Reports irf Satieties. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—December 13tli. Biological Section. —Mr. John F. Goode, 
president, in the chair. Professor T. W. Bridge, M.A., and Mr. A. H. 
Martineau, were unanimously re-elected president and secretary of the 
section for the ensuing year. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson read a paper on “ Egypt, 
Past and Present,” which was the result of observations made by him during 
a recent tour up the Nile. The paper was illustrated throughout by coloured 
photographs projected on the screen by the oxy-liydrogen lantern, and also 
by a collection of specimens. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Wilkinson.—January 17th. Geological Section. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., 
B.Sc., in the chair. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., and Mr. John Udall, 
F.G.S., were respectively re-elected chairman and secretary of the section. 
Messrs. Mullar, 28, Stamford Road, and Harvey Collett, West Bromwich, 
were proposed as members of the society. Mr. Wagstaffe exhibited (1) 
Suwarree nut, from Demerara; (2) spike of Indian corn from the Congo. 
Mr. Waller read a paper on “ Some Rocks from the Caucasus,” illustrated by 
hand specimens and sections. At the request of several members of the 
section, Mr. T. H. Waller kindly consented to give a few evenings to the 
study of Petrology, the opening paper to be given on Tuesday, 21st of Feb¬ 
ruary, on “ The Study of Petrology : (1) Objects, (2) Methods.” 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ UNION. 
—December 12th. Mr. G. H. Corbett showed specimens of'Zinc Blende, or 
“ Black Jack,” and Zinc Carbonate; also specimens of Cryolite or Aluminium 
ore, and extracted metal; Mr. Foster, botanical, entomological, and 
geological specimens from Australia ; Mr. J. Moore, wasp paper, composed in 
part of the remains of insects preyed upon.—December 19th. Marine 
Botany. —Mr. J. Collins showed a collection of red seaweeds and the asexual 
and sexual methods of reproduction ; Mr. H. Hawkes, green, brown, and red 
seaweeds, also a series of the rarer weeds, not collected by himself. Under 
the microscopes a series of slides, bearing on the fructification and minute 
structure of the algae, was shown by the members.—January 2nd, Annual 
Social Meeting. —There was a good attendance. After tea a series of lime¬ 
light views was shown, chiefly the work of the members during the past year. 
Many of them had a special interest from the fact that they were taken 
during the excursions of the society; songs and readings were given at 
intervals.—January 9th. Mr. J. Moore showed photographs of botanical 
sections ; Mr. J. Collins, a collection of mosses from Scotland, including 
Buxbaumia aphylla and other rare species, collected by Mr. G. Forbes; Mr. S. 
White, herbarium specimens of some of the rarer plants from North Wales; 
Mr. H. Hawkes, a large collection of Alpine plants from Switzerland ; 
Mr. Bleasdale, minerals from Cornwall; Mr. Darlaston, specimens of flying- 
fish and hippocampus.—January 16th. Practical Microscopy. —Mr. H. 
Hawkes gave a demonstration on the preparation and mounting of objects in 
glycerine jelly, with the best method of ringing the slides to prevent the 
leakage so common in these mounts. The remainder of the evening was 
taken up with the exhibition of mounts of various kinds, and discussion on 
the same. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—January 16th. Mr. 
W. G. Blatch, president, in the chair. A lecture was delivered by Colonel 
Chas. Swinhoe upon “Protective Resemblance and Mimicry in Insects.” In 
the lecture, which was illustrated by photographic lantern slides, some of 
which were beautifully coloured, he gave a number of cases and facts of 
mimicry which were quite new and very interesting. 
Ffbruary, 1893. 
