PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 279 
interesting details of the well-known Dionea muscipula. From several 
considerations and the experiments of Mr. Canby, Dr. Gray is “ forced to 
reward the careful observer of plant-life. 
H-T 
On some Fossil Ferns in the Ravenhead Collection. By the Rev. H. H. 
HicotNs and Mr. F. P. Marrat. (From the Proceedings of the 
Liverpool Geol. Soc. 1872.) 
Tt was fortunate that the attention of Mr. Higgins was. drawn to the 
railway cutting at Ravenhead, near Liverpool. A 
of highly fossiliferous shales were explored, and fro 
collected a large number of plant remains, a portion of which fo 
ject of this paper. Mr. Marrat has enumerated 62 species of Ferns, nine 
of which he considers to be new, and to them he has given “ provisional ” 
names. The illustrations are not very satisfactory, and as far as they 
? alisation as to the species 
f his own, * that careful investi- 
supposed (sic) species probably constitute various parts of one and the 
same plant." He figures two fern stems, interesting additions to our 
carboniferous flora. 
W.C. 
Proceedings of Societies. 
semen 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF 
SCIENCE, BRIGHTON, 1872. 
16/4.—J. W. Mallet, “ Oz 
Section B. CHEMICAL Science.—August i 
a hydrocarbon hitherto 
wo of the groups belong to living forms, while 
i Ca ;; and Zubicaulis belong to 
including under 
