Reports of Societies. 



203 



Thursday, September 29th, and in the meantime to hold field meetings 

 and excursions as arranged from time to time ; the first field meeting to 

 take place in Westwood, on Thursday, the 15th inst. Amongst the 

 specimens exhibited were Orchis ustulata, 0. incarnata, 0. latifolia 

 (several varieties), 0. maculata, and Ornithogalum umbellatum brought 

 by Mr. Ridgway ; abnormal forms of Pyrethrum taken from one plant, 

 and showing a transition from single to double flowers, shown by Mr, 

 F. Mills. Mr. Cherry exhibited bred specimens of Cuculia scrophnlarioe 

 and a single individual of Odontopera hidentata, taken at a gas-lamp in 

 Beverley. A mounted and stained odontophore of Limax maximus was 

 shewn by Mr. Butterell. Gold quartz from California, fossil wood, 

 showing details of structure, and other lithological specimens, were also 

 before the members. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — Monthly 

 meeting in the Free Library, the president (Mr. S. J. Cai3per) in the 

 chair. — M. J. Wall contributed a paper entitled " A consideration of the 

 chief aims of the study of entomology," in which he advocated the study 

 of the life-history and habits of insects, instead of the plan generally 

 followed of collecting and arranging for mere display. During the con- 

 versazione, Mr. Wall exhibited under the microscope living specimens of 

 the so-called " American blight," an aphis which infests and does con- 

 siderable damage to apple trees. Mr. Makin exhibited a box of North 

 American lepidoptera. — J. W. Ellis, Hon. Sec. 



Manchester Cryptogamic Society. — Meeting May 15th, Dr. 

 Carrington, F.R.S.E., in the chair, who kindly distributed specimens 

 of Orthotrichum Lyellii, which he had collected in fruit at Lodore, Cum- 

 berland. Some conversation took place in reference to the Gymnostomum 

 at Nant-y-Fydd, near Wrexham, and which is known as G. commutatum . 

 Doubts were generally expressed as to its claim to be more than a form of 

 Gymnostomum curvirostrum, in association with which it grows at the 

 same place. Captain Cunclifie, F.R.M.S., exhibited a beautiful series of 

 mounted slides of the Hepaticoe, ; fruiting specimens of Funariafascicidare^ 

 Hypnum giganteum, and H. scorpioides — the latter species having fronds 

 nearly 18 inches long. Mr. Cash read an interesting paper on some rare 

 British mosses, giving a history of the discovery of Hypnum Blandovii 

 (see page 189) and Faludella sqiiarrosa, at Knutsford Moor, by Mr. 

 Wm. Wilson. 



Monthly Meeting, June 19th, Dr. B. Carrington, F.R.S.E., in the 

 chair, — The hon. secretary read a letter which he had received from 

 the corresponding member, Mr. C. P. Hobkirk (author of the "Synopsis 

 of British Mosses,") in reference to the reports of the society in the 

 Naturalist, and also some remarks on the advisability of the students 

 of cryptogamic botany acquiring a more intimate knowledge of the 

 anatomy and developement of cryptogamic plants generally. Mr. Cash 

 exhibited specimens of Myriuia pulvmata, which he had recently 



