Repoets of Societies. 



39 



Meeting lotli August, Mr. S. L. Mosley in the cliair. — In entomology 

 Mr. A. W. Whiteley laid on the table a heniipterons insect taken from 

 among some bilberries imported from Hamburg. Mr. F. Ellis exhibited 

 a number of lepidoptera taken recently in this district ; the following 

 were among the immber :—C. fidvata, C. popiilata, N. haja, L. ccesiata, 

 and P. hipunctidacfylns ; Mr. George Bickerdike, a number of entomo- 

 logical specimens from Blackpool, viz : — A. Aglaia, S. Janira, S. Titlio- 

 nus, and Z. Jilipendulce. The next ramble will be to the Deyne Woods, 

 Netherton. 



Manchester CnYPTOGAmc Society. — Meeting, August 15th, Capt. 

 CunliflPe, F.R.M.S., in the chair, in the absence of Dr. Carrington, 

 president, whose continued indisposition still prevents his attendance. 

 The members are, however, glad to learn that there are now hopes of his 

 recovery from a long and protracted illness. A number of mosses which 

 had recently been collected during the excursion to the Grampian and 

 Breadalbane mountains were exhibited, amongst them being Arctoa 

 fnlvella and (Edipodhiin Griffithianv/in, which latter species was found 

 fruiting abundantly on Ben Cruachan, on the ascent from Loch Awe 

 station. Leskea rufescens was frequently found in fruit on Ben Lavigh 

 and other mountains. Hypnum crista-castrensis, Dissodon splaclmoides, 

 and Bryum alpmnm were fonnd plentifully in fruit in the neighbourhood 

 of Loch Tay. A tuft of Tetraplodon mnioides, from a large patch, that 

 would have filled a hat, and containing many thousands of capsules, was 

 found growing on the fur of a dead mountain hare, on Meal Tarmechan. 

 Most of the mosses exhibited had also been mounted microscopically by 

 Mr. Cunliffe, the series being very much admired as specimens of micro- 

 scopical mounting. Mr. Cunliife also exhibited specimens of Splachmim 

 ampnllaceum and Fissidens polyphyllus, from "N'orth Wales. Specimens of 

 the latter were liberally distributed to the members. Mr. W. H. Pearson 

 announced having found two new stations for the rare Jungermannia 

 myriocarpa (Carr), on Langdale, Westmoreland, whilst botanising in 

 company with Mr. George Stabler, and also on Clogwyn dur Arddu, in 

 North Wales, August, 1881. This very distinct species, which Dr. 

 Spruce characterises as the happiest discovery of our president, was found 

 in Italy by Prof. Massalongo. Amongst the Westmoreland and Welsh 

 specimens were found the male plants, these not having been hitherto 

 observed. — T. Rogers, Hon. Sec. 



Wakefield I^Taturalists' and Philosophical Society. — Meeting 

 July 6th, Dr. Growth er, vice-president, in the chair. — Mr. Wright gave 

 a description of the following insects, and exhibited tlie larvse and imagos : 

 C. fiavicorids, 0. antirpia, and 8. populi. Dr. Cr-owther explained to 

 the meeting a process of preserving the brain of deceased animals, by 

 which putrefaction may be avoided, though the brain be exposed to 

 the direct heat of the sun, and exhibited the brain of a large sheep-dog 

 prepared in this manner, in a perfect state, and free from decomposition. 



