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The Naturalist. 



scopical objects. The chairman exhibited sections of Osmnnda and filix- 

 mas, thorn of rose, and a number of interesting slides of insects, crystals, 

 &c. Mr. W. West, a number of interesting slides illustrating anatomy, 

 entomology, and botany. Amongst the botanical exhibits of the latter 

 were the archegonia of Milium pundatum, and the characteristic utricles 

 of Sphagnum tenellum. Mr. Faull, Batrachospermum moniliforme and 

 scale mosses. 



Meeting March 15th, Mr. J. Firth in the chair. — Mr. F. Richmond 

 read an instructive paper on Manu,re, and the Assimilation of Plants," 

 in which he described the various manures that were used by farmers, 

 &c. In large towns great difficulty was experienced in disposing of 

 night-soil ; in some cases it was buried, and got rid of in other ways. The 

 consequence was, a great loss was sustained. If it were taken on to the 

 land, over and above the farmers' manure, much better crops would be 

 produced, as nightsoil was the best manure. — H. T. Soppitt, Hon. Sec, 



HuDDEESFiELD Naturalists' SOCIETY. — Meeting 28th February, the 

 president (Mr. 0. P. Hobkirk) in the chair. — Mr. S. L. Mosley laid on 

 the table a malformation of the egg of the domestic duck. The egg was 

 shaped somewhat similar to an oval bulb, the thin end being so prolonged 

 as to give it the appearance of having been affixed to the stem of some 

 plant. Mr. Mosley drew attention to a number of different malformations 

 both as to shape and colour, found in the eggs of domestic poultry and 

 game, the eggs of many of our birds being entirely destitute of colouring 

 matter whatever ; others having the colouring on one end only, when it 

 should be spread all over the egg ; and, again, the colouring being at the 

 small end when it should be at the opposite. He intimated that the 

 members would do well to look into and try and find some solution for 

 these differences. Mr. C. P. Hobkirk then laid on the table a number of 

 mosses from the islands of Colonsay and Oransay, off the west coast 

 of Scotland, viz., Hypnum aduncum, molluscuw,, polygamum, and 

 stellatum ; Bryilm pendulum and alpinum, Campylopus fragilis, and var. 

 densus, Racomitrium aciculare, and Ulota phyllantha. Mr. Hobkirk then 

 gave his lecture on " Some of the different Developments between Seeds 

 and Spores," explained and illustrated by diagrams. 



Meeting 12th March, Mr. Joseph Tindall in the chair. — Messrs. 

 J. Yarley and G. H. Crowther laid on the table the following botanical 

 specimens : — Galanthus nivalis, Cardamine amara, Ficaria verna, Salix 

 viminalisy catkins of Corylus avellana, and Betula alba. In geology a 

 specimen of Sigillaria oculata, by Mr, Yarley. Mr. S. L. Mosley showed 

 a number of beautiful drawings of birds' eggs sent to him by Mr. 

 Battersby, Rathowen, Ireland ; they represent a number of different 

 varieties of certain kinds of eggs. The following were among the number 

 shown : — Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), kestrel {Falco tinnuncidus), 

 sandpiper {Tringoides hypoleucus), dunlin {Tringa alpina), curlew {Nume- 

 niits arquatus), landrail {Crex pratensis), nightjar {Caprimulgus eioropceus), 

 hawfinch {Coccothraustes vulgaris), and the hooded crow {Corvus co7-nix). 



