Jan., 1889. 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
23 
towards the end of the volume are devoted to the historv 
c/ 
of that very remarkable custom, called the “Couvade,” still 
surviving in Nicaragua, in which the father is put to bed on 
the birth of a child, and receives the congratulations of his 
friends, while the mother goes to work as usual! 
We close this deeply interesting book with reluctance. It 
is a worthy companion of such classical works on the doctrine 
of evolution as Bates’s “ Naturalist on the Amazons,” 
Wallace’s “Malay Archipelago,” and Ernst Haeckel’s “Visit 
to Ceylon.” They make a noble quartet. 
W. R. H. 
Reports of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Microscopical Section, December 4th. Mr. W. B. 
Grove in the chair. Mr. Benjamin Ward was duly elected a member 
of the Society. Mr. Herbert Stone exhibited a collection of skins 
from Toowoomba and Warwick, Queensland, including wallaby, koala 
or native bear, opossum, native cat, kangaroo, ornithorhynckus, and 
tail of the dingo. Mr. T. E. Bolton, a living specimen of Clathrulina 
elegant, rare. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, stellate hairs on deutzia leaves, 
showing different forms of mounting, and illumination under the 
microscope. Mr.W. B. Grove, B.A., three specimens of Geasterfimbria tus, 
from Boldmere, near Sutton, where they were found in a garden. 
This is the first time that this beautiful and rare fungus has been 
found so near Birmingham. It has been previously found at Allesley 
and Alcester, and at Blockley. Also (for Miss Gingell) Ag. carckarias, 
Paxillus revolutus, a newly described and figured species ; and (for Mr. 
Pumphrey) Ag. pgrotrichus and Ag. cyathiformi*, from Gloucester¬ 
shire.— Biological Section, December 11th. Mr. R. W. Chase 
in the chair. Mr. J. E. Bagnall. A.L.S., exhibited a series of plants 
from near Great Yarmouth, collected by Mr. R. W. Chase, including 
Orckit incarnata and Stellaria palustris ; also, from Dursley, collected 
by Miss Gingell, a number of rare mosses, such as Barbula tortunsa, 
Hypnum ttcllatnm , and G gmnostomum microstomurn, giving their distri¬ 
bution throughout the world. Mr. E. H. Wagstaff, an example of 
Polycistina , in dry state, from Barbadoes. Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., 
announced the recent discovery at Sutton of one of the earth stars, 
Geaster fimbriatus , the first time any of these interesting fungi have 
been recorded from North Warwickshire since the days of Withering 
and Bree. Mr. W. B. Grove then gave his paper on “ The Salmon 
Fungus f Saprolegnia) and its Allies,’' giving a very full and interesting 
account of the mode of growth, reproduction, and effects of these 
parasites. They are great enemies not only to salmon, but also to 
fish and other animals preserved in aquaria, which are frequently 
infested with them when alive. It is stated that carbonate of soda 
prevents their growth. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. R. W. 
Chase, J. Levick, W. R. Hughes, and J. E. Bagnall took part.— Geo¬ 
logical Section, December 18th. Mr. F. W. Carpenter was e’ected a 
