Feb., 1891. BIOLOGICAL CHARTS.-REPORTS of societies. 47 
Biological Charts.— We have received from the Society for the 
Promotion of Christian Knowledge two large sheets of pictures in 
colours (1) of the “ Marten” and “ Badger,” and (2) of the different 
stages in the life-history of the “ Honey Bee” and “ Oakleaf-gall 
Wasp.” They are intended for use in schools, and are well adapted for 
teaching purposes. They are two of an excellent series issued by the 
Society, of which the drawings have all been made under the imme¬ 
diate supervision of Professor Engleder, of Munich. The price is 
very moderate. 
I’nprts of Satieties. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—January 18th. Geological Section. —Mr. T. H. Waller, 
B.A., B.Sc., in the chair. The section congratulated Mr. J. Rabone 
on his election as an honorary member of the Institute of Journalists. 
Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., was unanimously re-elected chairman, 
and Mr. J. Udall, F.G.S., lion, secretary of the section. Mr. W. R. 
Hughes, on behalf of Miss Gingell, exhibited specimen of Inferior 
Oolite, with peculiar markings. Mr. Pumphrev exhibited “ a core of 
an agate.” Mr. Wilkinson exhibited a Peregrine Falcon, shot near 
Wellington, Salop. Mr. A. Scruton, New Street, Birmingham, was 
nominated a member of the society. Mr. R. W. Chase described some 
curious sights he saw early in the month on and near the River Dee. 
In some parts of the Dee blocks of ice were piled up by the tide, from 
fifteen to twenty feet high. In other places, locally called “ gutters,” 
the gutters were full of solid ice, tier upon tier, apparently composed 
of finely laminated pieces like talc or mica. He described the results 
of the frost as producing the most Arctic sight he ever saw. Mr. 
Hughes gave a note on “ The Giants’ Causeway,” illustrated by speci¬ 
mens and photographs. A cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. 
Hughes. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—Nov. 17th. Annual Public Exhibition. —Mr. Cracroft, 
Vice-president, gave a short address of welcome to the visitors. Tbe 
following were amongst the more interesting objects :—Mounted ferns 
and flowering plants, Mr. H. Hawkes; mosses, Mr. J. Collins; 
fossil leaves from Bournemouth, Mr. P. T. Deakin; fossil shells 
from Bournemouth, Mr. J. Madison ; fossils from Coalbrookdale, Mr. 
S. White ; two cases of micro- and macro-lepidoptera, by Mr. J. W. 
Moore; a case showing the different orders of insects, by Mr. J. 
Moore ; British and foreign butterflies and moths, Mr. C. P. Neville; 
land and freshwater shells, by Mr. Hopkins; birds’ eggs, gorgonias, 
and other objects, by Mr. Linton ; peacocks’ tails, by Mr. F. Shrive ; 
the birds of the district, by the Society ; marine algae mounted as 
lantern slides, by Mr. H. Hawkes ; a frame of lantern slides, illus¬ 
trating the “ Wonders of a Pond,” by Mr. J. W. Neville ; lantern-scopes 
and slides, by Mr. W. Tylar ; and a series of living and other objects 
under the microscopes.—Nov. 24th. Mr. J. Collins showed the 
following rare plants from Cork :—Juncus acutus, Saxifraga umbrosa , 
Euphorbia hiberna, Pinguicula grandijiora, and P. lusitanica. Mr. H. 
Hawkes then read a paper on “ Leaves and their Parasites.” The 
writer said he should not speak of insect parasites; those he 
should deal with were of fungoid growth, and belonged to one family 
the Uredinese. In searching for these fungi, plants must be looked for 
