REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
163 
a very interesting and instructive evening. After a few introductory 
remarks from the president, Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., Mr. W. P. Marshall 
read a paper from Mr. E. W. Burgess, giving an account of the 
Foraminifera dredged by this Society during the Oban Excursion, in 
1883, and a fine slide of sixty-seven named and mounted specimens, 
prepared by him from that material, was presented to the Society. 
Amongst the objects exhibited were the following :—Mr. W. B. Grove, 
B.A., Bovista nigrescens and Badhamia hyalina, from neighbourhood of 
Shustoke; Peronospora aUinearum, Casp. (new to Britain), from 
Fillongley ; Peziza leucomelas , Pers. (new to Britain), from Clevedon ; 
also, for Mr. Walliker, a piece of the so-called Lydian stone, used as 
a touchstone to distinguish pure from base metal; and a portion of a 
stone ornament, blown up and thrown into the instrument room at 
the Telegraph Office, Cannon Street, during the fire at Messrs. Marris 
and Norton’s. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.Sc., granules and crystals of zircon 
and rutile, from Oldbury. Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., tadpole of 
frog, showing the circulation in the external gills, &c. Mr. J. Edmonds, 
Trypeta reticulata. Mr. F. Derry, crystals of brucine. Mr. J. Udall, 
circulation in gills and tail of tadpole. Mr. T. E. Bolton, (Edogonium , 
showing fructification ; Closterium rostratum, with zygospores ; and 
Lophopus crystallinus. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, specimens of lichens 
from Mount Stewart, Isle of Bute, gathered during the visit of the 
Cryptogamic Society of Scotland ; a collection of lichens from near 
Crieff; and from Dr. J. Stirton, the following rare and interesting 
lichens, Cladonia lacunosa, from Newfoundland; C. retipora and C. aggre- 
gata , from New Zealand ; C. cariosa, from Norway ; and Myriangium 
Duriaci, from Cornwall.—On Whit Monday, a party of about fifty 
members of this Society made an excursion to Dovedale. On reaching 
Derby they drove via Ashbourne to the foot of Thorpe Cloud, and after 
luncheon the party proceeded to the Dale, under the guidance of the 
Rector of Alstonefield. Some of the more uncommon plants seen were 
Saxit'raga granulata , which was abundant everywhere ; S. hypnoides , 
on the slopes of Thorpe Cloud ; Arabis hirsuta , on rocks in the stream ; 
while Mgosotis collina , Veronica arvensis, Saxifraga tridactylites , 
geranium, and the pretty little draba formed a many-coloured patch 
on every boss of rock where the soil was thinnest. The rare moss 
Neckera crispa was also gathered, and the place was pointed out where 
Hypnum rugosum, the “Dovedale moss,” was formerly so abundant, 
though now scarcely a fragment can be found. This latter species 
never fruits in England now, and it was suggested that this may be 
the cause why it was unable to maintain its ground. On the return 
journey, Derby was reached at 8.45. A short visit was here paid by 
some of the party to the Free Library, to seek for a memorial of Mr. 
Herbert Spencer, who was born in a little house, No. 8, Wilmot 
Street, Derby. Sociological Section. —April 24tli. Mr. W. R. Hughes, 
F.L.S., in the chair. A vote, congratulating Mr. Herbert Spencer on 
attaining his sixty-eighth birthday, was passed ; and the secretary was 
requested to forward the same to him. A vote of condolence with the 
family of the late Mr. Matthew Arnold was also passed. A paper was 
read by the hou. secretary, Mr. F. J. Cullis, upon Prof. Fiske’s “ Cosmic 
Philosophy.” Supplementary Meeting, held Thursday, May 3rd. Mr. 
W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the chair. A letter from Mr. Herbert 
Spencer was read, replying to the vote of congratulation passed at the 
previous meeting. An exposition was given by Mr. Stone on the fifth 
chapter of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “ First Principles,” entitled “ The 
Reconciliation.” An animated discussion followed. Supplementary 
Meeting, held May 17th. Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the chair. 
