220 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Sep., 1889. 
plants, collected in the Norfolk Broads by Messrs. R. W. Chase and 
C. Pumplirey, including Cicuta vilosa, Siam latifolium , and Utricularia 
vulgaris. The utricles of the last were shown under the microscope.— 
General Meeting, July 30tli. Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., in the 
chair. Mr. T. E. Bolton exhibited specimens of Utricularia intermedia , 
from near Bournemouth, Dorsetshire; also, under the microscope, a 
living spider partly enclosed by one of the utricles of the plant. 
Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited specimens of plants, from Kent. 
—Geological Section, August 20th. Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., 
in the chair. Exhibition of specimens by Mrs. Stewart:— Epilobium 
angustifolium, Senecio squalidus, from Acocks Green ; also, hand 
specimens of Ben Nevis granite ; Miss Taunton, Burdock (Wild 
Rhubarb), from Buxton ; Mr. Herbert Stone, Goby, Sea Louse, and 
lichens, from Portli Gwarra, Land’s End; Mr. Marshall, two nests of 
Trap-door Spider, from Bordigliera in the Riviera. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—July 22nd. Mr. J. Collins gave a report of the excursion 
to Arley. The botany was highly successful, though the geology only 
gave meagre results. He laid upon the table a collection of the more 
interesting plants, Saponaria officinalis, &c. Mr. Deakin exhibited 
graptolites from the Llandovery Sandstone, Great Barr ; Mr. Hawkes, 
a specimen of butterfly orchis, Habenaria bifolia; also, Australian 
seaweeds; Mr. Camm, Arcyria dictyonema , from Smethwick, a fungus 
new to Britain ; Mr. J. W. Neville, lobes of proboscis of Scatophaga 
merdaria, calling attention to the special modifications fitting it for 
carnivorous habits.—July 29th. Mr. H. Hawkes read a paper on “The 
Botany of the Sea.” The writer said that to those who lived inland a 
glimpse of the sea was always a source of pleasurable recollection, 
and gave a description of a visit to the south coast to devote a little 
time to that much neglected but beautiful order of plants—seaweeds. 
Although it was a common thing to see albums of marine algae, yet in 
too many instances they were without names, and failed to impai’t 
other information. The various modes of reproduction were enumer¬ 
ated, and the germ- and sperm-cells, carpogonia and antheridia, which 
were generally found on different plants, described. Marine algae 
were divided into three sections; about 370 species were found on our 
shores. The various seaweeds commonly found on the south coast 
were described, with the points of interest attaching to each. Attention 
was called to differences seen in these plants when growing under 
varying circumstances, influenced by various depths, light, shade, 
saltness of the water, &c. The paper also dealt with their economic 
value, habitats, and areas of distribution. The paper was illustrated 
by herbarium specimens, microscopic slides, diagrams, and a series 
mounted for the lantern.—August 12th. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited 
specimens of Monograptus Sedywichii , from metalliferous slates of 
Llandovery age, Central Wales; Mr. Linton, a collection of land 
shells, from Scarborough ; Mr. Corbet, fossil corals from the Carboni¬ 
ferous limestone, Shropshire ; Mr. H. Hawkes, algae, from Weymouth, 
including some specimens not commonly found there, but brought up 
by the recent rough weather ; Mr. Camm, a fungus new to Britain, 
provisionally named Alwisia intermedia (Mass, and Camm). Under 
the microscope, Mr. J. Collins exhibited Hydrodictyon utriculare, from 
Sutton Park; also, Chcetophora elegans ; Mr. Hawkes, Ceramium 
ciliatum and Dudresnia coccinea, 
