Mar. 1890 . 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
71 
Hessian Fly (Cecidomyia destructor) puparia in wheat and barley straw 
which had been prevented from emerging at their proper time by 
confinement in the dark. Mr. C. F. Watson, sections of Oleander 
leaves, showing pits on the under surface into which the stomata open. 
—Geological Section, February 18th. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., 
chairman. Mr. Waller read his paper on “ Some Silver Ores from 
the Barrier Range of New South Wales.” The paper was largely 
illustrated by hand specimens. A cordial vote of thanks to Mr. 
Waller concluded the business. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—January 20th. Mr. T. Hickin read a paper on “ The Sun.” 
After speaking of the solar system and its relation to its centre, the 
writer gave the dimensions of the sun and described its envelope or 
photosphere and the spots on its surface, with their movements. It was 
found these spots varied in number over a period of eleven years. 
The peculiar appearance of the spots under high powers was described 
at some length. The red prominences seen on the sun during an 
eclipse were spoken of and their effect on the spectroscope shown. 
The paper concluded by describing the course of the solar system in 
the direction of the constellation Hercules. The paper was illustrated 
by a series of lantern pictures.—January 27th. Mr. J. W. Neville 
showed specimens of ammonites, in section and otherwise, from Lyme 
Regis; Mr. A. Camm, Clathroptychium rugulosum, from Sutton Park, 
a fungus new to Mid-England ; Mr. Lassetter, a series of Silurian 
fossils from Aldridge; Mr. G. Corbett, jaw and vertebrae of Ichthyo¬ 
saurus, from Wilncote; Mr. Hawkes, fern spores in coal.—February 
3rd. Mr. H. Hawkes exhibited a collection of New Zealand ferns, 
also one of Indian plants; Mr. Lassetter, a specimen of Gorgonia 
Jlabellum. —February 10th. Mr. J. Madison exhibited a peculiar form 
of anodon from the Warwick Canal, the shell being so altered as to 
make the species uncertain; Mr. J. Collins, a wliite-banded variety of 
Limncea stagnalis, from Yardley.—February 17th. Professor Hillhouse 
M.A., F.L.S., gave a lecture on “The Continuity of Protoplasm” 
giving the results of the most recent observations. The lecture was 
illustrated by models and diagrams. 
OXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. — Tuesday, 
January 14th. The President in the chair. This was the Annual 
Meeting for the Election of Officers. Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A., F.R.S., 
was re-elected President; Messrs. H. M. J. Underhill and G. C. 
Druce, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. There were also 
elected nine Presidents of Sections, and four other members of the 
Committee. Mr. Druce read a paper on “ Herbaria.” In the 
discussion which followed, Professor Vines alluded to the fact that 
the discovery of Reggio’s herbarium (now exhibited to the Society) 
was due to Mr. Druce. Mr. Poulton gave his paper on “The 
Influence of Cold on the Change of Colour in Arctic Animals,” and a 
discussion followed. — Tuesday, January 28th. Mr. Druce in the 
chair. Mr. H. Balfour gave a lecture on “ The Origin of Art as 
illustrated by the decorative Art of Savages,” which will appear in an 
early number of the “ Midland Naturalist.”—Tuesday, February 11th. 
Professor Vines in the chair. Mr. Farmer read a paper on “ Some 
Relations between Insects and Plants.” The lecturer noted the 
fact that the “ struggle for existence ” between different individuals 
and species of plants, though less obvious in their case than in that 
of animals, was no less real. Any newly turned up piece of ground, 
left to itself, will give an instance of this—a struggle for precedence 
between different species, resulting in a final equilibrium. Such 
