240 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
937. —Mycelium. 
938. —Mycelium of Merulius lachrymans. 
939. 940, 1,179, 1,199 are lichens. 
1,174.—A lichen = Spiloma gregarium. 
1,197.—A lichen = Coniocybe furfuracea. 
1,215.—A species of Erineum, like E. alneum , so common oil alder leaves. 
Reports of Someth. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY. —Microscopical Section. —September 4th. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson 
in the chair. A brief report of the excursion to Coleshill was made, and Mr. 
Bagnall exhibited Elatine hexaiidra, a rare plant, only recorded in eighteen 
out of the 112 British vice-counties. First recorded as a British species 
about 1833, it was found at Coleshill Pool by Dr. Lloyd in 1835. There is no 
record of its having been seen in this locality since that time till August, 
1893, when it was re-found by Mr. J. H. Thompson. Mr. C. J. Watson 
exhibited photos of the points of interest on the Midland Union excursions 
to Nuneaton. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ UNION.— 
August 21st. Mr. J. Linton exhibited marine shells from Tenby; Mr. J. 
Collins, plants of Parnassia palustris and Drosera rotundifolia ; Mr. S. White, 
plants from Cheddar, including Dianthus ccesius. A paper was then read by 
Mr. Hawkes on “ Commercial Botany : Timber Trees.” The writer said 
there were few objects so beautiful as trees, for they could at all seasons 
claim the attention of the artist and botanist, and it almost needed an 
apology to leave the poetry of the subject and deal with it in a commercial 
sense. The writer described the two kinds of trees, exogens and endogens ; 
and after dealing with the chemistry of growth, passed on to consider the 
time for cutting trees, seasoning, shrinkage, and defects in timber—from 
unsuitable ground, ravages of insects, and bad forestry. These were all con¬ 
sidered, and remedies suggested for their removal. The qualities and uses of 
different kinds of wood, British and foreign, brought an interesting paper to 
a close.—August 28th. Mr. J. W. Neville showed the male and female 
inflorescence of Marchantia polyviorplia. Under the microscope, Mr. Wvkes 
exhibited Fredericella S^lltana and Stephanoceros. Mr. S. White then read a 
paper on “ Leaves : their Structure and Functions.” The writer said this 
was a subject full of interest and instruction, and open to ail. He should 
only deal with foliage leaves. The various parts of leaves, their structure, 
venation, shapes, texture, duration and assimilation were described, the 
latter enabling a plant to turn decaying and offensive matter into life-giving 
food. The paper was illustrated with drawings and dried specimens.— 
September 4th. Mr. J. W. Neville showed a series of the less common 
Cyprsese ; Mr. J. Moore, photographs of local scenery ; Mr. H. Hawkes, the 
difference in stomata from the upper and under side of a leaf; Mr. G. H. 
Corbett, a series of fossils from the Yorkshire coal measures.—September 
11th. Mr. G. H. Corbett showed polished slabs of Paludina marble from 
Swanage ; Mr. J. Madison, a cuttle fish ; Mr. H. Hawkes, a collection of 
plants from Arley, including a profuse gathering of Phragmidium rubi. The 
subject of the evening was “ Zoophytes.” Mr. Hawkes gave a concise 
account of Hydroid Zoophytes'; Mr. J. W. Neville described the Polyzoa, 
objects that bear a strong external resemblance to the former, but differ in 
the higher development of the animal. A series of specimens of each was 
shown. 
October, 1893. 
