166 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
July, 1891. 
The Eoyal Geographical Society.— At tlie anniversary meeting of 
the Royal Geographical Society, held on June loth, the award of the 
society’s honours for the year was made. The founder’s medal, 
awarded to Sir James Hector, director of the Geological Survey, New 
Zealand, was received on his behalf by Sir Dillon Bell, the Agent- 
General for New Zealand ; and the patron’s medal, awarded to 
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, was received on his behalf by the Swedish 
Minister. After the award of various other honours, the successful 
candidates for the society’s prizes given to students of training colleges 
were introduced by Mr. H. J. Mackinder, Reader in Geography 
at Oxford. Mr. Mackinder spoke of the progress of geographical 
education. 
That diamonds phosphoresce under certain conditions has been 
known ever since Boyle published in the Transactions of the Royal 
Society in 1663 his well-known paper “ On a Remarkable Diamond 
that Shines in the Dark.” Mr. G. F. Kunz, a well-known expert 
in gems, has recently pointed out, in a New York contemporary, 
that “ some diamonds not only phosphoresce in the dark after 
exposure to the sunlight or an arc of electric light, but also that 
all diamonds emit light by rubbing them on wood, cloth or metal, 
a property which will probably prove of great value in distinguish¬ 
ing between the diamond and other hard stones, as well as paste, 
none of which exhibit this phenomenon.” This property, a scientific 
contemporary remarks, is evidently not electric, or it would not be 
visible on the diamond being rubbed on metal. 
leprts of Sodeiits. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Microscopical Section. June 2nd. Mr. W. B. Grove in 
the chair. Mr. C. J. Watson exhibited under the microscope a speci¬ 
men of Utricularia, showing the bladders containing numerous algae; 
some abnormal crystals of alum, with a series of drawings of the 
regular and abnormal forms; also a large series of photographs of 
Uriconium and other interesting localities. Mr. J. Goode then read 
his paper on the “ Mouth-parts of Insects,” which he fully illustrated 
by diagrams and specimens under the microscope. A short discussion, 
followed by a vote of thanks, terminated the meeting.— Geological 
Section. -June 16tb. Mr. C. Pumphrey in the chair. Mr. W. H. 
Wilkinson exhibited plants from Little Orme’s Head, including Scilla 
verna and llelianthemum guttatum , the rare rock rose, with the dark 
spot at the base of the petals. Mr. C. Pumphrey exhibited a collection of 
plants from his garden, including a series of Aguilegia, showing various 
modes of becoming double. Mr. P. W. Marshall gave an account of 
the collecting ground for the proposed new water supply of Birming¬ 
ham, and exhibited maps, illustrating his remarks. Supply, 820ft. 
above sea at commencement of conduit; 532ft. reservoir at Monument 
Lane; 288ft. total fall in eighty miles; or 31ft. per mile average.— 
June 20.—Excursion to Apley Terrace and Badger Dingle. The 
party numbered about thirty-two, and amongst those present were 
Mr. C. Pumphrey (the president), who acted as cicerone, Mrs. 
Pumphrey, Mr. W. P. Marshall and Mr. W. H. Wilkinson (the 
secretaries), Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. and Mrs. J. Levick, Mr. and Mrs. 
