96 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES 
April, 1891. 
elected a member of the society. Mr. F. W. W. Howell gave a most 
interesting address on “ South Iceland,” and exhibited geological and 
other specimens. The paper was illustrated by lantern views. A 
cordial vote of thanks was unanimously given to the lecturer. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION. — February 23rd. Mr. J. Madison exhibited a specimen 
of Triton variegatum, from the West Indies; Mr. J. W. Neville, 
specimens of Spatangus, from the North Sea; Mr. J. Collins, 
fossil diatoms from a marine deposit in Russia.—March 2nd. 
Mr. A. W. Haines, B.Sc., delivered a lecture on “The Anatomy 
of the Earthworm,” the President (Professor Hillliouse, M.A., 
F.L.S.), in the chair. The lecturer said it would be necessary 
to know something of the lower animals to understand properly the 
one under consideration. Commencing with the amseba, the lecturer 
passed on to the hydra and actinia. In these there is a double layer 
of cells in the body wall, an ectoderm and endoderm ; a little higher, 
in the lower worms, there was a third layer, a mesoderm. In the 
earthworm we had a cylindrical and typically segmented animal. 
The structure of the following parts was dealt with in detail— 
epidermis, muscular structure, alimentary canal, calciferous glands, 
setae and attached muscles, reproductive and digestive organs, 
circulatory, excretory, and nervous systems. The lecture was illus¬ 
trated by diagrams, drawings, microscopical preparations, and three 
dissections of the creature. On the motion of Mr. S. White, seconded 
by Mr. J. W. Neville, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the 
lecturer.—March 9th. Mr. J. Collins exhibited a collection of the 
rarer plants of the county of Cork, from the herbarium of Mr. R. A. 
Phillips; Mr. Deakin, fossils from Wenlock limestone, Aldridge.— 
March 16th. Special.—Entomology. Mr. J. W. Moore showed speci¬ 
mens of Banlcia argentuln , from Ely ; Mr. C. P. Neville, Scotch argus, 
Erebia blandina; Mr. Deakin, insects from British Burmah, caught 
on board ship ; Mr. J. Collins, brilliant beetles from Ceylon ; Mr. J. 
W. Neville, slides of types of antennae of butterflies and moths; Mr. 
Linton, eggs of Cinnabar Moth and other insects. 
OXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—Feb. 26th. An in¬ 
teresting lecture was given by Mr. A. F. Stanley Kent, M. A., entitled 
“ Our eyes and how we use them,” illustrated by numerous diagrams, 
lantern slides, and specimens.—March 12th. Mr. G. C. Druce, M.A., 
F.L.S., gave a lecture on “The Botany of the Killarney District.” 
He described the geology and the climate of the south-west portion of 
Ireland, remarking that the humid atmosphere was exactly suited to 
ferns, which were found in great luxuriance and abundance, especially 
the Osmunda regalis, which grows to the size of a small tree ; as also the 
Arbutus and the Saxifrages. The luxuriance of the vegetation added 
much to the beauty of the landscape. But the numbers of species 
diminished as one travelled westward. Of the 10,000 European species 
5,092 were found in Spain, 1,833 in Britain, and 1,019 in Ireland. The 
lecture was illustrated by lantern slides, showing some of the most 
lovely scenery, as well as places of historical and botanical interest; 
and also by a number of dried specimens which included all the plants 
peculiar to Ireland, principally collected by the lecturer during a 
recent visit to that country. Amongst them Fumaria densijlora, an un¬ 
described species of Rubus new to Ireland, Barbarea arcuata , Fumaria 
Borcei, Rosa involuta, R. villosa , and R. rubiginosa, new to the south of 
Ireland, and manv others. 
