286 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Dec., 1889. 
unique and beautiful collection was exhibited of coloured drawings of 
British shells, “ Gibsone’s Conches,” made by the late George Gibsone, 
of Newcastle, and shown by his grandson, Rev. B. W. Gibsone, of 
Hinckley, who kindly came over for the purpose. Mr. E. Catclipool, 
of Sheffield, showed, in action, a series of very interesting and 
ingenious models of his own design and construction, illustrating the 
mode of flight of birds and insects ; also specimens of ants’ nests, 
showing the ants at work, which he had kindly brought from Sheffield 
for the Conversazione. Councillor Clayton contributed a fine series of 
photographs of Ceylon, India, Japan, Algeria, and the Yosemite 
Valley, which he had brought home in his recent travels; and a 
complete model of a Japanese house. Mr. F. Shrive exhibited twenty- 
four cases of British Lepidoptera, collected in the neighbourhood by 
himself. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited a number of cases of butter¬ 
flies and moths, collected by himself in England and Scotland. Mr. 
W. R. Hughes exhibited a very unique and beautiful specimen of red 
coral, Gorallium rubrum , showing the polypes expanded, which had 
been obtained from 1,000 feet depth in the Mediterranean, near Naples ; 
also specimens of Amphioxus lanceolatus and an Ascidian. Mr. R. W. 
Chase exhibited a series of specimens of British Corvidae ; also a new 
British bird, Ember iza derides (Brandt’s Siberian Bunting), obtained at 
Flamborougli Head, November, 1886, which is the only known 
European specimen, the bird being a native of Siberia. Mr. C. 
Pumphrey exhibited a living specimen of a young gull, and an adult 
bird that had been lent by Mr. Chase for the purpose. Dr. Sankey, of 
Oxford, contributed specimens of the curious nest of the Trap-door 
Spider, from Italy (the Riviera). Professor Bridge exhibited a 
collection of British shells, recently presented to the College, that 
were arranged in very complete series from youngest to oldest of each 
kind. Mr. E. F. Spicer exhibited a fine group of badgers, and speci¬ 
mens of birds. Mr. J. B. Stone exhibited a portion of an extensive and 
valuable collection of dried plants that he had obtained in different 
parts of Europe. Mr. J. H. Jaques exhibited an interesting series of 
Norway photographs on glass lantern-slides, taken in a recent visit by 
himself ; and a number of photograph lantern-slides were exhibited by 
Mr. C. Pumphrey, Mr. C. J. Watson, Mr. J. Edmonds, and Mr. C. Mantell, 
including many beautiful photographs of flowers. A large collection 
of microscopes was exhibited by members of the Society, showing 
various Natural History objects. The President, Mr. W. B. Grove, 
M.A., exhibited a collection of fungi from the neighbourhood, and 
contributed to the refreshments a large dish of cooked Oyster Mush¬ 
room ( Arjaricus ostreatus), served with a gravy from Coprinus comatus 
and other selected fungi, which was partaken of by the company. 
The room was decorated with plants kindly lent by Mr. Spinks, of 
Messrs. Hewitt’s Nursery, Solihull.— Biological Section, November 
12th ; Mr. Charles Pumphrey in the chair. Mr. Thos. E. Bolton 
exhibited and described Amphioxus lanceolatus, the Lancelet, the low¬ 
est form of vertebrate animals. This curious fish is devoid of skull 
and bones, the vertebral column being represented by an unjointed rod 
of cartilage extending the full length of the body. —Microscopical 
Section, November 5th ; Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., in the chair. 
Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S., exhibited a very rare fungus, Cantharellus 
radicosus, grown on charcoal, from Crowell, Oxon. Mr. W. H. 
Wilkinson then read a paper on “ Growing Cells for Use with the 
Microscope.” He exhibited the glass cells and apparatus used for the 
constant supply of water and air to enable the student to watch the 
development of minute organisms through all their stages, without 
