316 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Mr. J. E. Bagnall showed a collection of the rare plants of Warwick¬ 
shire ; and Messrs. Marshall and Pumphrey, a collection of Norwegian 
plants. Mr Walliker exhibited a fossil stem, Lepidodendron, from 
the stone used for the new Post Office. An interesting and rare 
exhibit was a case of half-a-dozen Siberian Sand Grouse, belonging to 
Mr. R. W. Chase, captured this year; Mrs. E. Hopkins, of Chester, 
contributed some beautiful cards of birds’ feathers, arranged so as to 
show the various forms found in each species ; Mr. J. Heaton exhibited 
a large albatross, which was much admired. Professor Lapworth 
honoured the Society by contributing a number of maps, on which 
were delineated the results of his recent investigations into the 
Ordovician System of Shropshire. A large collection of fungi was 
shown by the President, who also, in conjunction with Mr. Bagnall, 
exhibited some interesting old botanical books. Not the least 
attractive of the objects shown were a number of reptiles, snakes, Ac., 
and their eggs, all gathered within thirty miles of Birmingham, by 
Mr. Shrive ; Mr. Blakemore contributed a small marine aquarium 
containing a number of beautiful living sea-anemones. During 
the evening the President delivered a short address, touching upon 
the growing importance of the theory of evolution in the life of 
the world, and the impossibility of becoming a fair judge of it 
without at least that modicum of biological knowledge which a 
Natural History Society could impart to its members. The 
room was decorated with plants kindly lent by Hans Niemand. 
Microscopical Section, November 6tli. The President, Mr. W. B. 
Grove, B.A., in the chair. Five new members were proposed. 
Mr. J. B. Harrison, of Barbados, sent as a present to the 
Society 51b. of infusorial earth from the Springfield deposits, some 
of which were exhibited under the microscope, and promised a good 
yield of interesting specimens. Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., exhibited a 
beautiful clump of Agaricus rachodes, an edible fungus, from Sutton. 
Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, Usnea barbata var. rubiginea , a rare lichen, 
collected by Mr. J. N. Dixon, F.L.S., from Dolgelly. Mr. Thos. E. 
Bolton, Limnias annulatus, under the microscope. Dr. Hudson says it 
is rare ; he has only met with it once. —Sociological Section.— Supple¬ 
mentary Meeting, November lltli. The President, Mr. W. B. Hughes, 
F.L.S., in the chair. Eleven members present. Mr. Hughes read a 
letter from Mr. J. A. Skilton of New York, announcing the opening of 
the Brooklyn Ethical Association. Mr. Parkes read the seventh chapter 
of Mr. Spencer’s “ First Principles,” entitled the “ Persistence of 
Delations among Forces.” — Biological Section, November 13th. 
Mr. B. W. Chase in the chair. Five new members were elected. 
Mr. W. Wilkinson exhibited the rare Arctostaphylos alpina, from 
the Orkneys, and Empetrum nigrum; Mr. J. E. Bagnall, for Miss 
Gingell, a very large and interesting collection of fungi, among 
which were Agaricus nudus , Ag. frag rails, Ag. butyraceus, Ag. maximus, 
Hygrophorus pratensis , &c. ; also mosses such as Dicranum majus, D. 
palustris, Hylocomium splcndens, Ac., from Dursley, Gloucestershire. 
For Mr. G. W. Tait, M.B.C.S., the Touch-me-not, Impatiens Noli-uie- 
tangere, from Knowle. Mr. B. W. Chase, F.L.S., exhibited a 
complete series of the British Corvidae (Baven, Jackdaw, Book, Ac.), 
with most interesting notes on their habits, habitats, and distribution, 
which called forth a long and pleasant discussion, in which Messrs. 
W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., H. E. Forrest, J. Levick, T. H. Waller, B.A., 
W. Wilkinson, J. Babone, and J. A. Panton, F.R.S.E., took part, the 
latter gentleman giving many personal recollections of special interest. 
Geological Section, November 20tli. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., 
