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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Microscopical Section, May 2nd. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson in 
the chair. Prof. J. H. Poynting, F.R.S., delivered a very interesting address 
on “ The Polarization of Light,” in which he dealt with the principles of the 
subject. The address was fully illustrated by a large series of experiments ; 
and a hearty vote of thanks terminated the meeting. —Biological Section, 
May 9th. Professor T. W. Bridge in the chair. Mr. T. Y. Hodgson read 
a paper on “ Some Simple Ascidians,” and exhibited under the microscope 
a series of preparations and a specimen entire of Glavellina lepadiformis, of 
which a colony was also exhibited. — Geological Section, May 16th. 
Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., in the chair. Mr. Wickham King exhibited 
and described various specimens of rocks, including Torridou Sandstones, the 
Pipe Rock, from the N.-W. Highlands. Mr. J. Levick exhibited a monstrous 
form of Geum rivale, showing median floral prolification, the central axis 
being prolonged two inches beyond the flower, and bearing a perfect flower 
at its summit. This flower is produced annually by a plant growing in his 
garden, which had been brought from Derbyshire, where it showed the same 
monstrosity in the natural state. Mr. T. H. Waller gave an address on 
“ Glassy and Semi-crystalline Rocks.” At the close of the paper Mr. Waller 
was heartily thanked for liis series of papers on Igneous Rocks. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. — April 17th, Mr. 
W. G. Blatch, president, in the chair. Messrs. R. C. Bradley, W. Harrison, 
and Wainwright each showed a long series of Bombylius major from 
Trench Woods, where it was quite common at Easter. Mr. Wainwright 
also showed a long series of Melanostoma ambigua , and other diptera, 
taken at the same time and place. Mr. A. H. Martiueau showed Frionus 
coriareus, and other insects, from Solihull. Mr. Freer read a paper 
entitled “ Variation, with Special Reference to Melanism,” and showed 
insects in illustration. He said melanism was due to scales in which he 
believed pigment was deposited in rows of granules. This he believed 
from microscopical observation. He believed that both a deficiency and a 
superabundance of pigment were pathological, and this he illustrated by 
reference to the human race. He showed that in those localities where 
melanic forms mostly occurred, conditions were not so favourable to life ; sea 
shores, where food plants had low nutritive power, isolated spots where 
there was much in-breeding, the neighbourhood of large towns, Ac.; and he 
believed that these conditions of life caused pathological conditions, with 
melanic results. He believed pigment to be an expression of energy. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ UNION.— 
April 24th. Exhibition of Geological specimensMr. W. J. Parker, a series 
of copper and lead ores from Chili; Mr. Bleasdale, typical fossils from 
Ludlow and Weulock limestone ; Mr. Rodgers, fossil ferns from Hamstead ; 
Mr. H. Hawkes, specimens of Dimocarpus litchi, a Chinese fruit, and 
lieticularia umbrina and other fungi ; Mr. J. W. Neville, a series of objects 
illustrating the life history of the Hawthorn Sawflv, Trichiosoma lucorum. 
Under the microscopes, Mr. Hawkes, skin of starfish, Luidia fragilissivui ; 
Mr. Rolan, section of greenstone.—May 1st. Mr. Rolan exhibited a specimen 
of the New Zealand vegetable caterpillar, Hepialus virescens, with parasitic 
fungus ; Mr. Deakin, an entomological collecting case, the completeness of 
which he found every opportunity of proving in his recent visit to Wicken 
fen ; Mr. Hawkes, Campanularia dumosa. —May 8th. Pond Life. A number 
of objects were shown under the microscopes bearing upon the above subject. 
Among other exhibits, Mr. J. W. Neville showed Thornback Ray, llaia 
clavata, and Uredo symphyti, on leaves of Comfrey, Mr. Hawkes describing 
the life history of this fungus so far as it had been made out; Mr. Lintoiq 
Helices, &c., from America; Mr. Madison, jaw of cuttle-fish ; Mr. Hawkes’, 
the aecidiospore and uredospore stages of Fuccinia viohe. 
June, 1893 . 
