Reports of Societies. 



13 



microscope were exhibited by Mr. B. Saynor, Volvox glohator and a section 

 of fossilized pine ; by Mr. F. Emsley, the larva of the common gnat, 

 Culex pipiens. Mr. J. W. Westmoreland brought several specimens of 

 common plants ; by Mr. J. W. Taylor, a piece of crocodile's skin (tanned), 

 and a collection of helices and their varieties, from Oregon, Idaho, and 

 Lower California, which included Helix Jidelis, H. infumata, H. Townsend- 

 iana, H. areolata, and H. IdaJioensis. The specimens of H. jidelis showed 

 its approach in its variation to H. infumata, whilst in the Oregon type 

 specimens of H. Townsendiana we had a heavy and calcareous texture ; 

 the varieties from Idaho were horny. H. Idahoensis is a distinct and 

 unique shell, having strongly-developed and transverse ribs encircling 

 the whole. 



254th Meeting, July 10th, Mr. James Abbott, president, in the chair. 

 — Mr. Edward E. Prince read a paper entitled " Notes on the Geology 

 and Antiquities of Dorsetshire," illustrated by diagrams. — Wm. Denison 

 Roebuck, Hon. Sec. 



255th Meeting, July 1 7 th, Mr. John Grassham, V.P. , in the chair. — Mr. 

 Charles Rider brought and described a skeleton of the frog, Rana tempo- 

 raria which he had prepared. Mr. C. Smethurst exhibited the following 

 moths from Bishop's wood : — Lomaspilis marginaia, Eupithecia veyiosata, 

 Scotosia undidata, and Melanthia alhicillata ; also Coleoptera from Ilkley 

 — Clivina fossor, Harpalus rujicornis, Calathus melanocephalus and Nebria 

 hrevicollis. Mr. Hy. Pollard showed from Saltwick, near Whitby, a 

 quantity of fossils he had gathered, the principal were Nucula ovum, 

 Avicula decussata and Gryphoea incurva, also recent shells, Sphcerium 

 rivicola from Shipley. Mr, Henry Crowther exhibited a poplar hawk 

 moth from Mapplewell, near Barnsley, and an extremely marked specimen 

 of Strangalia mmata, a beetle; he next exhibited, and read a paper 

 descriptive of the habits, &c , of Dolomedes mirahUis, a spider, followed 

 by another paper on the stag beetle ( Lucanus cervus ) showing the 

 insect alive : also the following species of coleoptera from typical genera 

 of the Lamellicornes, to illustrate its position in that division : — Phyl- 

 lopertha horticola, Melohntha vulgaris, Serica brunnea, HopUa philanthvs, 

 Geotrupes stercorarius, Aphodi us fossor . 



Mireield Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting, 7th June. — 

 Mr. Joseph Tindall, of Huddersfield, gave an address on The Geo- 

 ' graphical Distribution of Birds." Between 50 and 60 plants were 

 produced in bloom, among which were Genista tinctoria, Oenanthe crocata, 

 Scutellaria galericulata, Aegopodium podagraria, and Chenopodinm bonus 

 Benricus. — E. Stoks, Sec. 



Selby Naturalists' Society. — 28th meeting. May 30th. — The first 

 excursion of the season was made to Everingham, the seat of Lord 

 Herries. Most of the time was spent in the park, gardens, and hothouses, 

 the exotic plants and ferns in the latter proving a great attraction to the 



