Mar., 1891 . 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
71 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—Jan. 19th. The meeting was only of a formal character, 
the members having been invited to the Entomological Society’s con¬ 
versazione.—Jan. 26th. Mr. J. Collins read a paper, “ Notes on some 
Plants from North Wales.” The writer said his intention was to 
describe some plants found in a ramble extending over a few days in 
the month of July, and, though the district could not be called remark¬ 
able for its rare plants, yet few could describe the pleasure it gave a 
botanist to meet with those he had not seen before. The ramble 
commenced at Llanfairfechau and was continued along the coast line 
to Bangor, then inland to the mountains, and back to Conway. The 
formation worked was mainly Cambrian, the mountain limestone 
being crossed in a few instances. The country inland was very wild 
and in its primitive state. The mountains were very rich in bog 
plants. One of the most remarkable finds was a bed of cultivated musk, 
far away from any human habitation save a shepherd’s hut; and, as 
this is not a native plant, it was interesting to find it so well 
established. On the ruins at Conway were found plants it was diffi¬ 
cult to account for, unless they were introduced by the monks 
centuries ago for medicinal purposes. The plants were handed round 
during the reading of the paper.—Feb. 2nd. Mr. R. Birbeck exhibited 
a collection of butterflies, beetles, aud reptiles, from the West Indies. 
Mr. Linton, a series of objects illustrating the life history of the silk- 
moth ( Bombyx mori ), also a collection of British birds’ eggs ; Mr. Deakin, 
fossils from Woolhope limestone, Hay Head, near Walsall ; Mr. J. 
Moore, burying beetles (Necrophorus ruspator, N. vespillo, and N. 
humator) ; Mr. A. Camm, a series of drawings of Myxomycetous fungi; 
Mr. J. W. Neville, leaf of an Australian drosera.—Feb. 9th. The 
President, Professor Hillhouse, M.A., F.L.S., showed a sapling of birch 
entwined with honeysuckle. Though the stem of the latter was very 
thin, it had so constricted the stem it climbed as to form a congested 
spiral growth. Mr. C. P. Neville then gave a lecture on “ The Hand- 
camera,” with lantern illustrations. After reviewing the strength and 
weakness of various makes of cameras, a small hand-camera was 
recommended. It had been tested in many ways and had given good 
results. A large series of pictures showing its successes and failures 
were put on the screen. They comprised for the most part views in 
Wales, and showed breaking waves, morning, evening, and sunshine 
effects. A discussion followed the views, in which the President, Mr. 
J. Edmonds, aud Mr. Camm took part. The lecturer said he did not 
place this camera in competition with more costly ones for the beauty 
of its work, but rather recommended it for its simplicity and portability. 
—Feb. 16tli. Special.—Conchology. Mr. J. Madison showed a case of 
shells, including all the British species of Planorbis, also several species 
from America and Australia, and some fossil representatives ; Mr. S. 
White, a collection of marine shells from Blackpool ; Mr. P. T. 
Deakin, marine shells from Malta ; Mr. Linton, American and West 
Indian shells ; Mr. J. H. Corbett, fossil shells from oolite and shelly 
limestone ; Mr. J. Collins, unusual variety of Helix aspersa , from 
Torquay ; and Limncea stagnalis, from Kew Gardens. 
OXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—January 23rd. 
The annual meeting was held in the Large Lecture Theatre at the 
Museum, when Professor A. H. Green, M.A., F.R.S., was elected 
president, in the place of Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A., F.R.S., who had 
most ably held the office since the establishment of the society in 1887. 
Mr. G. C. Druce, M.A., F. L. S., was unanimously re-elected treasurer. 
