240 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Oct., 1891. 
in colour. The writer said the study of these shells favoured the 
supposition that this country joined France by way of Cornwall, a 
strong resemblance being seen in the land shells of central Wales and 
western France, Spain, and Africa. The shells were exhibited at the 
meeting.—-August 24bh. Mr. Lilley exhibited a collection of land and 
freshwater shells recently made in the Towyn district; Mr. Linton, a 
collection of marine shells from Tenby ; Mr. P. T. Deakin, specimen 
of henbane, Hyoscyamus niger ; Mr. J. Moore, a series of nests of 
ichneumon flies, also nest of Mason wasp, with the wasps and cuckoo- 
flies that emerged from it; Mr. G. H. Corbett, specimens of Estheria 
minuta in slabs of marlstone from the upper Keuper beds, Shrewlev 
Common. — August 31st. Marine Botany. Mr. H. Hawkes exhibited 
a series of slides of marine algse, mounted to show fructification, and 
described their methods of reproduction, also a small herbarium, 
including some of the rarer plants of the Canterbury district, and a 
specimen of an orchis, Epipactis latifolia , from Matlock ; Mr. J. 
Collins, a collection of seaweeds from the south coast; Mr. Matley, 
seaweeds from Llanfairfechan; Mr. P. T. Deakin, a short, thick 
variety of Glausilia rugosa from Towyn ; Mr. G. H. Corbett, a glaciated 
boulder from a well-sinking at Spring Hill.—September 7th. Mr. J. 
Collins showed a collection of plants made during a botanical tour in 
North Devon ; among many interesting specimens were the follow¬ 
ing : — Euphorbia paralias , E. hiberna , E. Peplis, E. portlandica, Bartsia 
viscosa , Juncus acutus, Viola Gurtisii , Rubia peregrina , Scilla autumnalis, 
Orobanche hederce , Medicago maculata, and a number of ferns. Mr. H. 
Hawkes, a collection of plants from Matlock, including Epipactis media 
and Viola lutea, also specimens of sundew from Hartlebury Common ; 
Mr. J. W. Neville, leaves of Spircea Ulmaria infested with brand ; Mr. 
Linton, a collection of eggs of the larger sea birds from Tenby. 
—September 14th. Mr. J. Collins exhibited cleistogamous flowers of 
Oxalis Acetosella, and pointed out their specialised structure to secure 
self-fertilisation. Mr. W. J. Parker read a paper, “ Notes on 
Natural History.” The writer said the importance of taking notes on 
all subjects that interested us could not be over estimated. The notes 
read were on various subjects, and made during a number of years. 
They comprised observations on the time of the falling of the leaf of 
different trees ; the shedding of bark; permanent, fugitive, and 
intermittent fragrance of flowers ; and the age of trees. The notes on 
bird life dealt with curious nests, the pairing of birds, the bright 
colours of the males being chiefly confined to polygamous birds. 
Several notes were read on the mortality among shrew-mice ; it had 
been attributed to several causes, but the writer thought it resulted 
from their own pugnacity. A discussion on the various opinions 
closed the meeting. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—August 17th. 
Mr. R. C. Bradley in the chair. Mr. G. W. Wynn showed 
bred series of Bornbyx rubi and B. quercus from Sutton, a single 
specimen of Ghcerocampa porcellus taken at Sutton last June, a series of 
Notodonta dictcea, bred from larva) found on Cannock Chase, and a 
single specimen of Plusia bractea from Bewdley. Mr. P. W. Abbott 
showed long series of Zygoma fXipendulcc, and Z. trifolii from the Isle of 
Wight, including yellow varieties of the former species. Of the 
latter species, quite seventy-five per cent, of the specimens taken 
were varieties with the spots more or less coalesced. Mr. R. C. 
Bradley showed Scatophaga scybalaria from Sutton Park. Mr. C. J. 
Wainwright showed Phytometra cenea from Wyre Forest. 
