Reports of Societies. 



45 



OVBNDEN Naturalists' Society. — Mr. J. Spencer gave a brief descrip- 

 tion of some new discoveries which he had lately made in fossil botany. 

 These included a new species of fossil aquatic plant, which differed from 

 Astromyelon Williamsoni in the radiating plates of the bark being com- 

 posed of three rows of cells, whereas those of the latter plant are only 

 composed of one row of cells. He had also found another of these water- 

 plants which differed from the others in having a vascular axis, whereas 

 the other species have cellular axes. Tie had also made some more 

 important discoveries in fossil fungi, forming interesting additions to our 

 knowledge of these fossil parasites. But perhaps the most interesting 

 addition to our knowledge of these coal-plants has been his discovery of 

 a new species of fossil plant, forming a " link " between two well-known 

 species. No two species of plants can be more distinct in their internal 

 organization than the fossils known under the names of Sigillaria vascu- 

 lare and Lepidodendron Earcourtii. The newly-discovered plant occupies 

 an intermediate position between them. S. vasculare has a woody cylinder 

 surrounding a vascular axis or pith, while L. Harcourtii has no woody 

 cylinder, but it possesses certain peculiar vascular bundles, which 

 proceeded from the pith to the leaves, which were small and numerous. 

 The new plant combines within itself both these characteristic features of 

 those well-known plants. This is one of those innumerable facts which 

 support the great doctrine of "evolution," and which are continually 

 forcing themselves upon the attention of scientific observers. 



Wakefield Naturalists' and Philosophical Society. — Annual 

 meeting, Sept. 6th, Mr. J. Wainwright, F.L.S., president, in the chair. 

 Mr. E. B. Wrigglesworth, secretary, read the twelfth annual report, 

 which stated that there had been no increase in the number of members, 

 though the society had made steady progress during the past session. 

 There had been twelve meetings. The lecture programme had been very 

 successful, and the council thanked those who had taken part. The society 

 had had three rambles during the year, which were well attended. They 

 had kept in view the collection of information on the flora and fauna of the 

 district, with the object of its ultimate publication ; and a great amount 

 of original matter was in the possession of the various sections, ready for 

 the press. During the year the society had to deplore the loss of two 

 of its oldest members— Mr. William Talbot and Mr. John Wilson. The 

 Scientific and Fine Art Exhibition was opened Nov. 10th, 1881. Mr. 

 J. Wainwright was re-elected president, and Mr. E. B. Wrigglesworth 

 hon. secretary. A sub-committee was appointed to consider the question 

 of procuring the old Town Hall for the purposes of the society. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. — Wakefield, Sept. 9th. — The fifth 

 meeting of the year was planned for the investigation of Haw Park and 

 surrounding district, with Wakefield as the final rendezvous, but as on 

 account of the game preserves the local secretaries were not able to 

 obtain permission to work Haw Park Woods themselves, the area of 



