lUj^oris of Sonetics, 



Barnsley Naturalists' Society. — Similar observations to those given 

 in the January Naturalist have been made in this extraordinary season. 

 The jlight and movements of birds yielded interesting observations ; many 

 wild geese were recorded Dec. 12, and other flights since, passing over or 

 near to Barnsley, a heron on the 15th, also large sea-gulls on Jan. 15th. 

 Mr. W. Talbot recorded redshank at Kirkthorp J an. 16th ; a blackbird 

 with white-streaked neck and breast was brought to Mr. Lister on 

 Christmas Day ; it is well cared for by a friend. It will be curious to see 

 what change will be developed in confinement. Three wagtails, more or 

 less pied, have been seen. A hawfinch was received from Mr. C. Wemys, 

 of Cannon Hall. Jan. 6th. — T. Lister. 



GooLE Scientific Society. — Meeting Jan. 3rd. — Lecture on "Poi- 

 sonous British Plants," by the Rev. T. Dickin. The author mentioned 

 and described the principal poisonous species of flowering plants found 

 in Britain, with the symptoms which they produce in the animal body, 

 and the appropriate treatment. — H. Franklin Parsons, Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — Monthly 

 meeting Dec. 30th, Mr. S. J. Capper, president, in the chair — A paper 

 was read by Mr. Benj. Cooke, entitled "Entomological Mares' Nests," 

 in which he facetiously alluded to several national and other needless 

 alarms caused by the reported importation of foreign devastating insects. 

 Several manufactiu:ed varieties of lepidoptera were exhibited, and also 

 Tortrix dumetana by Mr. Roxburgh, &c. 



Manchester Cryptogamic Society. — Monthly meeting, Mr. J. White- 

 head, president, in the chair. — A conversation took place with regard to 

 the collection of British mosses which the members desire to present, in 

 the name of the society, to the Free Reference Library, and resolutions 

 were passed for giving effect to the decision already arrived at. A com- 

 mittee was appointed consisting of the president and five members of the 

 society, to undertake the work. Mr. C. P. Hobkirk, F.L.S., Huddersfield, 

 and Dr. J. S. Wesley, Wetherby, were elected corresponding members of 

 the society. The president mentioned the fact of his having gathered 

 Seligeria acutlfolia, Lind., a species not hitherto known as British, at 

 Arncliffe, in Craven. Mr. Rogers, hon. secretary, called attention to a 

 species of Pottia, gathered at Southport by Mr. Percival, and understood 

 at the time of collection to be P. Wilsoni, B. and S. He believed it would 

 turn out not to be that species, but the much more rare P. littoralis, Mitt. 

 The president exhibited specimens of Phascum hryoides, Dicks., in 

 beautiful condition ; also Hypnum crassinervium and jH. chrysophyllum, 

 gathered by him on New Year's Day at Miller's Dale. Dried specimens 

 were shown by Mr. Holt of Dicliodontium pellucidum, var. serratum 

 (Dicranum flavescens, Brid.,) from the Isle of Man ; and by Mr. Wild of 

 Gymnostomum commutatum {Weissia commutata, Mitt.), from the only 

 locality for this species at present known, viz., Nant-y-Fidd, near Wrex- 

 ham. G. commutatum was first found by the late Mr. J. E. Bowman, of 



