June, 1890 . 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
143 
ix., “ The Ideas of the Animate and Inanimate.” Feb. 13th, Miss 
Birt Davies, chapters x. and xi., “ The Ideas of Sleep and Dreams,” 
and “ The Ideas of Swoon, Apoplexy, Catalepsy, Ecstasy, and other 
forms of Insensibility.” Feb. 27th, Mr. Harold Buncher, chapters 
xii. and xiii., “ The Ideas of Death and Resurrection,” and “The 
Ideas of Souls, Ghosts, Spirits, Demons, &c.” March 20th, Miss 
Byett, chapters xiv. and xv., “ The Ideas of Another Life,” and “ The 
Ideas of Another World.” March 27th, Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., 
President of the Section,” chapters xvi., xvii., and xviii., “ The Ideas 
of Supernatural Agents,” “ Supernatural Agents as Causing Epilepsy 
and Convulsive Actions, Delirium and Insanity, Disease and Death,” 
and “ Inspiration, Divination, Exorcism, and Sorcery.” April 17th, 
Mr. E. Hill, chapter xix., “ Sacred Places, Temples and Altars; 
Sacrifice, Fasting, and Propitiation ; Praise, Prayer, &c.” April 24th, 
Mr. J. A. Hill, F.R.C.S., chapters xx. and xxi., “Ancestor-worship in 
general,” and “ Idol-worship and Fetich-worship.” May 8th, Mr. W. 
B. Grove, M.A., Vice-President of the Society, chapters xxii. and 
xxiii., “ Animal-worship” and “ Plant-worship.” At this meeting 
an interesting correspondence with Mr. Herbert Spencer was read, 
and ordered to be entered on the minutes of the proceedings of the 
Section. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—March 31st. Mr. J. Madison exhibited specimens of 
Dreissena polymorpha, from the Oxford Canal near Brinklow, peculiar 
from having a white band along one valve ; Mr. J. Collins, Marchantia 
polymorpha , showing sexual fructification ; Mr. G. H. Corbett, specimens 
of Ptirinea retrojlexa and Theca antiqua, from the Dudley district; Mr. 
Linton, cases of land, freshwater, and marine shells, British and 
foreign. Under the microscope, Mr. H. Hawkes showed Jungermannia 
pusilla, and Mr. Camm a series of fungi, including Badliamia utricularis 
and B. macrocarpa .—April 14th. Mr. J. W. Neville showed a number of 
leaf impressions from the Bournemouth beds ; Mr. H. Hawkes, a 
collection of marine algae, from Swanage ; Mr. S. White, land, fresh¬ 
water, and marine shells, from Swanage ; Mr. C. P. Neville, a collec¬ 
tion of foreign ferns; Mr. J. Madison, fossils from the Barton beds, 
including specimens of Pholas, taken out of lignite, and a series of 
shells of Neritiiia fiuviatilis, including the yellow and black varieties. 
Mr. G. H. Corbett called attention to the confusion in the beds at 
Barton Cliff, caused by landslips, and showed a large series of fossils 
of that district; Mr. J. Collins showed a collection of algse and lichens ; 
Mr. Round, fossil ferns from the coal measures, Oldbury.—April 21st. 
Mr. J. W. Neville showed a series of lantern pictures illustrative of 
insect life. Of the thirteen orders into which insects were divided 
eight were said to be generally accepted, a few occupied debatable 
ground, and the others were so small as to be only known to special¬ 
ists. The pictures illustrated generally the different orders, and in 
many instances gave the life-history of the insect. Some of the pic¬ 
tures were drawn from dissections, and showed the minute structure 
as it appeared under the microscope.—April 28th. Mr. J. Madison 
exhibited fossil shells from Barton Cliff, and recent shells collected 
near Christchurch; Mr. Deakin, a trilobite and other fossils from 
Great Barr ; also specimens of Helix ericetorum from near Walsall; 
Mr. G. II. Corbett, specimens of iron pyrites, marcasite, and arragonite, 
from various localities; Mr. Linton, birds’ nests and fir cones coated 
with lime, from the petrifying wells, Matlock. Under the microscope, 
Mr. II. Hawkes showed a section through the spore-head of Equisetum 
