72 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
beds remains of the Phenacodus, still higher the Eoliippus, and in the 
Pliocene the Hipparion ; from this stage to the existing horse is not a wide 
step. We have here the pedigree of the horse which has been gradually 
evolved. In lizards we find a parietal foramen, this opening has a pineal eye 
in the upper surface of the skull; this eye is useless to the animal, although in 
fossil forms it was very important. The pineal body in the human brain is 
the rudiment of the median eye of the lower vertebrata before the two eyes 
were evolved. Birds have been evolved from reptilian ancestors. Man is not 
free from these organs, indeed he is a museum of them. These facts can now 
easily be driven home to a logical conclusion. The reason these organs exist, 
is they are perpetuated by one of the greatest powers in the world—heredity. 
In conclusion, the speaker said he had only mentioned a few instances, but 
what ancient ruins were to the archgeologist the body was to the scientist; it 
pointed out the changes it had passed through in the long course of time. 
The address was largely illustrated by diagrams.—February 6th. Mr. J. W. 
Neville exhibited specimens of tropical land shells ; Mr. Hawkes, under the 
microscope, four aspects of the wing of Papilio paris ; Mr. Rolan, section of 
a peculiar stone from the oolite ; Mr. J. Collins, variously cut sections of 
elm.—February 13th. Mr. H. Hawkes showed a book, “ Wild Flowers and 
their Teachings,” illustrated with dried plants ; Mr. Linton, specimens of 
Helix pomatia from France; under the microscopes, Mr. Parker, Stentor 
polymorphic ; Mr. J. Collins, specimens of a foraminifer, Pulvinulina 
menardii. - 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— Annual Meeting. 
February 6tli. Mr. W. G. Blatch, President, in the chair. The secretary 
presented the aunual report of the council, which showed a slight falling off 
in membership ; and the treasurer his aunual report, showing a balance in 
hand of £1 2s. Id. only. The following were elected as officers and council 
for 1893 :—President, Mr. W. G. Blatch, F.E.S. ; vice-president, Mr. G. H. 
Kenrick, F.E.S. ; lion, treasurer, Mr. R. C. Bradley; librarian, Mr. A. H. 
Martineau ; lion, secretary, Colbran J. Waiuwright, 147, Hall Road, Hands- 
worth, Birmingham; and remaining members of council, Messrs. G. T. 
Bethune-Baker, F.L.S., F.E.S., and G. W. Wynn. 
ELLESMERE NATURAL HISTORY AND FIELD CLUB.—The 
monthly meeting of this society was held in the Town Hall, Ellesmere, on 
February 21st, Mr. Brownlow R. C. Tower (president of the society) occupied 
the chair. Mr. A. C. Nicholson, F.G.S., &c., of Oswestry, kindly read a 
piaper entitled “Notes on a Few Every-day Geological Agencies.” The 
lecture was illustrated by a number of lantern slides, consisting of diagrams 
and views, Mr. Harold J, E. Peake kindly manipulating the lantern. Mr. 
Nicholson, in the course of a very instructive paper, spoke of the action of 
water in denuding the surface of the earth, and the amount of solid matter 
brought down to the sea by the various rivers, &c. ; of the denudation 
caused by the rain, wind, frost, glaciers, &c., &g. He also spoke of the great 
ice age, and concluded his excellent paper by a reference to the gravel beds 
around Ellesmere and the Gloppa deposits near Oswestry. A vote of thanks 
to the lecturer and the president brought the meeting to a close.—A com¬ 
mittee meeting of the society was held on Friday, February 24th (Mr. B. R. C. 
Tower presiding), when it was decided to offer prizes for the best collections 
of mounted dried plants and of lepidopterous insects ; the collections to be 
exhibited at the Ellesmere Horticultural Society’s Show next August. The 
scheme of the “Midland Union” for the recording of scientific facts was 
considered and approved of. Mr. A. A. Thompson was asked to act as general 
correspondent, and the following gentlemen were to be asked to act as 
referees:—Botany, Rev. O. M. Feildeu ; Entomology, Mr. H. J. E. Peake; 
Ornithology, Mr. A. T. Jebb ; Mollusca, Mr. J. A. S. Jennings. Geology, 
Arcliteology, and Fungi referees to be appointed later on. 
March, 1893. 
