196 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Aug., 1889. 
and the appearance of the crystals of felspar, augite, apatite, and 
olivine, and their order of crystallisation, and the transition of olivine 
in some rocks into serpentine. The solidification of a rock was a 
progressive process, and, though we begin with Rowley Rag, we find 
it so typical that we can get to almost any rock on the globe. The 
lecture was illustrated by a series of rock sections under the micro¬ 
scopes.—June 3rd. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited slabs of Wenlock 
Limestone containing trilobites, &c.; Mr. J. Corbet, a series of the 
larger corals from the same formation; Mr. J. Moore, nine species of 
Zonites, and, under the microscope, palates of the same ; Mr. H. 
Hawkes, a marine alga, Ptilota plumosa, in fruit.—June 17th. Mr. J. 
Madison showed specimens of Linmcea truncatula, L. peregra, Neritina 
concava and Cochlicopa lubrica , from the Eocene beds of Headon Hill; 
Mr. C. P. Neville, a specimen of spider crab; Mr. Corbet, lignite 
from the “fossil forest,” Brook Point, Isle of Wight, and nodules of 
marcasite from the chalk; Mr. II. Hawkes, Tilmadoche mutabilis; 
Mr. Camm, Sphceria ovina and S. hispida. —June 24th. Mr. J. Moore 
gave a report of the Excursion to Salford Priors, and showed many 
varieties of Helix nemoralis, collected on the way; Mr. H. Hawkes 
showed a collection of plants and fungi from the same locality, among 
the latter was the CEcidium stage of Puccinia phragmitis. Mr. W. J. 
Parker then read a paper on “ The Eyes.” The writer said the eyes 
were most interesting, from the fact that they were the inlet of nearly 
all knowledge, and described the situation of the eyes, the structure of 
the crystalline lens, ciliary processes, choroid coat, retina and optic 
nerve, and showed that the eves of the vertebrata differed but little 
from each other, except in minor ways. After comparing them with 
the eyes of insects and crustaceans, the writer referred to certain 
defects in vision, the most remarkable of which was “Daltonism,” or 
colour blindness. The paper was illustrated by diagrams and micro¬ 
scopic slides.—July 1st. Mr. Linton exhibited a collection of fossils 
from the Portland beds; Mr. J. Collins Spirogyra porticalis, showing 
mature zygospores ; Mr. A. Camm, Trichict fallax var. minor, a fungus 
on holly leaf. —July 8th. Mr. J. Madison exhibited a case of shells, 
showing varieties of Unio, Anodon , &c. ; Mr. P. T. Deakin, two cases 
of shells, one of the smaller Helices, and the other of the Plauorbis 
genus; Mr. J. Betteridge, specimens of Reed Warbler and Sedge 
Warbler, and three nests of the latter, showing a great variation in 
form; eggs of both birds were also shown; Mr. J. W. Neville, a 
number of specimens of Clausilia, from various foreign localities.— 
July 15th. Mr. J. Collins exhibited under the microscope, Prasiola 
crispa ; Mr. J. Moore, gizzard of bee and wasp; Mr. Corbet, a 
collection of polished pebbles, agates and fossil corals, from Devon¬ 
shire ; Mr. J. Linton, a number of fossils from the Oxford clay, 
Peterborough. Mr. B. Cracroft then read a paper, “ Notes on an 
Excursion to Cheddar,” describing the journey from Weston-super- 
Mare, through several picturesque villages. The first appearance of 
the Cheddar rocks reflected in the sheet of water, collected from nine 
springs, was very imposing. At every step the scenery changes; the 
castellated form of some of the rocks being very striking. But the 
charm of the district was the caverns, where water oozed through 
every part, forming stalactites and stalagmites of singular form and 
beauty; and when we are told that thirty years had not added 
appreciably to them, some idea may be formed of the countless ages 
to which they owe their origin. The geological features of the rocks 
were referred to, and the rarer plants adorning them enumerated. 
The paper was illustrated by a series of photographs. 
