1859.] BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION. 377 



were then cut out with a pen-knife, and the animals brought 

 away alive and harmless. This creature, the only poisonous 

 snake indigenous to Britain, is viviparous, and in one of the spe- 

 cimens obtained on this occasion, some ten or twelve young and 

 active vipers were found, measuring about four inches in length, 

 and evidently suited for an independent existence. 



One of the most surprising of the vegetable productions flourish- 

 ing in this place, is the usually scarce plant known as Pillwort 

 {Pilularia globulifera) . This little plant actually lines the shores 

 around the pool. Here also flourish Calamagrostis lanceolata 

 (the Small Reed), and that elegant bog-rush, now unfortunately 

 banished entirely from Moseley Bog, the Narthecium ossifragum 

 (the Bog Asphodel), the All-seed {Radiola Millegrana) , the Club- 

 rush {Typha latifolia), the Roman Nettle {Urtica urens), and a 

 scarce Hypericum [Hypericum Elodes), grow here also. 



The locality of Cannock Chase has also been visited, and seve- 

 ral heath-plants of great interest gathered. Of these, the Dwarf 

 Furze ( Ulea^ nanus) , the Crowberry [Empetrum nigrum) , so much 

 prized as food by the grouse, the beautiful Reindeer Lichen {Cla- 

 donia rangiferina) , may be mentioned as examples. 



During this season, an unusual number of that striking pro- 

 duction, the Syrian Oak-gall, has been observed. This Oak-gall 

 appears to have been introduced into Great Britain about fifteen 

 years ago, and bids fair to do something serious to the growth of 

 the English Oak. It would be a curious speculation to try to 

 fathom the influence which this little Cynips, the insect to which 

 these excrescences are owing, might have in undermining what 

 great nations have yet attempted in vain, namely the " wooden 

 walls of Old England." Fortunately, however, science and Pro- 

 vidence and British skill have anticipated the misfortune, if so it 

 should prove, in forming our ships of another material, and one 

 which moth cannot corrupt, at any rate, whatever be the eft'ect of 

 rust. 



I must not forget to mention the capture, in Birmingham, of 

 several handsome and full-grown species of the migratory locust. 

 The same thing has occurred lately in other parts of England, 

 and also that some of the usually scarce caterpillars known to 

 entomologists, namely. Sphinx Ligustri, have been lately found 

 feeding upon a plant, in a court in Great Charles Street. An 

 unusual number of the scarcer insects, such as the Goat-moth, the 



N. S. VOL. III. 3 c 



