clature, and propounded the following scheme for the establishment of a scien- 
tific museum, centrally situated, and equally instructive to the student and the 
mere sightseer. That two moderate-sized rooms should be obtained, in one of 
which should be collected specimens illustrating the fauna, flora, geology, and 
mineralogy of Great Britain, with especial regard to local natural history. 
That these should be mounted with characteristic surroundings (i.e., rock birds 
on rocks, waders in marshy ground, &c.) In the second room might be 
arranged groups of animals, &c., such as were likely to be of use for educational 
purposes. He said that if the two rooms were provided and fittings obtained by 
public subscription, the objects would be speedily forthcoming; indeed, that he 
himself was prepared and willing to present them with a large number of 
British birds. At the conclusion of the paper, a discussion took place; 
in which Messrs. E. W. Badger, W. R. Hughes, W. Wright Wilson, 
H. E. Forrest, R. W. Chace, and J. Levick took part, all the 
speakers substantially supporting Mr. Browne’s suggestions.—BroLoGIcAL 
Secrion.—October 14th.—Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited Medicago denticulata, M. 
maculata, Lolium temulentum, and Bromus patulus, from a farmyard at 
Kenilworth ; he considered all of them to be casuals introduced with foreign 
seed. Riccia glauca and Anthoceros punctatus, Hepatice from a marly field at 
Leek Wootton. The peculiar distinctions in fruiting characters were pointed out 
and microscopical preparations of them were exhibited. Mr. J.G. Cotton exhibited 
Eye of Trilobite, Asaphus caudatus, from the Wren’s Nest, Dudley. Mr. J. 
Bagnall then read his report of the Botanical Section of the Falmouth Excursion, 
in which he stated that upwards of 400 species of flowering plants, grasses, and 
ferns had been recorded or collected during the excursion, the greater part of 
which were found in the Falmouth district, (Falmouth to Helford, a distance of 
about six miles,) most attention having been given to this neighbourhood. Hach 
day’s excursion and proceedings were then duly recorded, and the most noticeable 
plants found during the excursion were exhibited. An account was also given of 
the excursion to Land’s End and Lizard Point, and the rare plants taken on that 
occasion were exhibited. The geographical range in Great Britain of each plant 
exhibited was given, and an analysis of the whole flora of the district 
worked, so far as represented in the list made during the excursion, was given, 
as follows :—220 belong to what Hewett C. Watson calls the British type of 
distribution, or to that intermediate type which he designates British-Hnglish, 
z.e., species widely spread through South, Middle, and North Britain; 150 to what 
Hewett C. Watson calls English type, or to that intermediate type which he 
calls English-British, z.e., species chiefly seen in South or South Middle Britain ; 
seventy to what he calls the Atlantic type or species, chiefly seen in West 
England ; twenty to the Germanic type or species, chiefly seen in Hast England ; 
four are what he designates local species, and are coufined to single or few 
oo The paper was illustrated by sixty-eight specimens of the plants 
collected. 
